The Washington herald., 1910-06-23
PASSAGE OF BILLS
MAKES TAFT HAPPY
Three More Presidents Meas
uFeS Pass Senate.
PUBLICITY BILL A SURPRISE
Not a Party Platform Pledge. but
Advocated by the President In HIS
SDeeches-Paksing of Postal Saw
ings Measure Affords a Quiet Dig
at Senator DoIIiver.

The bill providing for making public
campaign contributions in Congressional
and national elections has been added TO
the list or Taft measures passed by Con-
gress. The Senate Committee on Privil-
eyes and Elections Unexpectedly reported
the bill yesterday afternoon and it went
through with a rush. The Senate dis
agreed 10 the House provision requiring
publicity of campaign contributions prior
10 elections and adopted the substitute
offered by the Senate Committee on
Privileges and Elections. which provides
for post-election publicity.
This throws the bin into conference,
but there is little doubt that an agree
ment will be reached quickly and that
it VIII be added to the long list OF legis-
lation before Congress adiourns.
The amendment was carried by vote
OF 81 TO So All the votes TO limit pub
hcity after elections were cast by Repub-
iicans. Nine Republicans. however,
voted with the Democrats in favor OF
ante-electiOn publicity. Two OF the reg
ular Republicans. Flint OF California
and Warner OF Missouri, jumped the
reservation and sided with the minority
party
The other seven Republicans who voted
with the Democrats for the bin as il
came from the House were Beveridge
Borah. Bourne. BTistow. Clapp, Cum
Minis, and La Toilette.
Senator Bailey. who Is q member OF
the Privileges and Elections Committee
said that the minority members had re-
Trained from making a report because
they feared that a discussion might
jeopardize the bill.
Beveridge Suggestion Resisted.
Senator Beveridge wanted to extend the
provisions OF the measure to State as
well as national committees. but this
suggestion was resisted by Senator Lodge
Senator Beveridge finally withdrew his
amendment.
The Republican platform did not pledge
the party to campaign publicity. but
President Taft in his speeches has advo-
Gated it.
President Taft is happy over the way
his programme is sliding through Con
gress.
The President heard Of the passage Of
the postal savings bank bill by the Senate
when he was about 70 mount his horse
for a ride through Rock, Creek Park late
yesterday afternoon.
When he returned to the White House
two hours later he was informed thaI
two of his other measures-the campaign
publicity bill and the reclamation bill
also had slipped through the Senate and
would be sent soon to the White House.
President Highly Pleased.
'Bully! Bullyr' exclaimed tke Presi
dent when he heard OF the latest develop
ments at the Capitol The quick actor
on the publicity measure obviously wa;
an agreeable surprise to the President
He had feared that It might cause some
discussion in the Senate and extend tht
date of adjournment beyond tomorrow.
The passage Of the postal savings banl
bill in the form that the President de
sired it probably has given him as muct
personal satisfaction as any other legis
latfon that he has obtained from Con
gress.
In speaking Of the postal savings bank
! legislation, the President remarked thai
he might be an amateur banker, but tha
| I'm this case he thought amateur banking
was pretty good.
This, OF course, was a dig at Senate
Dolliver. of Iowa. who had characterized
| the President as an amateur banker"
The House and the Senate have prac.
ticaly finished with the Taft programme
except for action on the conference re
port on two or three OF the measures.