Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1910-02-05
MAY Change POLICY
HOUSE AND SENATE BUSY
WITH MANY BILLS.
Policies of President Taft May Be Re
arranged by Party Leaders-Little
Roadway Made on Platform Promises
Some Talk Early Adjournment
Investigation to Be Made.

Washington, Jan. 31.-Little head
way has been made in the two months
that congress has been in session to-
ward the enactment of important legis-
lation demanded by President Taft; yet |
on every side are predictions of an
early adjournment.
The thoughtful members are asking |
each other what kind of reception |
they will get if they go to the White
House on April Is or May ~ with
plans to quit work for the summer if
the administration program is untitled.
The question is one that congress
sional leaders admit is giving them deep
concern. The absence of unanimity of
thought on almost every one of the
president IS measures is such as to make
exceedingly difficult the work mapped
out for those who have the bills in
charge. Bills to create court of COM
merce and amend the railroad rate laws,
to establish postal savings banks, to
validate Withdrawals of public lands
wanted for conservation purposes and
to legalize national charters for cor
porations doing interstate business have
met with determined opposition.
From a political point of view repub-
lican waters seemingly are becoming
muddied by the several Investigations
in progress, and the minority members
appear not unwilling to let this pro-
cedure continue indefinitely. Inquiries
such as that being made into the af-
fairs of the interior department and
the forest service naturally are having
some effect upon plans TO amend land
laws and enact legislation for Alaska
and even bear to some extent on the
Arizona and New Mexico statehood
bill.
Other Investigations, such as those
relating to second-class mail matter and
the postoffice deficit, and causes of in
creased cost of living tend to minimize
a complete redemption of republican
campaign pledges. A conference of re-
publican leaders is being considered and
probably win be held soon after Sena-
tor Aldrich returns from Florida, as he
is expected to do this week. Vigorous
means will be advocated to restore some
semblance of order to the chaotic condi-
tions.
Rearrange Taft Policies.
The plan most in favor with such
Republican leaders as are now in Wash
ington is for Encouragement of the
Taft policies, placing them in order of
executive preference or in such Sc
quence as it is thought would most
benefit a majority of the party. Tt has
been declared that no progress viii be
made so long as some leaders are push
ing interstate commerce legislation,
others conservation policies and others
postal savings banks or federal incor-
} poration laws.
At present the house is occupied with
appropriation bills; in the senate two
administration measures - the postal
savings bank bill and the Alaskan leg
islative council are being placed
) against each other. Opposition has de
veloped against both and republican
leaders say the present tactics may
, effect changes in both. The statehood
D bill is ready for consideration by the
senate and the army appropriation bill
will be reported soon.
The several propositions before the
house for the elimination of Speaker
Cannon from the committee on rules
and for the enlargement of the com
mittee form a basis of informal discus
: sion. No one is willing to predict wher
b questions involved in these resolutions
] will come to a "showdown. There
are various ways in which the matter
> could be brought up on the floor anC
it may be precipitated suddenly or b'
. deferred for weeks.