The sun., 1909-12-06
THIS CONGRESS- IN NO HURRY
LITTLE WORK To BE DONE BE-
FORE THE HOLIDAYS.
Taft's Interstate Commerce BM Ready
and seme Talk of q StiM Fight
Against H-Activity Against the
sugar rust-Conservatlo Question.

Against N-ActtNtty Against tno
sugar Trust ConservataO Question.
WASHINGTON. Dec. s.-Thore was moth
ing in Washington tonight to indicate that
Congress was on the eve Of assembling
for another session. Usually on the night
before the opening day the lobbies Of the
principal hotels are crowded with Senators
and Representatives and host OF other
people who come and % with the national
legislature. Very few Congressman were
around the hotels this evening and there
was an entire absence OF those scenes
which heretofore have made ii apparent
that washingt on would have Congress-
on its hands the next day.
To-morrow's sessions OF the Senate and
the House will be Of the most routine char
acter. and the hundreds OF visit ors who
will throng the galleries in the expecta-
tion Of seeing and hearing something
W orth while are bound I O be disapp pointed.
While Senat ors and Representatives have
been besieged for tickets Of admissi on to
the private galleries and have responded
'lberally the rule Of first come first
served" is to be applied. and it is safe to
say that two OF those armed with what
they regard as an open sesame will stay
out to every one VIII gets in.
Immediately after the opening pro-
ceedings the Senate will adjourn out Of
respect to the mem ory Of the late Senat or
John.o, ~ Moth N. osa and tha uousa
will adj Ourn out Of respect to the late
Representatives Lassiter Of Virginia and
De Arm ond Of Missouri.
From all accounts the session which
will begin tomorrow is likely to be busy
bat not of the liveliest character. The
main purpose of President Taft and the
Congress leaders will he to keep down
expenditures. That will be the foremost
Administration policy. and as\ those in
control OF the organization OF the
Senate and the House are cooperating
with the President it appears to be a
foregone conclusio that the appropria-
tions will be cut considerably.
President Taft has already made known
in regard to amending the antitrust
law until the United States Supreme
Court disposes OF the appeal from the
opinion OF the Circuit Court Of Appeals
that the Standard Oil Company and its
affiliated concerns constitute a COM
bination In restraint Of trade.
The Administration's bill to amend
the interstate commerce law has been
prepared and probably will 10 introduced
tomorrow. but IL is not likely that any
action will be taken on II for some time
to come. While the House may dis
pose OF some appropriation bills before
the Christmas holidays, the Senate prob
ably will not give serious consideration
to any legislation OF importance. even
supply measures. until both houses reas-
semble after New Years.
Nothing has appeared yet to indicate
that programme Of Legislation has been
prepared which will include the proposed
antitrust and interstate commerce
amendments. A good many ConGressmen
are confident that the Supreme Court
will not act on the Standard Oil cases
until its next general term. which will
be after the adjournment Of the Congress
session to be begun tomorrow. and
already there are some signs that an
attempt to amend the interstate COM
merce law. even with Administration
backing. will meet with much opposi
ton.
! Tomorrow will witness q food OF reso-
buttons in the Senate and the House to
investigate the sugar trust. Many Rep
resentatives have prepared such reso-
lutions and will put them in at the very
first opportunity. This circumstance
points to the likelihood that Congress
will undertake an investigation OF the
charges against the trust with a view
to getting at the bottom Of it's wickedness
and enacting legislation which will put
stop TO crooked work by dishonest
Industrial combinations.
That Congress will devote considerable
attention to legislation for the better
conservation Of natural resources appears
to be assured. Mr.. Roosevelt served
notice that he would not approve any more
bills permitting power site companies
to build dams on navigable streams or
on streams which flowed through public
land unless the Government received
a royalty for the use OF the water. After
his attitude in this matter was made
known the House Committee on Inter-
state and Foreign Commerce appointed
a subcommittee to make suggestions as
to means which would permit power site
companies to obtain leases from the
United States. This sub-committee has
reached its conclusions and 10 prepared to
report.
1t became known tonight that the
subcommittee is Of the opinion that
It would be unconstitutional for the
Government to raise money through
leasing water power sites or charging
for the use Of water. The subcommittee,
however. has drafted a bill which pro-
vides for fifty year franchises for power
sites. with the proviso that while no
charge is to be made for the use Of the
water or rental OF the site the Govern
ment shall be paid a sum sufficient to
remove dams or other obstructions at the
expiration OF the fifty years lease II
the lease is not renewed. the privilege
Of terminating the lease being reserved
by the Government.
Representative Stevens OF Minnesota.
a member Of the sub committee, is a