The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12
BILLS ARE PUZZLING
Congress May Fail to Pass
Important Measures.
PRESIDENTS ACTION BLAMED
Veto of Census Bill and Determine
ton to Increase Appropriation for
Extension of Secret Service May
Cause House 10 Defer Action Until
Expiration of His Term.

As the Roosevelt administration draws
TO a close Congress finds itself confronted
with a number OF legislative problems
that in all probability can not be solved
at this time.
The President is insistent, for example,
that the limitation placed upon the activi-
ties OF the Secret Service shall be amend
ed 20 conform TO recommendations he
made in two special messages TO the Ma
tional Legislature.
He has vetoed the census bill. which
contained a provision authorizing the Rp-
pointment Of census employees on the
recommendation OF members OF Congress
instead OF through certihcation BY the
Civil Service Commission.
TIE Presidents attitude toward these
two questions, as well as other pending
measures. may result in the failure OF a
number OF important bills in the present
Congress.
May Fail to Pass.
Il IS practically admitted by leaders Of
the House that the s1ndry' civil bill.
which comes. among other things. under
! appropriations for the maintenance OF
the Secret Service, possibly one or two
other supply bills. and the census bin
wiz fail OF passage at this session This
means that they must be taken up and
put into the form Of Law A. the special
session 10 be called in March
When tariff bills have been considered
at special sessions in the past It was
under plan that prevented considera-
ton OF other measures. except in case
Of emergency.
Accordingly, the House which origi-
mates tariff legislation, proceeded to
transact its business with only the com
mittees that were absolutely necessary
to make the wheel go round.
The determination 20 defer action on
al least one appropriation bil and TO
lay over the census bin opens the way
for legislation Of general character. and
this means that many measures other
than that relating 20 the tariff WIN be
debated, and probably passed, at the com
ling special session.
Sundry Civil Bill.
The sundry civil bin has been made the
subject OF hearings before the House
Committee on Appropriations for many
weeks. This Is the biggest supply bill Of
them all The Secret Service provision
in that measure is not the only one that
gives the House leaders cause for con-
eera. The sundry civil bin IS the vehi-
Gle for appropriations TO. carry on the
canal work al Panama
A debate in the Senate a CAV or so
ago demonstrated that there are many
members in that body who believe that
the government bluBdered when it de-
cided 70 build lock type Of canal across
the Isthmus. and word has been received
by the House leaders that Senator's in
tend, 4 the sundry civil bill is presented
10 the Senate before March (, % bend
every effort TO secure the adoption Of
an amendment making Il mandatory on
the President 20 construct a sea-level
canal connecting the two oceans.
Senators 90 Retire.
The Senator's interested are among
those who VIII retire from that body on
March 4. It viii therefore. be seen that
the decision Of the leaders not to con-
clude at this session work Tnaoped oct
at the beginning Is not inspired solely
By desire TO avoid further trouble with
the present Chief Executive.
The Committee on Census met yesterday
TO consider the Presidents veto measure.
While no formal action was taken. dis
cussion in committee indicated that it
would be unwise at this late day in the
the Presidents Veto