The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-04-22
SUPPLY BILLS,
NOTHING MORE
Senate Steering Committee
Makes Up Program for
Rest of Session.
UTTER R0UT OF ROOSEVELT
REFORM MEASURES TO SLEEP
UNTIL THE NEXT CONGRESS.

Washington. April PA a meeting of
the Republican steering committee in the
senate today the legislative program was
discussed, but no decision was reached to
add any important measures to those des-
tined for enactment at the present ses-
sion OF congress In regard 10 currency
legislation il was stated that If the
house passed a bill providing for a COM
mission 10 investigate financial matters
the senate would Immediately upon re-
ceipt Of the measure vote to add the
Aldrich currency bill with view of put
ting the whole subject into conference.
Ultimatum Of AIdrich.
Senator Aldrich made it clear that if
there was TO be financial legislation of
any character at this session it would
De along the line of what already had
been done in the senate, with concur
renee in the provision for a commission
TO sit during the recess of congress to
consider currency matters.
Senator Hale told his colleagues on the
committee that the sentiment of the SEN
ate was against the four-battleship
scheme advocated by the president and
that 1t would be useless 10 try to get
an appropriation for more than two bat
ueshiDs at this session.
II appeared from the discussion that
there were few measures, In addition to
appropriation bills, that have any pros
pect for passage at the present SEES
sion.
Fears Of Mr.. Beveridse.
Senator Beveridge declared that il
would be bad politics for congress to
adjourn without passing some of the
measures desired by the president and
that the do nothing" policy would be
heard of in the coming campaign. He
spoke of the difficulty Republican cam
paigners would have in answering the
charge that the presidents program for
beneficial legislation had been ignored
by "A Republican congress. He was par
ticularly urgent in demanding considera-
tion for an anti-injunction bill and for
the proposed amendments to the Sher
man antitrust law
Will Be Allowed TO Sleep.
The other members of the steering COM
mittee, however, saw little chance for
the passage of these measures. and sew
eral senators argued that it would be
worse politics TO divide the party on bills
that could not pass than TO let these
bills sleep until after the campaign.
The question of what may be done on
the subject of a dill to reinstate the
negro soldiers who were discharged with
out honor on account of the Brownsville
affray was discussed, but no decision
was reached IL was thought likely, how
ever, that these bills would be voted up
on before adjournment, although no opin-
ion was hazarded as to whether the War
ner or Foraker bills, or either of them,
would be passed.
Politics In Foraker Bill.
From political point of view the For
aker bill, which provides for Teinstate-
ment OF the former soldiers upon their
sworn statements of innocence of com
plicity in the shooting was regarded as
of the most value to the Republicans.
AT the same time the Democrats of the
senate are a unit against the passage of
either bill. The Warner bill leaves to
the discretion Of the president which of
the former soldiers shall be reinstated.
Although no date for adjournment was
considered. it was generally agreed that
the business of the session could be con-
cluded about the middle of May, unless
the minority flibustering in the house
should prolong the session. Senator Bev-
eridge opposed an adjournment without
an effort to carry out the presidents
policy or some action showing a dispo-
sition TO revise the tariff, such as the
appointment of commission. To ignore
these things. he said, would be a grave
mistake