The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-10
Do-Nothing Policy Will Be
 Followed By Republicans
APPROPRIATIONS RUSHED
Postal Savings Banks Will Have Little Chance This Session As There Is Desire To Wait For
 Report Later.
BY wArrERsoN sTEALEY.

Washington. December 9.-(Special)- II is to be do-nothing Congress as far as the leaders in the House and Senate can make it so
 For long session it will be brief, and the expectation now is that there will be early adjournment. Talk is that the ses- sion will end in April or in early May at the latest. provided. of course, there are no unforeseen developments that compel the prolongation of it.
 Already talk is going around that all most nothing is to be done before the holi- days. Things will be shifted over until after the first of the year. This does not apply to the work of some of the House committee on appropriations. which will do their utmost to hurry along appropria- ton bills and get them on the calendar.
 For instance, the House committee on military affairs will in all probability have the army bill reported before the holiday adjournment. The House appropriations committee. headed by Chairman Tawney. will rush along the appropriation bills un- der it's jurisdiction as rapidly as possible. The Senate committees in charge of appropriation measures will proceed more leisurely.
 But when it comes to other important legislation the disposition is to handle 1t gingerly, to proceed slowly and deliber- ately.
 Against Postal Banks.
 It doesn't look just now as if there would be any postal savings bank legis- lation at this session of Congress. not withstanding the recommendation of President Taft to this effect A good many of the members of the House and Senate who have studied the subject at considerable length seem desirous of post poning action on the proposition until after the monetary commission makes it's report, which will be within year or so. although a preliminary report will be submitted to Congress during the coming session. Representative Weeks of Mas i, sschusetts, cha Fan Of the House conl- lnittee on possibilities and postroads and a member of the monetary commission. indicated today that there was a strong feeling against any postal savings bank Legislation this winter for the reason given. Incidentally he has instituted an innovation in connection with the consid- eraton of the postoffice appropriation bill by requiring a full attendance of the committee instead of a subcommittee. as
 
 tents too important, he thinks, to permit a subcommittee to pass on 1t with only perfunctory reference to the full commit- tee. To top 1t off the insurgents are very much for postal savings bank which lines up all the regulars against 1t.
 Abuse of Privilege.
 The Postmaster General has decided to investigate the abuse of the franking privileges on the part of members of Congress and will later issue a report on the subject.
 It Is said today that the city postoffice is practically flooded with a lot of ''franked" stuff which should never have come to Washington through the mails without having been paid for.
 In several instances within the last few days the sergeauts-at-arms of the House and Senate have been told by the city postoffice to notify members of Con gress that they would have to pay SIS or s20 for the postage due on articles franked into Washington. In some instances the members have paid the amount asked. Others have refused, and have had their property held by the postoff1ce
 There are in the city postoffice today several typewriters on which there is due postage varying from s10 to s15. One men- Der of Congress has recently violated the franking privilege to the extent of sSO. Not only are such performances against the spirit and the letter of the law which creates the franking privilege, but it amounts to a great expense on the pos tai service. It comes. too, in an ag- gravated form at time when the post master general is doing everything pos- sible to make his department a seif-sup- porting unit of the government.