Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-28
TAFT MEASURES
PROLONG DEBATE
PRESIDENTS PET BILLS ARE
STRONGLY OPPOSED
LEADERS. ARE UNABLE TO PRE-
DICT END OF SESSION
Belief Is Expressed Greater Number
of Chief Executives Proposed
Acts Will Garry Despite
Fight to Be Waged
ASSOCIATED Pressl

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-Although
congress has been in session nearly
! three months, none of the party lead
| ers has come forward with predic-
! ton of the time of final adjournment.
| The uncertainty is due chiefly to the
| opposition against some of the admin
! istration measures, and the fact that
! debate is likely to continue for many
weeks in connection with nearly every
one of the presidents bills.
Regardless of the fact that the dis
cussion will probably be extended over
a long period on most of the bills on
which the president has his heart set,
1t is believed they ultimately will
be enacted. This is true as to the
interstate commerce bill, two of the
! conservation measures, court injunc-
tion legislation and the postal savings
bank bill. The statehood bill, it is
feared, will be severely attacked but
Senator Beveridge, who will report the
senate measure, expresses the opinion
that it will not fail.
The sensational testimony given by
former Chief Forester Pinchot before
the Ballinger-P -Pinchot investigation is
attracting unusual attention. Mr. Pin
chot will resume the stand Tuesday.
The committee will meet Tuesday,
Friday and Saturday of this week, and
the indications are no other witnesses
will testify during that time.
5aIIinger's Testimony Awaited
An issue of veracity has been raised
between Mr.. Pinchot and Mr. Ballinger,
and the appearance of the secretary of
the interior on the witness stand is
eagerly awaited.
The senate cost of living investi-
ivo 1or,or,nif{oa
working program, and it is likely day
and night sessions will be held. There
is still a minority vacancy on the COM
mittee, no Democrat having been found
willing to succeed Senator Chamber
lain. 1t has been suggested that Sen
atOr Percy may have this important
task thrust upon him when he arrives
to succeed Colonel James Gordon of
Mississippi
Practically no business will be done
in the senate, except the consideration
of appropriation bills, until after the
vote on Thursday on the postal saw
ings bank bill.
The next bill of importance to be
considered is the interstate commerce
measure, already reported from the
committee, although the report of
the majority has not been prepared.
The fact that it will be accompanied
with the views OF the minority fore
casts a bitter fight. Whether the
Democrats will join Senators Cummins
and Clapp in opposition to the Taft
Wickersham bill is not yet clear.
Attorney General Wickershann will
appear tomorrow before the house
committee on interstate commerce
and expects to complete his statement
on the bill then. Representative Town
send Of Michigan, who is the special
champion of the presidents measure,
is seeking to have the bill reported, as
was accomplished in the senate. If
he succeeds it is almost certain that
a minority report will be filed
Gompers' Opposition Supported
The statement made by President
Gompers of the American Federation
of Labor in opposition to the Moon
bill relating to court injunctions, ac-
counted one of the administration bills,
indicates that this measure also will
be strongly opposed. If hearings on
the bill are granted by the house
judiciary committee, opposition may
be expected from prominent labor
leaders The senate committee on
judiciary does not expect TO take up
this subject until some action is had in
the house on the Moon bill.
The conservation bills undoubtedly
will be about the last taken up in
congress. An exception is that which
provides for the issuance of $50, 900. 900
in certificates of Indebtedness to realize
money for reclamation work which
already is before the senate AS soon
as some agreement is reached for re-
tiring these certificates a bill may be
passed.