The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1908-12-18
WASHINGTON
MATTERS
NATIONAL CIVIC FEDERATION
OPENED CONVENTION WITH
LARGE ASSEMBLAGE.
POSTAL SAVINGS BANKS A SPE-
CIAL ORDER FOR CONSIDER
ALTON IN SENATE.

New YORK, December l4.-Wlth
President-elect and Mrs. Taft, the
guests of honor, and Samuel Comp
ers, John Mitchell, Andrew Carne-
gle, President Elliot of Harvard
Archbishop Ireland and scores of
other famous capitalists, labor lead
ters, educators and clargymen on
the program, the National Civic Fed
Grafton today opened it's annual con-
yention in the assembly rooms of the
Hotel Astor.
The theme of the discussion for
the two days will be the promotion
OF friendly relations between en-
ployers and employees and measures
designed for the welfare of the
working people. Judge Taft will
make his chief speech at the annual
dinner Of the organization tomor-
row evening, when as chairman of
the Federation's Public Employees
Welfare Committee, he is to make
his report. Mrs. Taft will also speak
on the work of the woman's depart
ment Of the same committee.
The wife of the president elect
promises to take active part in the
discussions of the convention. AT
the meeting of the woman's depart
ment Of the Federation she also will
read report.
The convention is to consider
many questions relating to employees.
Among those questions set for dis
cussion are: How may the employee
and his family be protected against
financial stringency in case of &C
cident, illness or death?" Shall this
country follow England by providing
an old age pension?" "Shall the state
or the employer or the state, en-
ployer and employee, jointly, as in
Germany, bear the burden incident
to death or bodily injury of an en-
ploye?"
Today's session of the conven-
ton will be devoted to the discus
sion Of the trade agreement as a
means Of promoting industrial peace
and commercial prosperity. Among
those who will speak are John Nit
chell, William c. Brown, vice-presi-
dent Of the New York Central, and
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor Still
other speakers will be Andrew Car
negie, John Hayes Hammond, Pres
ident Charles w. Elliott, of Har-
ward, Benjamin Ide Wheeler, Seth
Low, Nicholas Murray Butler, Arch
bishop Ireland, August Belmont,
Marvin Hughitt and Isaac N. Selig-
man.
Washington, Dec. 14.-1n the
senate today the Postal Savings
Bank Bill was taken up as a special
order, with every indication that it
will receive favorable consideration
from majority of the lawmakers
of the upper house. Senator Thorn
as H. Carter, of Montana, who is in
charge of the measure, gives it as
his opinion that the bill will pass
the senate without opposition of any
serious kind. Both the president
and the postmaster general favor
the passage of the bill. The fate of
the measure in the house is prob
lematical, as Speaker Cannon is OPP
posed to it; but it is believed that
the influence of President-elect
Taft will be sufficient to overcome
the opposition of the speaker.
In regard to the chances of the
bill passing the House, the Montana
senator said:
During last session of con gress
there were a good many republican
House members who were either OPP
posed to the bill or lukewarm in its
support. For the most part these
men come from sections of tie mid
die west. where the bank guarantee
idea had taken hold.
1.-The republican national conven-
ton at Chicago subsequently de-
clared in favor Of the Postal Savings
Bank, and the republican party went
to the country with that as che of
its issues, defeating the democrats
who stood squarely for the guaran-
tee of deposits. I have been l-elia-
bly, informed that many of the Mid
die West Republicans to whom
have referred, are now strongly in
favor OF the postal savings banks
They tell men that they want now
to put themselves in harmony with
the party platform. l am sure thai
majority of House republicans are
now in favor of the bill and that i
will pass that body, once 1t is per
mitted to come up.
Speaker Cannon has been op
posed to postal savirgs banks, ant
assume, has not changed his pc
sition. But l have aDiJing faith II
his desire to be fa;, and to refec
the will OF the majority of tie leaF
ing members of the House. If i
can be shown him that majority o
those members want to pass a pos
tai savings bank bill, believe tia
he will yield. At any rate, he vii
proceed to put the bill through tn
senate on that theory"
Senator Carter calls attention t
the fact that there is a strong, pc
litaeal reason Why the postal saving