Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1910-01-13
REAL WORK Of
CONGRESS IS ON
Lawmakers, Refreshed by HoIi-
day Recess, Ready to Con-
front Problems.
DOMINANT PARTY NOT UNIT

'icans May Delay Legislation
Balllnger.Pinehot Controversy Prom.
lses to Be interesting-sattIe-sh Ship
Building to Be important Question.
Washington.-With the first meet.
Ing after the holiday recess congress
starts the serious work of the session.
The national lawmakers are con-
fronted with legislative difficulties
which are harder to overcome because
some of the measures which the ad-
ministration has proposed for enact
ment into law are regarded not mere
~ as party measures, but as factional
measures. Mr.. Taft, being a Repub-
lican, naturally wants the party's rep
resentatives In house and senate to
stand with him as q unit, but 1t ap-
pears that unless the Republicans
known as organization men and those
known as insurgents agree to bury
their differences there will be a hard.
fought struggle before the presidents
recommendations go through congress
In law form. II they succeed In going
through al all.
In the two weeks Of the session
prior to adjournment for the holiday,
the house made some Roadway with
the appropriation bills. The District
OF Columbia bill was reported and
passed. and several other a%ppropria-
ton bills were given fairly full con.
sideration in committee. The situa-
ton with regard to the supply bills.
there. Is well In hand and con-
gress. IL It will, can give plenty Of
time to the consideration of purely
legislative matters and yet give prom
ises to the people Of an adjournment
not later than May.
Views Somewhat Divergent.
The president, In his speeches and
by Inference since congress came to-
gether, has made the subject Of
amendments to the interstate COM
merce law the chief issue OF the win
ter. 1t may seem a little strange,
therefore. when It Ia said that con-
gress does not take the presidents
view OF the interest that attaches to
this bit OF proposed legislation, though
doubtless 1t is willing to admit its
place OF Importance. The matter Of
legalizing the establishment of postal
savings banks Is a Legislative ques.
ton which seems to have moved the
members to a higher pitch of interest
than has any other legislative sugges-
ton which the president has made.
IL is currency legislation of the fu-
ture which Is keeping the fate OF pos
tai savings banks In the balance. The
president wants legislation and will
continue to urge It. There will be
lobbys In Washington representing
both sides of the postal savings bank
controversy and both those Iobbys will
be busy until the question 10 settled
n way or the other.
This is to be a Plnchot Ballinger
winter In Washington. The presi.
dents recommendations for legisla.
ton that he wishes to have given the
force of law are all OF them charged
with interest. but the trouble OF long
standing between the Off ce of the sec
rotary Of the interior and the office of
OF the chief forester Of the govern
ment will throw its shadow over many
of the congressional proceedings that
are purely Legislative in their nature,
BalIinser.Pinchot Controversy
There Is no n In Washington, no
matter what his party, his faction, or
his sympathies In the strife between
MIR. Ballinger and Mr.. Pinchot, who
does not admit willingly that the
chief forester occupies the better
strategic position in preparing for
the coming battle. This advantage OF
Mr.. Pincnot's rises solely from the
fact that in his work for the preserva
ton of the forests he Is admitted ever
by his enemies to be absolutely disin,
terested. When the congressional In
by Mr.. Ballinger Is on there will BE-
no witnesses summoned in an attemp,
to prove that Mr.. Pinchot has done
his work simply with the view Of
holding his position In order that he
may draw his salary. The chief for
ester Is q very rich man. who wen
into the hard labor of saving the for
ests solely because he had a heart in
terest in the enterprise. Mr.. Pincho'
has used his government salary a
times to pay the expenses OF mel
who could aid him In his work ant
for whose salaries there was no ap
preparation made by congress.
The seeretary's Position.
Secretary of the Interior Ballingel
also has an advantage. When tn,
h..~, u,., made that ha haA a,ta.