The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-31
TAFT'S POND IS
 BECOMING MUDDY. Investigations Are Having Ef- {, feet on All His Plans MAY ADJOURN EARLY congressmen Predicting Adjournment Before Taft Programme Is Carried
 out-Busy Week for Commit
 tees of Both Houses.

| way has been made since the two months Congress has been in session toward the 1 enactment of important legislation de- | manded by President Taft, yet on every side are heard predictions of an early adjournment
 | Thoughtful members of Congress are asking each other what kind of recep- tion they will meet if they go to the White House April 15 or May l with plans to quit work for the summer, if the administration programme is unified. The question is one which congressional leaders admit Is giving them deep con- cern. The absence of unanimity of thought on almost all of the President s measures Is such as to make exceedingly difficult the work mapped out for those who have the bills In charge. Bills to create a court of commerce and amend the railroad rate laws, to establish postal savings banks, to vali- date withdrawals of public lands wanted for conservation purposes, and to legal ike national charters for corporations do- ing interstate business which have been placed at the head of the White House schedule have all met with determined opposition
 From political viewpoint republican waters are seemingly becoming muddy by the several Investigations which arc in progress and the minority members appear not unwilling to let this process continue indefinitely. Inquiries such as that being made into the affairs of the interior department and the forest serv- ice naturally are having some effect on plans to amend land laws and enact legislation for Alaska and even bear to some extent upon the Arizona and New Mexico statehood bill.
 Other Investigations such as those re- lating to second-class mail matter, and the postoffice deficit and the causes of increased cost Of living all tend to min imize the chances for complete re- demption of republican campaign pledges conference of republican leaders is now being considered and probably will be held soon after Senator Alorich re- turns from Florida, as he Is expected to do this week, whither he went a week ago to recuperate from a severe cold Whether this will be held at the White House, so as to enable MT. Taft to participate. or at the capitol, has not been decided.
 It has been settled, however, that it will include the more prominent mem bers of both branches of Congress and that vigorous means will be advocated to restore to some semblance of order
 
 The plan most in favor with such re- publican leaders are now in Washing ton is for a encouragement of the Taft policies, placing them in order of execu- tive preference or in such sequence as it is thought would most benefit the majority party.
 It has been declared that no progress will be made 50 long as some of the leaders are pushing interstate commerce legislation, other conservation policies and the postal savings bank. federal incorpor- ation laws and some of the numerous measures on the White House calendar
 At present the House Is occupied with appropriation bills and in the Senate there are two administration measures These are the postal savings bank bill and the Alaskan legislative council bills. They are played against each other and opposition has developed against both bills aed republican leaders say the tac- tics affect the changes and chances of both.
 The statehood bill is also ready for consideration and in addition the army appropriation bill will be reported to- morrow.
 The several propositions before the House more or less avowedly designed for the elimination of Speaker Cannon from the committee on rules, for the enlargement of the committee. so as to make IL InOT6 TcpfcScutdtiNt ol tnc WilOic membership of the House. or both, from the basis of informal discussion, no one is willing to predict when the questions involved in the resolutions will come to show down.
 There are various ways in which the matter could be brought up on the floor and it may be precipitated suddenly or deferred for weeks At present there are many members of the House absent on account of the approaching primaries in their districts.
 Committees of both houses of Congress anticipate a busy week Several impor- tant hearings will be continued in the House. They include that in relation to the postoffice deflit, interstate commerce bills, including the administration bill, which, by the way, will receive atten- ton by the Senate committee, as well as charges of extravasances made by Representative Hitchcock of Nebraska against Secretary Ballinger. as well as , the investigation of the Ballinger-Pi chot controversy.