Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-01-17
DISsENs1oNs SPREAD TO SENATE
Lull is Expected as Soon as Inquiry
Committee is Appointed.
rus OF TAFT BILLS
STATUS
Some Opposition is Developing to
Conservation Measures.
SENATE INSURGENTS TO MEET
They VIII Outline Position They
VIII Take ON Proposition TO
Amend Commerce and
Antitrust Laws.

Antitrust Laws.
WASHINGTON, Jan. l6.-No matter how
satisfactory an arrangement is made for
the selection OF the joint committee to in
vestigate the Ballinger-Pinchot controversy.
the lnsurgent fight promises TO occupy a
prominent place in the congressional sltu-
alton during the coming week.
Discussions between the insurgents and
regulars in the house have occupied the
center of the stare for a fortnight, although
some measures have been passed. The
chickering's have even spread to the senate.
and legislation there has been at a stand
stln.
That there will be a lull In hostilites in
the house as soon &c the Ballinger- -Pinchot
COMMITTEES is appointed is conceded. but
those who are anxious that legislation may
proceed without delay are not oversanguine
Of their efforts to keep the insurgent row
in check. They look for renewed outbreaks
whenever any question affecting the Can
non rules is interjected into the proceed
lngs
status of Taft Bills.
Second in interest to the discussion of
the battle between the republican organi-
cation and the insurgents In the house, is
the gossip I'm both branches of congress as
to what will be the fate of the several ad-
minstration bills to put into force what
are now known Taft policies as differ
entiated from Roosevelt policies. These
embrace the program for the amendment
of the interstate commerce law the Sher-
man antitrust law, and carrying into ef-
| feet measures for the conservation OF ma
tural resources.
Little opposition has been heard to the
| administration measure for the strengthen
| ing OF the interstate commerce act. On all
sides it seems to be conceded that some
such measure as Is proposed by Mr. Taft
will be enacted.
| The insurgents of the senate expect to
hold conference at an early day to con-
slider what is to be their attitude on the
administration bills. In the meantime the
i senate committee on batgcstate commerce
J will take up the subject OF amending the
| interstate commerce act at n meeting to
| be held Friday, while the Taft measure will
have to run the gauntlet of opposition in
the house committee on interstate and for
eight commerce.
The message OF the president bearing
upon the question Of enacting a voluntary
| federal incorporation law to offset the in
depreciation placed upon the Sherman anti
trust law by the Standard OIL company dis
solution case, and possible affirmation by
the supreme court OF that decision. has at
tracted little attention in the house. Mem
bers of the senate judiciary committee have
read the bill which President Taft and At
torney General Wickersham have drafted,
and will present to the senate through SEN
ator Clark of wyoming.
Comments Not All Favorable.
Comments upon the federal incorpora-
ton bill have not been altogether favor
able. Many lawyers have taken the po-
sition that 1t interferes with the rights OF
states to tax the property of corporations,
while there are others whose views are
dictated to some extent by the bellf that
il the decision in the Standard OIL case is
affirmed by the court that company would
be the first to take advantage Of a yolun-
tary federal Incorporation act. Opposition
to the Standard OIL company as a mon
opoly compes these members of congress
to be against any measure designed to
give relief to any Of the alleged trusts.
The administration bills to carry out Mr..
Taft's views on the subject OF conservation
OF natural resources are still before the
house committee on public lands await
; ing the announcement OF some volunteer
that he is willing to undertake their de-
Tense In the house. The offer Of Chair
, man Mondell of Wyoming to introduce the
bill "by request" having been declined by
) President Taft and Secretary Ballinger.
attention will be given to the measures by
: individual members Of the committee and
they may be parcelled out among several
, of the western representatives.
MOnden and BaIIinser.
! Many people believe that the administra-
, ton forces made a mistake in declining
the proffer of Mr.. Mondell His oposition
to the Ballinger bills is said to be in har-
mony with lukewarm support given by
him in the past to the Roosevelt or Taf,
program for the conservation Of natural
resources.
1t is pointed out that few bills which
withdrew for governmental reserve my
part of the public domain that had been
subject TO public entry have had Mr.. Mon
delrs support The measures in question
were drafted by Secretary Ballinger and
the endorsement introduced by request
would have brought them prominently 10
the attention of the country as admins
tration measures.
In view OF the fact that Mr. Ballinger'a
conservation tendencies have been ques-
toned It might prove advantageous to him
TO have his personal label upon them.
An interesting situation will be raised in
{ the house committee on expenditures BY
Representative Hitchcock OF Nebraska
who viii endeavor to substantiate th'
D charges made by him In the house OF ex.
5 travagance in the conduct Of land offices
e The bill giving separate statehood 4
r New Mexico and Arizona is now on tn
house calendar. Hamilton Of Michigan
author OF the measure. says that II III
3 passage is delayed 1t will be by the sen
; ate.
witness HeId for MurdeF.