The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-31
CONGRESS So FAR (
Still MARKS TIME
Little Has Been Accomplished
Toward the Furthering of
Taft's Policies.
PARTY LEADERS MUCH
DIVIDED In OPINION
Investigations Now Being Made
in Several Fields Acceptable
TO Democrats.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 30.-Little head
way has been made in the two months
mat congress has been In session toward
the enactment or important legislation
demanded by President Taft, set on cvely
side are predictions Of an early adjourn
mcnt
Ihough'ful members arc asking cash
other what kind OF a reception they alll
get II they go TO the White house on
April or May with plans to quit work
ior the summer. if the administration
programme is unified.
Hard Road to Travel
The qIetsinn Is one that congressional
leaders adml, Is giving them deep cor
Germ. The absence OF unanimitv of
lhougnt on almost every one of thc
exceedingly difficult the work mapped out
lot those who have the bills in charse.
Bllls 10 create court of commerce and
amend the railroad rate laws 10 est9b-
! ilsn postal savings banks. to validate
| Withdrawals Of public lands wanted for
| conservation purposes and 10 legalze llp-
,ionaI charters for corporations doing in
terstate business. have met with oppU-
siUon.
Political Waters Muddy.
From political point Of view. Repuh-
llcan waters seemingly arc beconirE
nuddied ny the several investigations in
/ progress, and the minority members sp-
pear not unwilling 10 let this procedure
continue indefinitely. Inquiries such as
that being made into the affairs of the
I Interior department and the forest seTv-
Ice naturally are having some effect uu-
on plans 10 amend land laws and enact
legislation for Alaska and even bear 10
some extent on the Arizona and New
Mexico statehood bill.
Other invcstiga tlons. such as those re-
laling 10 SeCond-CiaSs mail matter and
tle pos'oiIIce dehctt. and causes OF the
mizc a complete redemption Of Rcpubli-
can campaign pledges. \ conference OF
Republican leaders Is being considered
and proba bly, viii be held soon after SEN
ator Aldrich returns from Florida. as hs
| Is expected 10 do this week Vigorous
means will be advocated 10 restore some
sernbiance OF order to the chaotic condi-
| ,ions.
May Rcarrange Plans.
The plan most IN favor with such Re-
] publican leaders as are now in Washing
! ton is for d Encouragement OF the TAFT
! policies, placing them in order OF eNecu-
! tive preference or in S;ICh sequence as L.
! is thought would most benefit 4 major
| ty OF the party. II has been declared
that no progress win be made so long
as leaders are pushing interstate COM
mcrcc legislation. others conservative
policies and others postal savings banks.
OF federal incorporation laws.
At present the house is occupied with
appropriation bills. In the senate two
| administration Ineasurcs-th postal saw
| Inss bank bill and the Alaskan legislative
council bill-arc being played against
against both, and Republican leaders say
the present tactics affect the chances
Of both. Tho statehood bill is ready for
| considers ton by the senate. and the
army appropriation bill VIII be reported
tomorrow.
Fight on Cannon
The several propositions before the
house for the elimination OF Speaker
on
and for The enlargement OF the commit
tee. form basis of informal discussion.
No one is willing to predict when ques-
tions involved in these resolutions will
come 10 a show down" There are va
rious ways in which the matter could
be brought up on the floor. and it may be
precipits ted suddenly or be deferred Tor
weeks.
Many members OF the house are ob-
sent on account Of approaching pri-
naries in their district.