The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-10-19
much WORK
FOR CONGRESS

time, and the indications are that the
conservation legislation which undoubt-
eddy will be passed will not reach the
President for approval inside of four
or five months.
But the conservation problem is not
all that will take time. The Presi-
dent, backed by public sentiment wants
the interstate commerce law amended,
so as to make it a more practical and
more effective statute. And experience
has shown tnat the passage of railroad
legislation is only attained after long,
bitter fights. The perfection of the
interstate commerce law alone would
keep Congress cry busy throughout an
ordinary session.
President Taft, on his trip, has said
he favored a postal savings bank BILL
and ship subsidy bill. Neither are
new issues, and the opposition to, both
has been strong enough in the past to
prevent the final passage of legisla-
ton. With the administration hard
at work, one or both of these measures
may be passed at the next session;
perhaps neither. Both however, will
form the topic of great discussion in
Senate and House, and in that way, If
no other, will consume time. Neither
proposition can be written into law
except afteh long, weary debates in the
Senate, and II is somewhat doubtful at
this time if the necessary number of
votes can be mustered in the House to
pass such bills. The necessary votes
were not forthcoming in the lat Con-
gress.
AS a result of the trip taken by the
Senate committee on Irrigation, there
will be demand for amendments to the
national reclamation act, including le-
gislation authorizing a $10,O00,000 bond
issue This will encounter much OPP
position from the East, no matter in
what shape it may be presented. East
ern men, particularly New Englanders,
nave an idea that there is enough irri-
cation law on the statute books and
it will be extremely difficult to con-
vince them that the legislation sought
by the President is advisable and ne
cessary. Speaker Cannon is perhaps
the most powerful opponent of such le-
gislation, and while he has not yet de-
feared himself, those familiar with his
attitude fully expect him to object to
the bond issue bill. 1t, together with
other irrigation legislation, may pass,
but it will only be after a fight,
Added to all tnis is the regular as
sortment of labor legislation that come
up in every session; river and harbor
appropriations that are now necessary;
public building appropriations which
are usually made in the session mme-
dately preceding. a congressional cleo
tons, and vast array of less i'm
pOrtant legislation, largely f local in
terest, but all OF which will take time.
1t is quite likely that some form Of
prohibition legislation may bob up;
there will be demand for amendment
to the immigration laws; Alaska, back
ed by the President, will ask for new
laws, and almost all the hold-over to-
pics will be on hand-all save the
tariff.
The delays Will not come in the
House, save in instances where the
Speaker ana the House leaders are at
loggerheads with the administration
Whatever is on tie House program will
go through in short order. The de-
lays will come in the Senate, as usual
for there debate is unlimited, and with
out restraint the tallly members of the
Senate can keep alive any big topic
for from one to four, months. 1t is
seriously interfere with the presidents
legislative program.