The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-03-29
SENATE BUSY NOW,
IMPORTANT BILLS
CLAIM ATTENTION
Measure Giving States
Right to Control Liz
uorS, Democratic Card.
Presidential Politics In
volved in La Toilette and
Knox Labor Program.

Knox Labor Program.
With the Aldrich currency bill dis
posed OF. the Senate will give its at
tentiOn TO a la ge number Of questions
that had to be 5jietracked 10 give fnan-
cial legislation tie right of way.
This week Is expected TO be busting
one in the Senate. with a large number
OF measures crowding hard for consid-
Grafton.
One Of the most Important Of these
Is expected to be prohibition. 1t is not
up in the form of prohibition direct, but
in the guise Of bills giving the States
the right 70 control liquors that are
sent into their borders. These bills are
intended TO clinch the prohibitory legis-
lation that has been passed by the
States and make State prohibition and
local option effective. Without Federal
legislation it is difficult for the State
20 enforce liquor laws.
Fear Democratic Platform.
This question is the more momentous
because genuine alarm is felt among
Republican politicians lest the Demo
Gratis in their next platform make a bid
for the prohibition vote by adopting
platform in favor Of law that will give
the States control OF liquor shipped into
their territory 1t is expected the Demo
cratic platform will go this far in the
direction of prohibition II Congress does
nothing on this subject.
Not long ago the subcommittee OF the
Senate Judiciary Committee. intrusted
with the consideration of the bills TO
give the States control Of liquors, de-
cided on an unfavorable report. BY a
vote of three 10 two it was held the
bills before the subcommittee were IN
constitutional The main committee has
not acted on the report of the subcom-
mittee, but at a meeting Monday is ex-
pected to do So
1t is not certain whether the judiciary
Committee will report for or against the
proposed legislation but If il votes
against II is is certain there will be
minority report. This will bring the
preston to the floor of the Senate,
which is the chief desire of the advo-
Gates of the different bills. A hot con-
test and test vote will follow on the
Senate floor
Employers Liability.
Another question that will occupy i
god deal of attention from now until It
IS disposed Of is that Of employers la-
bility legislation. Senator La Follette's
bill was referred TO the Committee on
Education and Labor. and a subcommit-
tee has made a favorable report on Il.
II was expected the full committee.
which was 20 meet yesterday. would
take up the report Of the subcommittee.
but in the absence Of a quorum the
committee was unable to act. 1t will
meet Tuesday and will probably report
out the La Toilette bill with some
amendments. But the bill by Senator
Knox and another bill on the s. me sub
ject is pending before the judiciary
Committee
Senator Knox's friends know a good
thing politically when they see It COM
ing down the road. To them, the labor
vote is desirable. just as it is TO num-
erous other candidates. If the knex
forces could gain the friendship Of the
L. Dor vote by putting through an en-
ployers' liability law it would be worth
while at the Chicago convention Con-
seduentIy. the friends Of Senator Knox
are anxious that HIS bill be passed by
the Senate. L is expected his bill Will
be reported favorably from the Judi
ciary Committee. and then there will
be struggle or the Senate floor as
10 whether this bill or the La Toilette
bill is passed.
Helping Knox Boom.
1t is quite likely Senator Knox's bill
will ind favor with the Senate for the
reason that his Presidential boom is
looked on with a kindly eye by many
Of his colleagues. and there is little toll
GRANGE fo- La Toilette. On the other
the railroad employees want. and their
representatives have urged 1t before the
Committee on Education and Labor.
Brownsville still drags on iE the Sen
ate. The end Of 1t IS not yet even in
sight When it will be no one can pre-
dict It looks as if the last would not
he heard of it until after the Presiden-
tial election. as IL 1t will be with
the Senate most Of the time until this
session ends. At any rate, the Senate
Committee on Military Affairs will meet.
probably Tuesday, 10 consider the bills
for the reinstatement of the members OF
the Twenty-fifth Infantry, who were dis
charged on account Of the Brownsville
rioting.
Bill Involves Army Pay.
The military appropriation bill on
which a subcommittee OF the Senate
Military Affairs Committee has been
working for some days. VIII be re-
ported this week and Will be brought
forward promptly for disposal 1t will
be watched not alone because OF the
usual interest attaching 10 army ap-
preparation matters. but because the
army pay bill is involved with it.
An early report on the fortihcations
bill will be made by the Senate APP
propriations Committee, and this will
then be taken up by the Senate. Cen
e-al Crozier, chief of ordnance. and
General Allen, chief signal officer. were
before the subcommittee in charge of
this bill yesterday. Senators Ankeny
and Piles Of Washington appeared be-
fore the subcommittee 20 ask for an
appropriation Of over S5.OO0.OO0 for Puget
Sound defense. The House made a
heavy reduction from the estimates,
and il is not likely the Senate viii