Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-02-14
LAWMAKERS
WILLGET BUSY
Both Houses of Congress Expected
to Push Work of Redeeming
Platform Pledges.
SEVERAL BILLS ARE WELL ALONG
Number Of Measures Are " :
Ready to Report. -
INQUIRY INTO PRICE OF
Appointment of Senate COmmi
Will Probably Be Made Today,
APPROPRIATIONS IN H0US.4
Greater Part of Week VIII
Ne Devoted to Rivers, In
dian and POstOffice
Measures.
Number Of Measures Are
Ready to Report.
INQUIRY INTO PRICE OF \
appointment of Senate COmmi
Will Probably Be Made Today
APPROPRIATIONS IN HoUs~

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1s-The fact that
President Taft in his New York speech
picked out for his subject postal savings
banks. interstate commerce legislation.
contamination, statehood and conservation
of natural resources seems to mark these
as subjects for early consideration by con-
gress, Especially is this true for the rea-
son that measures to carry out these party
pIadges have reached advanced stages be-
fore the appropriate committees.
It Is remarked also that the character Of
Mr.. Tafts illusions to the federal incorpor-
alton bill would hardly justify the placing
Of that measure IN the first rank of ad-
ministration meaures, while the fact that
ship subsidy ignored altogether makes
it questionable whether the executive will
bring pressure to bear to promote its
chances.
Ship subsidy legislation seems almost GER
tain to pass the senate but the democrats
in the house are preparing to line up
against the bill and believe that with some
republican assistance they will be able to
defeat It. It is not improbable that the
senate would then resort to placing the
measure upon the postoffce appropriation
bill as a rider, in which event a second
contest would be precipltated in the house.
Food Price Inquiry.
It is expected that the select committee
OF the senate designed to conduct the pro-
posed inquiry regarding the price Of food
products and other necessaries OF life will
be announced tomorrow, or IL not then, at
an early day Of the present week. There
is little doubt that the republican member
ship OF the committee will consist of SEN
ator Lodge, chairman and Senators Elkins.
McCumber, Smoot and Crawford. The dem
ocratic membership has not been determ-
ined. but indications are Senator Simmons
Of North Carolina and Senator Clarke Of
Arkansas will be asked to officiate on be-
half OF the minority membership.
II the committee thus should be COM
posed the transmisslssippl country would
have four OF the seven members The re-
publican members generally express the
opinion that the inquiry can be conducted
SO speedily as to Insure a report before
the conclusion OF the present session of
cor gress and their efforts will be directed
\ to that end. They will undertake especially
to demonstrate that the tariff is not re-
sponsible for the rise in prices.
The question of whether the house COM
mittee on ways and means will undertake
the investigation OF the high cost Of living
in view of the action the senate Is
taking is undetermined. There is no de-
mand for rival inquiry and the indca.
tions are that the house will be willing tc
leave the whole subject to the senate, as
the latter's probe is intended to constitute
defense of republican principles and is
designed for use in the coming congres.
sionai elections
Appropriation Bills.
Postal savings banks and appropriation
bills viii take up practically the entr,
week in the senate. In the house tho
rivers and harbors bill will probably oc
cupy considerable time and there are Other
appropriation bills ready for consideration
Among these is the postoffice bill. carrying
$240OOoOOO. and the Indian bill It is nm
likely that any Of the administration bills
win be considered in the house this week.
The Ballinger-Pinchot investigation Il
scheduled for resumption tomorrow. There
will be important hearings also at botl
ends OF the capitol on the administration
railroad bill.
The hearings on the anti-Option bill In
volving the prohibition of transactions II
futures OF products OF the soil on stool
exchanges, is attracting great interest an
a result the room of the house commit
tee has been crowded every day TIL
hearings win be resumed tomorrow