The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1908-05-15
LEGISLATION Al WASHINGTON

/ The course OF legislation Ill WISH
! ington is beginning TO attract more
than the usual amount OF attention.
/ The matters before the leaders are OF
the utmost importance and yet the
dispatches indicate that all are being
considered from purely political
standpoint. The more important
measures are, currency legislation.
an amendment limiting the power of
the federal courts in injunction cases
and amendments to the Sherman an
THRUST law. The bill proposed for
remedying the defects of the currency
system undergoes daily changes. so
that it is impossible now to tell what
form il will be in when finally intro
duced in the house, and then 1t will
go through process of amendment
when it reaches the senate, If ever.
1t is certain to be a makeshift and
nothing more is claimed for it, ex-
cept for the creation of a currency
commission which may eventually re-
suit in some real reform.
The idea seems to be that the
chances of the Republican party will
be hurt If the present congress fails
TO take some action on the currency
question. 1t is possible to differ with
this view, even from political stand
point, for the people are hardly likely
to be fooled by the pretense of cur
rency reform, especially as II is now
evident that the country will not
suffer from the defects of the pres
ent system again for years. AS to
the merits of placing another patch
on the existing crazy quilt of curren-
cy laws, there is no room for ques-
ton but that it is trifling with an i'm
portant question. The agitation for
limiting the powers of the federal
courts in injunction cases is purely
and simply measure in the interests
of organized labor, and the leaders
are not slow to take advantage of the
present political conditions which
make both parties particularly sus-
ceptible to threats that the labor
votes will be used at the next cleo
ton to further the cause of the men.
The Republican party is in between
the devil and the deep sea, however,
in this matter. for the manufacturing
and business interests are as firmly
opposed to changing the existing law
as the labor leaders are in favor of
doing so. This will lead to COM
promise measure being adopted II
any is passed, and there will UNI
/ doubtedly be little gained or lost by
either side 1t will simply. as in the
case of the currency legislation, en-
able the Republican orators on the
stump next fall, to point with pride
to the achievements of their party in
providing for the demands of labor
as well as for changes in the currency
laws demanded by business interests.
AS we have said, however, no one Is
apt to be fooled by colorless measures
which in reality accomplish nothing,
and are merely passed for political
effect to fit an emergency In the
meanwhile the bill of Senator Fora
ker providing for justice to the mem
bers of the disbanded colored regi-
ment, is measure which has far
greater political possibilities in 1t
than either the currency or the anti
injunction issues. This bill receives
no attention for obvious reasons.
There seems to be no chance what
ever for the passage of any amend
ments to the Sherman antitrust law
This law was hailed as a great VIC
tory for the people and seems to
have been effective or there would
not be so persistent demand for
its repeal. 1t, however. applies to
all alike, and this is not what some
elements in the country desire. 1t
makes a great deal of difference
whose interests are hurt. The pros
poets are not good in fact for the
passage of any of the important