The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-27
President and Congress Fight
For and Against Legislation
Session Drawing to Close Remarkable in MoneySpend
ing Record But Meas ures Are Withheld De-
spite the Executive Orders - =

The Congressional session now about
/ 20 close has been one long struggle
/ between the President, demanding
! enactment OF his policies into leBisla-
/ ton. and the conservative leadership OF
| Congress, holding back TO prevent TOO
much legislation on the eve OF Presi-
/ Dental election.
/ This contest has divided both branches
( Of Congress. and has drawn factional
/ line more sharply than ever through
| the Republican party IN the Senate
/ the younger Republicans have shown
/ increasing disposition TO fiock by them
! selves, oppose the leadership OF the
1 elder statesmen. and take up the cud-
/ gels for the Presidents policies. IN the
/ House protest against the rule OF
! Speaker Cannon and his hautenants has
/ kept the body on the verge Of revo-
4 luton at all times. ana several sporadic
/ revoits against the management have
/ been successful. In the opinion OF
many observers, the session has brought
much nearer tho time when there will
/ DO new DEAF IA leadership In both
/ houses.
First BiIlion-DollaT Session
/ a
first In the oountry's history. Increasec
/ of the pension roll, the army and navy
| expenditures and an Unexpectedly large
public building bill have been respon-
/ sible mainly for tho record-breaking
! appropriations.
/ Two monster batrleships were au-
/ thorlEed and appropriation made 70 De-
/ gin building them at once. ana the
policy OF building two annually here
| after was adopted.
| A new militia law passed. making the
militia OF the States actually and dlrecl-
! ly a part or the national mlAidfy sy5-
tenn, liable 10 10 called into Federal serV-
/ ice without remusteT. thereby adding
! about 10000 to the effective standing
army, at a very small expense me
/ paw OF eVery body "a army navy, and
/ marine corps was raised.
I The greatest pressure failed 10 eN-
/ tort from Congress q law 10 safeguard
/ against future money pautcs. by au-
! thortzing issue OF special emergency
| circulation by banks IN times or 6tTin-
! gency. However, the consideration given
! the financial system OF the country has
/ led 20 the beliEf that something VIII De
] done by way eof general reorganization
/ OF the financial system In the not dis
I taut future; this whether currency
commission measure shall pass or not
/ President Roosevelt demanded with
the Sherman antitrust law, which
/ should EXEMPT labor organizations from
/ the penaltieg OF thai act. and should
1 permit combinations OF industrial and
/ transportation companies under Govern
I nent supervision and restrictions The
/ legislation for this purpose did not
/ get out Of committee IN either house
Likewise the Presidents demand for
| auti-iniunCtion legislation which should
/ restrict employment Of the iniunctiye
] writ Pa to
Publicity Plan Fails
The EFFORT 20 pass a campaign funds
/ publicity law on the eve OF the Presi-
/ Dental election has failed. Republican
LEADERS insist that before the end Of this
! Congress they will pass-that IS. at the
/ short session next winter-the so-called
publicity bill which includes a force
/ elections act and a provision for reduc-
ing Southern representation IN proper
/ ton as negroes are denied the franchise
/ II IS suspected that. especially X the
/ Democrats win either he Presidency ct
the House IN the coming elecuoa, this
will be done by the Republican Con
! gvess next winter II possible, IN order
! for an indefinite tiTne 10 post pone pos
/ slbIlIty Of Democratic control OF the
/ three branches OF the Government Al
/ ready Democrats are getting ready for
]
A new employers liability bill 70 sue
! coed the one declared unconstitutional a
I few months ego. has been passed. Like
wise an act defining the liability Of the
Federal Governments in case Of injury to
its employees.
| The urgent recommendation OF the
/ President that a model child labor law
/ applying 20 the District Of Columbia be
/ PASSED, was adopted 20 the extent OF
/ passing q law which however IS hardly
! regarded as q satisfa Glory model for
/ States desiring legislation IN the same
/ cause. The movement 10 stop race
/ track gambling was recognized by Con
/ gress. with an enactment 90 stop that
practice IN the District Of Columbia.
Investigation of Tariff.
AS 20 tariff, the President won a
! Pyrrhic victory IN getting a provision
for Investigation Of tariff schedules by
the Ways and Means and Finance Com
uittees, with a view 70 revision after
( election, but the President wanted a
/ commission which ne should appoint, or
! else he wanted 10 select the experts
who should assist the committees IN
their Investigations Instead. the com
roittees will select their own assistants,
and the investigation will therefore be
dominated entirely by the high taEi6
| ideas which rule both bodies.
/ The subject of tariff relations between
| tbts country and the Philippines WI s
/ scarcely mentioned. The Senate Com
mittee on Philip, mes sustained some
/ changes in membership. which made II
/ more than ever opposed 70 such revi-
/ sion. One concession vas made to the
/ archipelago, in the repeal OF the meas
| urs extending the cOastwise shipping
/ laws 70 the islands, This VIII permit
| foreign vessels freely to take part IN
/ the insular trade
/ Instead Of making concession 10 the
demand that pulp and paper be placed
| on the free list, the House named a
/ special commission to investigate the
/ whole paper and pulp question. and It
seems certain that the result viii be a
| verdict altogether unsatisfactory TO the
proponents Of tariff removal Ia this
/ case
| Interstate commerce legislation has
been. perhaps second to currency, the
most discussed and least acted upon