Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-14
TAFT OUTLINES
PARTY PLEDGES
EMPHASIZES MEASURES FOR
EARLY CONSIDERATION
Senate Certain to Pass Law Enrich-
ing Marine Companies, but DEM
ocrats Believe They Can Dee
feat 1t in House
ASSOCIATED Pressl

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13-The fact
that President Taft in his New York
speech picked out for emphasis such
subjects as postal savings banks, in
terstate commerce legislation, antrim
junction, statehood and conservation OF
natural resources, seems to mark
these as subjects for carly consider
alton by congress.
Especially is this true for the reason
that measures to carry out these party
pledges have reached advanced stages
before the appropriate committees.
It is remarked also that the charac-
ter of Mr.. Taft's illusions to the fed
eral Incorporation bill would hardly
justify the placing of that measure In
the first rank of administrative meas
ures, while the fact that ship subsidy
was ignored altogether makes it ques-
tionable whether the executive will
bring pressure to further its chances.
Ship subsidy legislation seems al
most certain to pass the senate, but
the Democrats in the house are pre-
pairing to line up against the bill and
believe that with some Republican as
sistance they will be able to defeat
it. 1t is not improbable that the SEN
ate would then place the measure on
the postoffice appropriation bill as a
rider, in which event a second con-
test would be precipitated in the house.
1t is expected the committee of the
senate selected to conduct an investi-
cation into the cost of living will be
announced early this week. There is
little doubt that Republican members
of the committee will be Senator
Lodge, chairman. and Senators Elkins
McCumber, Smoot and Crawford. The
Democratic membership has not been
determined. but Indications are that
Senators Simons of North Carolina,
and Clark of Arkansas, will be asked
to serve.
Republicans generally express the
opinion that the inquiry can be con-
Quoted so speedily as to insure a re-
port before the conclusion of the pres
ent session. They will undertake es-
pecially to demonstrate that the tariff
is hot responsible for the rise in prices.
The question whether the house COM
mittee on ways and means will under
take an investigation of the high cost
of living is still undetermined.
There is no general demand for a
rival inquiry and indications are that
the house will be willing to leave the
whole subject to the senate, as the lat
ter's inquiry is intended to be defen-
slve of Republican principles and is
designed for use in the congressional
elections.
Postal savings banks and appropria-
t1On DlllS VIII take up pTdcllcdlIy Ine
entire week in the senate. In the
house. the rivers and harbors bill
probably will occupy much time, and
there are other appropriation bills
ready for consideration. Among these
is the postoffice bill, carrying about
S240. .OO0 600. and the Indian bill. 1t is
unlikely that any administration bills
will be considered in the house this
week.
The Ballinger-P -Pinchot investigation is
scheduled for resumption tomorrow
There will be important hearings also
at both ends of the capital on the ad-
ministration railroad BILL
The hearings on the anti-option bill
is attracting general interest. Hear.
ings will be resumed tomorrow.