Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-07
Postal Savings Bank Bill
Goes to House Today
Is Borah Amendment a Slap
Al President Taft?
Debate on Railroad Bill Is Likely
To Last Several Weeks.

Washington. March 6.-The postal
the House tomorrow and promptly
| sent to committee. while the admins
tration railroad bill comes up in the
Senate and the House drones on with
appropriations to the accompaniment
OF political speeches made under the
cloak OF general debate. Dreary dis
cusSions probably will be the order of
business for file next few days, or I'M
til Congress has warmed to another Of
the administration policies.
Before the railroad bill, which Gre
ateS court Of commerce besides
amending the interstate commerce
laws in other ways, is taken up in in
terest it is likely that the agricultural
appropriation bill will be put through
thes Senate. This will not take long.
however. and consideration of another
of the TAFT policies soon will be in
full swing.
Members of the House are begin
ming to analyZc the amendments which
wer put on the postal savings bank
bills saturday in the last few hours OF
consideration. The one that is caus-
lilg tit HoSt - tii"S "hAN''
will prevent postal funds from being
invested in 2 per cent. government
bonds. whereas all higher interest
bearing securities will be available for
such investment III time of war or
other exegencies.
There was practically no opposition
to this amendment when it was offered
by Senator Borah. In the light OF
President Tafts New York speech
calling attention to the obligation of
the government to see that the hold
ers of the per cent. consuls should
not suffer loss, and the government
could give the holders relief by using
postal funds to buy these low class
bonds, some members of Congress
profess to see in the Senate action
direct slap at the President.
In only one other way is the adop-
ton OF the amendment explained, and
that is on the ground that those who
were in charge Of the bill believed it
could be passed only by making con-
cessions To insurgent senators. The
Senate will be given an opportunity
within few days to compare the ma
jority and the minority views OF the
committee on interstate commerce in
regard to the administration railroad
bill. t'
While the debate on the railroad bill
is likely to last several weeks, Repub-
lican leaders in the Senate have prom
ised President Taft that it will be
passed without material change. I'm
ouestionably this attitude will pro-
woke acrid discussion, accompanied by
condemnation OF what is termed White
House domination. All of the reports
which came from the. Senate. commit
tees on territories seemed to indicate
that the statehood bill is in trouble
and that Senator Beveridge will have
difficulty in getting It passed. The
fexact cause for delay is not apparent.
y Another effort is being made In the
House to have a small omnibus public
buildings bill to assist certain politi-
cal districts where the, Congressional
incumbents are In distress. The Sen
ate Is opposed to the bill.
Little discussion IS heard concerning
the conservation. bills and the court in.
junction bill. which are on the Presi-
dents program. The reason Is said
to be that leaders believe that if ac-
ton on these measures is delayed they