The Washington herald., 1909-02-28
READYFOR THECLOSE
Congress Has But Two Big
Bills to Pass.
RAPID PROGRESS LAST WEEK
After DispOsing of the sundry Civil
and General Deficiency Bills, the
Senate May Pass the Postal Saw
tngs Bank Measure-HOuse Has
Practically Cleared It's Calendar.

With only I'VE DAYS left before the
Sixtieth Congress viii come 10 a close
by constitutional Limitation, business in
the legislative halls is in a fairly for
ward condition.
There is no reason now 10 anticipate
that when the gavel falls al noon on
March there viii be any general legis-
latiOn OF Importance left unfinished. with
the single exception Of the bill making
provision for the next census. That
measure has been passed over for con-
sideration at the approaching special ses-
sion.
Rapid progress was made during the
last week in the Senate in the disposition
Of the big appropriation bills. All but
two OF these measures are now in the
hands OF conference committees OF have
become laws.
Sundry Civil Bill Passed.
The house. after long struggle with
the sundry civil bill. whose appropriations
amount TO SiS7.O00.600 sent that measure
to the Senate Friday, and yesterday
passed the general deficiency bill Il also
passed the Senate Brownsville bill. which
now requires only the signature OF the
President TO become a law.
The Senate viii spend at least one day
on the sundry civil bill, but the general
/ deficiency bill VIII not take much time.
After these are disposed Of another effort
viii be made 10 pass the postal savings
bank bill
There are stIH several conference re-
/ ports 10 be made on the appropriation
4 pills Among them is that on the Iegis-
! lstive. executive, and judicial appropris-
ton bill. which includes the proposed IN
1 crease OF the salaries OF the President
! Vice President. Speaker. and judges
I The House has positively refused 70
raise the salary Of Mr.. Taft as President
I 20 S100009. and insists upon leaving II AT
+ $500. out OF which he VIII have 70 pay
/ his own travelling expenses. This leaves
/ the compensation OF the Office at the same
( figure as that enjoyed by President ROOse-
welt
The House also refused TO raise the
other salaries or 70 provide for the ap-
Z pointment Of an Under Secretary Of State
I It did, however, finally arrange the Knox
mu6dle, and there viii no longer be any
difficulty about the Pennsylvania Senator
1 entering the Taft Cabinet
/ The army. the fortifcatiOns. the pen
I sion, and the river and harbor apprOpria-
ton bills are still in conference. but with
/ out any dispute. which VIII unduly delay
/ an agreement
Did Not Take Holiday.
( Congress sat. as usual. on Washington 5
( Birthday and listened to the reading of
7 the farewell address OF the first Presl-
dent. The following day the Senate
passed the bill giving the discharged
/ negro soldiers OF the Twenty-ffth Infan-
try, who were implicated in the shooting
at Brownsville, Tex. an opportunity to
prove their innocence and obtain re-
enlistment n the army.
There was some discussion during the
( week from Western Republican Senators
who are comparatively new in the bOdy
over the alleged partiality with which the
old-tiners parcel out the important com
mittee assignments.
/ The younger men claim they are not
! fairly treated IN this regard, and brough;
/ their grievances 70 the attention Of the
Senate through Senators la Toilette and
{ Burkett. With these exceptions. prac-
tieally the whole time Of the Senate was
given up 20 the appropriation bills. q
great deal Of It being spent in unavsifine
attacks upon the Forest Service.