The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-27
DoNGS IN CONGRESS
PENAL CODE BILL BEING USED AS : A BUFFER.
Diseussfon in tfse Horse Has Taken n Very Wide Range and Demo- crafs Have Republicans
 Up a Tree.

Washington, Jan. 26.--( Special. 1---The penal code bill Is being used as a buf- fer tn, both branches of Congress by the Republican leaders
 It Is a measure consisting of is9 closely printed pages, and while it is the regular order in Senate and House. practically nothing else can come up except during what is known as the sl1 ort morning hour, unless the man agers become suddenly liberal and per- init local matters to be either discussed or passed. 5g.
 Tn the House. the running debates have been rather interesting for the reason that the Democrats have inereS in q variety of subjects. They have discussed ali sorts of questions. even bringing in the Presidential contest. and at times have made it decidedly embarrassing for the Republicans. Quite number of new members of the popular branch of Congress have had opportunities to deliver what are call- ed their maiden speeches. Chairman Reuben O. Moon of Pennsylvania. who has the penal code bill in charge. has been much harrassed that the debate has taken such a wide range. AndkRe- publican sLeader Payne has also cont plained that. the Democrats should 9on- fine tn cir remarks to the bill under con- alteration. but Champ Clark and other Democrats have anewered by saying Chat If the Republicans complain of losing so much valuable time. they should remember that for nearly three weeks before the holiday recess. the House practically did nothing.
 It has been customary for many years for the Presidents annual message 10 Congress to be placed on the Speaker'a table and called up from day to day. so that members who had speeches to de- IA s~ they wanted to talk directly on what the President recommended they could do, so, or they might take up any sub Ject they preferred--anythifr to Wet their views on matters Of IekisIation and national, topics before the people or their districts. Champ Clark de- ciared that ever since the Government has been in existence, members have Deen making political speeches in ths House. and they will doubtless continue to do so. sft
 | The Republican leaders are doinr their utmost to shape things an thst comparatively early adjournment of congress may be brought about. Chair man Tawney. of the House Appro6ri4 ations Committee, said the other day to group of Democratic Conxressrnen. "We are working night and dav on inc supply bills. and they will be brought into the House light along. If you Democrats will not obstruct us we will rush matters It depends largely upon the minority as to how soon an ad- journment can. be reached"
 "Will we get away by the end of April?" asked one Democrat of Mir, Tawney. -
 Hardly that soon." was the answer. T should think we would be doing. we'll If the business of the session is finished by the end of May"
 E The National Republican Convention meets in Chicago June 16. The Repub- lican Congressmen generally hope to tainly ten days before the convention, for most of them wish to attend a gathering which promises at this writ ing to be the most exciting probably since the convention at Chicago fin IsS0 when Conkling. Logan and Cameron did their utmost to nominate Gen. Ulysses S. Grant for a third term.
 The Democratic members of the House appear just as anxious to wind up the business of the session at the end of May as the Republicans. This does not apply to all, but for there are quite number who take the posi- tion that the minority ought to remain here until the middle of August if nec- essary in order to put the, Republicans squareIy on record in a year in which an important election is to be heid--a contest that may give the Democrats control of the next House if they take advantage of their opportunities. It is argued here that there is no reason why one, in ten of the Sonthern Democrats that he Is bound to be back in his district by June 1.
 Alfred J. Stofer.