The Washington herald., 1908-05-01

Taunted by the Democrats, and harried
and baited by frequent messages from
the White House, the Republican leaders
Of the House Of Representatives are get
ting busy with a legislative programme
more comprehensive than was contem-
plated originally.
They have decided that something must
be done to dissipate the idea that this is a
"do-nothing Congress"
The Democrats are trying 10 create the
impression that their Republican breth-
ren are afraid of taking any important
legislative action on the eve of a national
campaign, and it is eontended that Presi-
dent Roosevelt is doing the best he can
TO make the country believe that Con-
gress won't do its duty.
II became apparent yesterday that the
legislative programme OF Speaker Can
non and his ieutenants has been care
fully revised. The new schedule provides
for the passage OF an anu-injunetion bill
a measure providing for the payment Of
damages by the government TO govern
ment employees injured in the line OF duty.
and a campaign publicity bill
Child Labor Bill Included.
These. combined with the District OF
Columbia chnd-labor bill and the Civic
Federation bill proposing important
amendments to the Sherman antitrust
act, constitute the legislative programme
Of the administration. The Civic Fedora
ton bill will not be passed. Should the
President insist further upon IT, sGch ac-
ton might prec!pitate a dangerous party
crisis.
Constant insistence Of Minority Leader
John Sharp Williams and the impoTtUni-
ties Of a cOteTie Of Republicans. who
either agree with the President or believe
that in the interests of party success GER
tain measures should be enacted into law.
have had their effect on the responsible
leaders in the lower branch Of Congress.
There Is a quickenng Of activities. and
developments indicate the enactment Of
important legislation other than the emeT-
gency currency plan provided for in the
Vreeland bin. Up TO early in the day the
impression was quite general that the
only business to be transacted in the
House was embraced in the appropriation
bills and the Vreeland measure.
Payne Bill Is Discovered.
A few days ago Representative Serene
z. Payne. Of New York, the Republican
floor leader, introduced a bill to restrict
the power to grant injuncuons. Tt escaped
general attention until yesterday. When
word was passed around that Mr.. Payne
had offered such a measure, 1t was in
terpreted as ! determination on the part
Of the leaders TO make some concession
to organized labor.
The Payne anti-injunction bill is re-
garded by many Republicans as happy
medium between the extreme view on the
subject entertained by leaders Of or
ganized labor and the view that any at
tempt TO interfere with the jurisdiction
of the courts would be Unconstitutional
The difficulties that confront Congress
in iegislating in the matter OF the IN
junction is strikingly brought out in the
opinions already expressed on the Payne
bill. President Samuel Gompers OF tisa
Federation OF LABOR. has visited the Capl-
tol to protest against its passage. It is
likewise condemned by constitutional law
yers on the House Judiciary Committee.
The BILL which is simple in form and
brief, provides:
That hereafter no preliminary injunction or re
sraining order shall Be granted by any Judge or
court without notice 70 the party sought 20 be en-
joined o. restrained unless Il shall appear TO the
satisfaction Of the court or Judge 10 whom spplica
ton for such injunction restraining order is made
that the immediate Issue Of such injunction or re-
straning order is Necessary to prevent iTeparable
damage
Section OF the measure reads as fol-
lows:
Thai, anv such Injunction or restraining order
to show cause within FIVE days Why such injunction
OF restraining order shall not be continued.
Opposed to Penrre Bill.
The anti-in1unction bill introduced by
Representative Pearre. Of Maryland.
which Is indorsed by organized labor.
would stop the issue OF an injunction or
restraining order pending a hearing. 1T
would effectively destroy the rights Of
property, and might end in widespread
disaster both to capital and labor" said
a member Of the Judiciary Committee in
commenting upon the provisions OF the
Pearre bill =
While It is evident that the House lead
ers Will endeavor to put through Mr.
Payne's injunction bill. it Is the general
opinion at the Capitol that its adoption
by the House will not influence the Senate
to change its determination not to con
sider labor injunction legislation at tAis
session.