The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1908-06-18

suit was that Congressman who had
been somewhat alarmed at the threat
OF Samuel Gompers, President of the
American Federation of Labor to de-
feat them at the polls if they did not
pass an anti-ins junction bill, became
encouraged in their opposition by the
TACT that the manufacturers were
ready to fight tht labor politicians
With their own weapons Thus the
four or five appeals made to Con-
gress by the President fell for the
most part on deaf ears. The
members of the House Of the ntaiori-
~ party held a conference and voted
to defer action on anti-iniunction leg
!slation until next December.
A child labor law for the District
OF Columbia, having been urged by
the President for severa. years, large
'lJ to give force OF examples to the
States was passed
Concerning legislation desired by
tie President with respect to capital,
Congress has declined to increase
Federal control over corporations.
Such a measure as the Civic Fedora
ton bill would be of the highest inter-
est to all corporations doing an inter-
state business providing as it would,
for Government regulation and publi-
city. Such a law has been advocated
by the heads of many Of the largest
corporations, weary o; the conflict
ing requirements Of State corporation
Avs An amendment of the Sher-
man Antitrust Law would have
been quite as much in the interest
ct the public as for the benefit OF
either capital or labor, since the Sher-
man law in it's present shape cannot
be applied to large Industrial or
other organizations without pr0duc-
.ng commercial chaos However.
Congress has enacted one bill Of a
far more radical character in the
limitation Of capital by which mon
"pOlistic holding Of coal lands in Alas
Ma is prevented by forbiddng any cor
poraticn or individual to own more
than $3.50 acres.
Concerning our other territorial
posse 5sions-Porto Rico, Hawaii, the
Philippnes-Congress has acted for
the most part in both a narrow-minded
and a niggardly manner
The presidents recommendations Of
Federal Inheritance and income tax
measures failed to become law.
AS to the army affairs, no action
was taken by the Senate as a result Of
the investigation of the dismissal OF
the negro troops for the Brownville
shooting. The Senate Committee on
Military affairs failed to agree Two
bills were framed. One, the Warner
bill, permitted the President, as com
of the army, to re-
instate any of the soldiers who could
prove themselves innocent, and at the
Presidents discretion. The other,
the Foraker bill, provided for the res
toration by affidavit, and made the
the judge. On Sena-
tor Foraker's own motion, considera-
ton Of this matter was postponed un-
il next December. Naval legislation
was marked by the promise of Con-
gress to adopt settled policy of in
crease and adhere to it until the navy
is of sufficient strength to satisfy
the country. This is the first time
any such step has ever been taken
The increase involves two battle-ships
a year. This came about through the
effort of the President to have Con-
gross authorize four battle-ships.
Congress authorized two battle-ships
and left on record the recommendation
to future Congresses to provide two
each year thereafter The much-dis-
cussed inquiry by the Senate Naval
Committee as to structural defects
in our battleships amounted to moth |
ing, in so far as the late session OF
Congress was concerned, since the !
Committee made no report Of it's find |
ings. A bill to increase the pay of
the army and navy was passed, as
well as was also the Widows Pension |
Bill and a measure to reorganize the
the medical department of the army. |
In this connection it is interesting
to note that bill was passed increas- |
ing the efficiency of the Life Saving |
Service.
Both branches of Congress passed |
resolutions authorizing the Ways and |
Means Committee of the House and |
the Finance Committee of the Senate |
to sit separately and prepare data on
which to be based revision of the |
tariff. The Senate Committee will |
sit during the summer and employ |
both Government and outside experts |
and will, furthermore, make inquiry |
with special reference to reciprocity. |
The House Committee will employ |
only Government experts, and will |
do no work until after the election, |
The effort to create a partisan |
expert Tariff Commission failed the |
members of Congress Directing to |
delegating their powers to non-mem- !
bers, A strong appeal was made by |
the American Newspaper Publishers |
Association to have the duty on print |
paper and wood pulp removed, and |
also to have the paper makers of the |
country declared a combination in re-
straint of trade. The special commit
tee of the House which investigated |
the matter found that there were two |
sides to the question, and that the |
themselves We're divided as
to whether the removal of the duty
would reduce the cost of paper A
majority of the committee refused |
TO recommend such change at this
time.
The bill providing for the publicity
Of campaign funds did not become a
law While if WAS being urged nv |