Evening journal., 1910-01-18
Tuesday. January lS. 1910

HARD SHEDDING FOR THE PRESIDENT.
DRESIDENT TAFT is credited with max
i ing truce between the Republican insur
gents and the regulars, but this docs not mean
that his program of legislation will go through
Congress without struggle
When it was reported few days ago that
the President would line up with Speaker Can
b and his crowd, there was great surprise
Ven'ng the friends of the President, and the de-
0ien that followed. showed that the good opin-
Ron OF the friends of the President was iusti-
fed. 1t was shown that the President did not
intend to side in factiona contest in the party.
And in this he is right, for the insurgents have
as a rule supported the policies advocated by
the President. The opposition, If any, has come
from the coterie close to Speaker Cannon and
this condition win continue.
The President has outlined a rather long pro-
gram. Several of his measures arc already con-
sdered to be in doubt notably the Federal Cor
poration Charter bill il is already said that this
measure has no chance of passing at the present
session. il at all, but the opponents of the bill
should not be so sure about that They thought
that the bill taxing corporations on their re-
ceipts would not be passed, but their opinion
proved to be wrong. Other Recommendations of
the President to come before Congress are sep
aratc statehood for Arizona and New Mexico,
postal savings banks, ship subsidy a new form
Interstate Commerce law and new laws to pro-
mote the conservation of the forest and mineral
lands and the water power remaining in the
control of the government. To some of these
proposals there will be no serious objection.
1t seems that the act enabling Arizona and
New Mexico to take the preliminary steps for
statehood will be passed and the territorialists
will be authorized to call conventions and pro-
ceed with the building of state constitutions.
Perhaps something will be done with the
Sherman law. 1t should be amended because the
law, according to corporation attorneys, is not
at all clear and they puzzled how to inter
pret its provisions. Many friends of the Pres
dent believe that bill to establish postal saw
ings bank will be enacted at this session, but
there is a strong element in opposition that may
defeat the measure. The bankers, as might be
expected, arc opposed to it, and in the fights on
the measure during the last few years they have
won Many persons think that in connection
with this the subject of a parcels post system
should be taken up so that the power of the cx-
press trust could be curbed.
The legislation for further conservation recon-
mended by Taft is along the Roosevelt lines, and
It should be strongly supported, but there will
be objection to the recommendation of a bond
issue. 1t is probable, however, that the hardest
fight will be over the plan to widen the author
tty Of the Interstate Commerce Commission.
and there will be lively opposition over the pro-
posed commerce court. The railroad companies
will use their influence to prevent the addition
of this judicial machinery to the government, and
they will be assisted by men who think that too
many courts outside Of the regular courts are
being created.
Altogether it looks as if the President, even
with united party, will not have plain sail
ing.