The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-04-13

GL1AU ROOT.
corporation lawyers is on the constitu.
donality of a measure. If they can
have 1t knocked out on that ground
their battle is won almost before it
starts. 1t was in this way that the
income tax was killed, and it is in
this way that the postal savings bank
1s seriously endangered. The friends
of this measure should not delude
themselves into the belief that the con-
stitutional objections to it are triiing
matters. In the opinions of great law
yers they are most serious. Senator
Root introduced his amendment to per-
init the use of postal savings deposits
Tor the purchase of government bonds
Tor the express purpose of giving the
bill a constitutional leg to stand on.
With that provision adopted. the con-
s~titutionality of the measure could be
defended under the clause covering the
right of the government to borrow
money. At present the only constitu-
tional provision that can be cited in
Its behalf is the general welfare
clause, and this is so vague and elias.
tic that a court could give it a wide
variety Of interpretations. President
Taft in his New York speech agreed
with Senator Root that this amend.
ment would make the bill constitu-
tiOnal.
In making a prediction Of what con-
gress will or will not do here is a fact
that may throw some light on the sit
nation: Practically one-half Of the ses-
] Is gone, and not one bill embody-
ing any of the presidents main poll
cies has passed either house. There
are four Of these main policies, ex-
elusive Of federal incorporation and
ship subsidies. both Of which Taft
has said that he will not press at this
session. These four are postal saw
ings banks. conservation, interstate
commerce and regulation Of iniunc-
lions. In some cases several bills are
comprised under one head, notably in
the matter of conservation. With half
OF the session over, the net progress
to date, outside of committee work, is
that the postal savings bank bill is
still being debated in the senate and
after passing that body will have to
run he gantlet Of the house. The
other measures are in a still more
backward state. Query: If it requires
two and a half months to get one bill
part way through one house, how long
will be needed to put one dozen bills, |
more or less, through both houses?
When you have figured that out YOU
can form some notion of how much
chance the president has to get all of
his policies passed at this session,
The Aids inquiry in New York and
a similar investigation going forward
IN Ohio are both watched with the
keenest interest in Washington. 1t is
understood here that in both cases the
president has freely advised that the
probe go to the bottom. This he has /
done not as president, for as such he /
would have no right to interfere in |
state matters, but as the titular head
OF the Republican party. II the idea
gets abroad that the head Of the ma
ton will always exert his influence in
favor OF cleaning house wherever
graft and bribery filth appear It may
have q good effect everywhere.
Recurring to the Aids inquiry. old
liners wonder what would happen in
II q similar investiga-
ion were on here. Now, az a mat
of fact. there have been almost as
many rumors Of bribery and graft fy.