Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-11-19
BIG QUESTIONS
FOR CONGRESS-
Busy Session Ahead if Program Out
lined by Heads Of Departments
is Carried Out.
WATERWAYS COME TO FRONT
Well Developed Movement Will Force
Consideration of Plans.
FINANCIAL POLICY AT STAKE
Monetary Legislation and Central
Bank Are Issues.
POWERS OF COMMERCE BOARD
Members of Body Find Themselves
Restricted by Lack of Author
ity-FoOd Inspection
Laws.
rrom a staff correspondentl


WASHINGTON, NOV. 1S-(speci0l)-1f /
the program Of the statesmen, politicians !
and heads OF the different executive de- /
partments is carried out the coming ses-
sion Of congress viii prove to be one Of
4 the most important in the history Of the
federal government.
In the first place there is a very ef- I
fective and active organization know as
the National Rivers and Harbors congress, /
which has spread the propaganda of water
ways improvements effectively that
<there is not a state In the union which
has not a strong auxiliary organization
working In entire harmony with the main
body for the purpose of securing the adop-
ton OF policy OF waterways Improvement
which win II carried into effect, result in
n definite well considered plan for giving
the United States a system Of interior
waterways equal to that of any country.
This large organization will meet in De-
cember In annual convention and this
week the Atlantic waterway branch is
booked for a meeting In Norfolk, which
will be attended by the president Of the
United States and a number Of his ad
visers, when the preliminary gun in the
campaign will be fired.
More Territory I'm District.
President Taft is expected to recommend
to congress the legislation looking to the
restoration of the original boundaries of
the District of Columbia. That is to say.
the president believes a grave error was
made in the year 1886 when the Virginia
portion of ths original territory set aside
as a federal district was ceded back to the
old dominion. Tho president is reported
to advocate legislation looking to the recess
sion Of the Virginia portion OF the district
ha mt
carried out without a very vigorous pro-
test on the part Of the Virginians who are
affected, as they do not like the idea Of
losing their rights, especially their rights
as citizens, which carry the right of fran
chise- II Is doubtful. too, IL The country
at large will take such an interest in this
programs TO agree, through its representa-.
tfves in congress to compensate the old
dominion for the loss OF territory ana this
doubt is accentuated when It is remembered
that Virginia has for years attempted TO
secure some sort Of redress for the loss
of that portion Of the original territory
of the state out of which West Virginia
was carved in the early Co.'S
| Postmaster General Hitchcock has a
humber Of projects in view for the better
ment OF the postal service. 1t is not defi-
nitely known that he will advocate the
establishing Of the parcel posts and postal
savings banks. for which there has been
widespread demand, but he has In con-
temptation a thorough reorganization of
his department and has already taken some
steps toward that end, but his program,
In its entirety, win need the endorsement
of the legislative branch of the govern
ment and In this part Of his program he
(Hay encounter much difficulty
Financial Question TO Fore.
Senator Aldrich as head of the monetary
commission which has recently made an
exhaustive study Of the financial policy
OF the principal countries of Europe will
endeavor 10 secure results looking to
, revision Of the currency laws and possibly
the creation Of q great central bank SINH
lar to the Bank Of England and the Bank
of France. This program, contemplating
such radical departure In the currency
affairs Of this country is likely to create
much pickering and to split party lines
wide open. Ever since the days Of Andrew
jackson central bank program has been
talked OF, from time to time but owing to
the wide divergence OF opinion between
the various sections Of the country as to
the wisdom OF such policy, no substantial
steps In the direction OF the creation OF a
great central bank OF issue have been
taken since the national banking law was
enacted
The Treasury department is confronted
with an investigation growing out OF the
charges made In connection with the al
legged collusion between the office Of the
New York custom house and the sugar
trust which promises TO develop one OF
the greatest political sensations since the
days OF the Great Mobelier IN the early
eighties
Commerce Commission seeks Remedy.
The Interstate Commerce commission is
Srgng upon congress a number OF amend
ments relating 20 the powers Of that
Nranch OF the Federal service, and in this
viii be supported by number OF organ
lzations. The cattlemen OF the west dc
not think that they are treated they
should be In the matter OF rates made by
the railroads. and within the last few
months a number OF farmers organiza-
tions from the grain growing sections OF
the west have been looking into the rates
On grain 70 various points along the Mis-
sissippi river. ana have come to the con-
elusion that they are even worse treated
than the cattle growers, They viii ask
for legislation which viii relieve them OF
some OF the freight burdens under which
they suffer and an equitable adjustment
OF Helght charges upon their products
Fooa Inspection Laws.
Perhaps one Of the most important sug.
gesions is thar which is likely to come
from the Department OF Agriculture IN
reference 20 changes IN the food Inspection
laws. There has been some difference OF
opinion between the scientific men OF tn,
country upon the question Of the possibnit,
OF inoculauin OF human beings with tuber
culosis germs from bovines infected b,
the dread disease. The consensus OF o, In
ion seems SO be that dairy products from
cattle Infected With tuberculosis can b,
transmitted to human beings through
food products from infected aaimals. I
Is very weu Known fact that the frs
CcOnunued sn Second Pagel