The Washington herald., 1907-01-07
LIVELY WEEK AHEAD
Senate to Discuss Browns
vile Affair.
VOTE ON RAILWAY HOURS BILL
Effort Expected TO Postpone Action
on Railroad Employees Hours Meas
senator La Toilette VIII stand His
Ground and Demand Vote.

This is to be a most interesting week
in Congress-especially in the Senate.
Thursday by an agreement made in the
last days of last session, the bill TO limit
the hours Of labor for railroad employees
is to be voted on. The hour set fer be-
ginning the roll-can is 3 p. m. The bill
was debated out last session, but many
amendments were made TO il which have
rot been discussed. No Senator has thus
far this session, although the bill has
been before the Senate every day as The
unfinished business, manifested any de-
sire to debate the bin or the amend
ments.
To-day or tomorrow Senator La Fol-
lette, who IS pressing the measure. Will
remind the Senate of the agreement for
a vote Thursday, and suggest that if
Senator's desire TO discuss the bill or
amendments the bill should be taken
up. He viii himself submit remarks on
the need of the legislation proposed in
the light Of the fearful accidents that
have occurred within the last few weeks
2ear Washington. He does not regard
the evdence thus far brought out in the
inqU est on the Terra Gotta disaster as
affording much emphasis on the pending
measure. But evidence gathered IN many
ways in all parts of the country shows
that there is need Of strict regulation
Of the hours that railroad men are re-
quired to work If the travelling public is
10 be protected from collisions.
Brownsville Affair Again.
The Brownsville debate will be the
main thing Ia the Senate to-day. and il
is not unlikely that il will occupy atten-
tion for several days. The Lodge amend
ment. which brings up the constitution
ality Of the Presidents order discharging
the negro battalion Of the Twenty-hfth
Infantry is calculated 10 postpone for
some time the vote on the Foraker reso-
luton directing an investigation by the
Military Committee. Senator Lodge viii.
if we'll enough. speak to-day. and VIII
doubtless provoke Il reply from Senator
Foraker. Senator Spooner is prepared TO
speak or the constitutional phase Of
the matter Ii was he who drew the
Lodge amendment-nOt with the purpose
OF offering it, but in tentative and
academic way. He happered TO hand il
20 Senator Lodge, who at once asked 10
be allowed 10 present il as an amend
ment 10 the Foraker resolution. Senator
SpOOner does not ind0rse entirely the
Presidents action. but on the cOnstitu-
tionaI side OF il. so far as the penalty
Of Discharge goes. be viii defend the
President. lie does not think the Presi-
dent had the power 20 bar the discharged
men from civil employment hereafter by
the government.
Senator Lodge will not begin his speech
on she constitutional side OF the Presi-
dents action to-day until after the con-
clusi0n OF the speech by Senator Gearin,
OF oregon, on the resolution Introduced
by him on the japanese treaty. 1t is
expected thar the President viii send
10 the Senate a portion Of the testimony
taken by Assistant Attorney General
Purdy, who was sent 10 Brownsville and
Fort Reno 10 get more light on the
shooting up OF Brownsville. This tes-
timOny contains the statement of three
Of the negro soldiers who were impli-
Gated IN the affair
Railroads Want Delay.
There is a disposition in some quarters
to use the Brownsville question as a
buffer TO postpone action on the railroad
Ike to have the bill recommitted 70 have
further hearings before the Committee
on Education and Labor. Senator La Fol-
lette viii resist this Il is not unlikely
that the Brownsville debate and the
speeches that may be made on the Gearin
resolution on "A proposed modification Of
the treaty with Japan in order 10 define
the rights of japanese subjects while in
the United States Will take up all the
time intervening 10 the day for the vote
on the railroad hours bill The railroad
representatives are so desirOus OF hav-
ing the bill recommitted that they urge
that the recent disasters are an argu-
ment for delay, as they viii have the
effect 10 force unfair legislation. The
railroads claim that If passed the bill
Win derange every schedule in the coun-
try and throw the railroads into COM
plete decentralization.
In the House the fertilization bill Is to
be the subIeet Of debate probably for sew
eraI days.
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