Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-12-19
Army Bill and District Of Columbia
Bill Pending in House.
TWO RAILROAD ACTS PASSED
Omnibus Pension Bills, Carrying 467
Claims, Go Through House.
OPPOSITION TO MANN BILL
Minority VIII File Vigorous Report
CondemninE the white slave
Measure a. Unconsti-
tutfonaI.

WASHINGTON. Dec. Is. Far better
progress Is being made with legislation In
the house than was anticipated Before
congress convened Il was predicted that
there would be little or no activity prior
10 the holiday adjournment and that the
disposition 70 DO but small amount OF
business would probably Characterize the
entire session.
Since the house convened on December
G. however. a great number OF Important
bills and resolutions have been introduced,
two important measures have been passed
and a number Of others have been reported
and nre under consideration in the house
II all a total Of 1905 house bids, lbs
house resolutions. ninety-five Joint reso u
tions and twenty-six concurrent resolu-
tons have been introduced. Two measures
for railroad regulation. bearing the name
Of Representative Esch Of Wisconsin, have
pessed the house. Two omnibus pension
bills. carrying a total Of 457 claims, have
also passed
Two important pieces OF legislation arc
now pending the District Of Columbia
appropriation bill and the Panama cana
government reorganization measure The
army appropriation bill, carrying upwards
Of 500 OOo COO is out Of the military com
rnittee and the immigration committee is
1 preparing to report its bin regulating the
1 white slave" traffic
There VIII be a vigorous minority re-
port by four democratic members Of the
house COMMITTEES on interstate and foreign
| commerce on the Mann white slave" bill,
/ which was practically acted on by ma
| sority of that committee today The mi
| no1ity report, which viii be written by Rep
4 rssentatfve Richardson Of AiabAmR- viii
assert that the whole matter is one TO be
handled by the immigration committee
that the Interstate Commerce commission
I has no Jurisdiction whatever and that the
l Mann btl which aims at the suppression
/ Of the traffic by means Of regulation Of
interstats commerce, is unconstitutionsl
and . gross violation Of the right Of states
10 regulate the morals Of their own in
habitants.
The minority report VIII he signed by
Representatives Richardson Of Alabama
Bartlett Of Georgia Aaamson Of Georgia
4 and Peters Of Massachusetts,.
This piece OF legislation" said Repre-
sentative Richardson today, I characterize
a. the worst pleoe OF cant and hypocriss
that has lately been perpetrated by th'
republican party. Because the majority be
heHes that il is in relation 10 a subject
upor which we dare not offer objection Il
any kind Of regulation, they purpose K
enact Law that lets down the bars IA
as invading the rights Of states are con
cerned. II this bin becomes a law, tbs
federal government can go 10 any extent Il
enforcing the regulation Of the morals and
health Of any state
Car Service Code Endorsed.
Recognizing the great benefits TO be de
rived from uniformity in car service regula
tons the Interstate Commerce commission
today added its influence TO the new cod
Of rules recently adopted by the Natioaa
Association Of Railroad Commissioners.
In q statement issued, the commission
says:
I'VE endorse the rules adopted by III
national association and recommend tha
! they be made effective on interstate trans
portAtion throughout the country. Thi
acton is OF course. subject 10 the riEh
and duty Of the commission 10 inquire int
the legality or reasonableness OF any rul
or rules which may be maze the subjec
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