Omaha daily bee., 1910-05-23
Postal Savings Bank, Statehood and
Railroad Bills Still Up.
FIGHT OVER sUNDRY CIVIL BILL
Warfare Over Appropriation Wages
Longer than Was Anticipated.
wEsTERNERs HAVE COMPLAINT
Charge Made that Postal Savings
Measure is ''BanLers' BiII' and
that Would DepIte West
of Funds.

WASHINGTON, May 22.-Shivers have
been chasing themselves up and won the
spinal columns Of members who must face
serious contests in their states or dis
tricts, If they come back to the next con-
gress, ever since John Dwight, republican
whip of the house. issued his prediction
that the session would not adjourn before
July Is.
The contest in the house over the $780,
OOO appropriation contained in the sundry
civil bill to extend the scope of the tariff
board has waged much more stubbornly
than had been anticipated. The democrats
have opposed the item on the ground that
the results of the Investigations by the
board should be reported direct to congress
Instead of to the president.
The sundry civil bill has been used as a
vehicle to convey more campaign speeches
under government frank throughout the
country than any other measure that has
been before congress at the present ses-
sion. 1t has been used about equally by
both parties.
Postal Savings annk.
The postal savings bank, bill, which has
been reported from the committee Of post
offices and post roads, is ready for the re-
publican caucus, which will be held
Wednesday night. Practically all the re-
publicans of the house signed the call 1t
is not likely, therefore, that the division
over the bill will be along regular and
insurgent lines. 1t is more likely to be be-
tween eastern and western members.
The caucus will take the form of COM
mittee of the whole majority membership
of the house and it is probable that many
changes from the form in which it was re-
ported will be made in the bill Some
members believe that in order that there
shall be a free discussion of the measure
the caucus may have to be extended over
several nights, but Chairman Weeks OF
the postoffice committee believes that one
night will be sufficient.
Many western members believe the N
per cent Of deposits which the bill as re,
ported would require to be kept in the loca
banks is too small, and that the provision
Of the bill which passed the senate woult
be more effective to keep deposits in tbs
communities where collected.
Charge of westerners.
The westerners charge that the bill az
drafted Is bankers bill' and that unde
its operations their communities might b,
depleted of money and that it would b.
taken to New York and other money cen
| ters.
When the caucus has agreed upon a bill
which it has reason to believe it can pu
through the house the majority party prob
ably will endeavor to bring in a rule witt
a view to passing the bill without amend
ment. The democratic members and al
of the insurgent republicans are expecte,
to resist such rule on the ground tina
they are opposed to "legislating in secret
as they characterize the caucus method.
After reposing on the senate calendar
for many weeks the statehood bill suddenl!
has been called to take an active part IL
bringing the opposing factions togethe
on the railroad bill. Regular republican,
concede they need democratic votes to pas
the administration measure in a, form sat
isfactory to President Taft. There ar
many of the contested measure of the bill
Continued on Second Page)