Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1909-12-16
CONGRESSIONAL

At the White House a conference
was held which has an important
bearing upon the legislative program
for the present session of the pres
ent congress. Vice-President Sher-
man and Speaker Cannon were called
in by the president and they sent
more than an hour in consultation. It
was learned that before he sent his
message to congress President Taft
sent copy to Speaker Cannon and
told him that he would like to talk
over with him some of the features,
especially that in relation to amend
ments to the interstate commerce law.
The speaker responded and Mr.. Sher-
man, who presides over the senate,
was also invited. The political sig
nificance of the conference is given
as the presidents desire to get the
factions Of the party to agree upon
taking up some one piece of legisla-
ton and act upon 1t tremendously.
The amendments to the interstate
commerce act are regarded as one
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brought about, and it seems now that
that will be the important business
of the present session. 1t is believed
that both the "progressives" in the
senate and the insurgents" in the
house will agree to that statement,
and will be willing to act harmoni-
ously with the regulars of the Repub-
lican party. Even the Democrats, it
is believed, will be glad to take up
consideration of this matter.
A shocking story of the white slave
traffic, its widespread influence, it's
degradation and its misery, is told
in a report submitted by the immigra-
alton commission to congress. The
commission is composed of three rep
resentatives and three senators and
has had agents investigating the prob
lem in all parts of the country since
1907.
A drastic proposition to meet the
strike of the switchman on the rail-
road lines entering st. Paul is made
in bill, amending the Erdman act,
which will be introduced by Repre-
sentative Stevenson of Minnesota,
providing for receiversbips of the
roads involved, if necessary. The bill
gives United States courts full juris-
diction. 1t also amends the Erdman
law so as to allow the courts to fix
the compensation of members of the
arbitration boards in cases of unusual
Importance.
One Of the striking features Of the
the house proceedings was a speech
by Representative Kuestermann of
Wisconsin. denying the charge that
his interest in German shipping was
so great as to cause him to antagon-
lie bill for the relief of the Ameri-
can merchant marine. Mr.. Kuester-
man was in ioyial humor and his
speech was generally enjoyed.
A bill evidently designed to cover
cases of contempt of court similar to
that of President Gompers and his as
sociates Of the American Federation
of Labor and greatly restricting the
power of the courts in such cases was
introduced in the house by Repre-
bbnldllNG luDludD VI hGuluthgs
Representative Alexander of Mis-
souri, is sponsor for a bill introduced
in the house which is intended to ex-
tend the provisions of the federal
pension laws to include the enrolled
Missouri militia and the several other
militia organizations of the state
which participated in the civil war. A
similar bill to include the militia or.
CARNATIONS of all the states was also
introduced by Mr.. Alexander.
Standing cut strikingly was a reso-
luton by Senator Raynor authoriz'
ing the president Of the United States
to cause President zelaya to be ap-
pretended as a common criminal
charged with the murder OF two Am
orleans, engaged in revolutionary act
iyity in Nicaragua, contrary to the
code of ell civilized nations, which
would have granted them trial.
Representative Barthold Of St
Louis introduced bill in the house
having for its purpose the relief Of
the farmers living in Columbia bot
toms, affected by government dam