Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-31
Leaders Realize that Administration
Will Insist on Action.
oNFERENCE WILL BE HELD
Bills on Program Will Be Arranged
in Order of Importance,
INQUIRIES
DELAY
CAUSING .
Number of InvestiRa tIohs i'm Progress
Take Attention Of Members---
Others nt Home Looking
After Fences.


WASHINGTON, Jan, SO.-Little headwav
has been made I'm two months. congress
has been in session toward the enactment
OF important legislation demanded by
President Taft; yet en- every side are heard
predictions of an early adjournment
Thoughtful members Of congress are ask
ing each other what kind OF reception
they will meet IL they go to the White
House on April IS to May l. with plans
TO quit work for the summer II the ad-
ministratlon program is unfullftiled
The question is one which congressional
leaders admit is giving them deep con-
Germ. The absence of unanimity OF thought
on almost every one of the presidents
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 validate Withdrawals of
public lands wanted for conservation pur-
poses and to legalize national charters for
corporations doing interstate business
which have been placed at the head of the
white House schedule" have all met with
determined opposition.
Inquiries Causing Delay.
From political point Of view republl-
can waters seemingly are becoming
muddled by the several Investigations,
which are in progress, and the minority
members apear not unwilling to let this
procedure continue indefinitely. Inquiries
such as that being made into the affairs
of the Interior department and the forest
service naturally are having some effect
upon 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 relating to second class
mail matter and the postoffice deficit, and
the causes of the increased cost of living
all tend to minimize the chances for a
complete redemption Of republican camp
aign pledges t.s.4, gtlfea 49,
A conferences OF republican leaders Is
now being considered and probably win be
held soon after Senator Aldrieh returns
from Florida. as he is expected to do this
week, whether he went week ago to
recuperate from severe cold. Whether
this will be held at the White House, so
as to enable Mr.. Taft to participate or at
the capitol, has not been decided 1t has
been settled that it will include the more
prominent members of both branches Of
congress and that vigorous means will be
advocated to restore 70 some semblance of
OIuSE ln6 CndOllC COnulllOnB now eXlSIlnk.
Renrrangement OF Prices.
The plan most in favor with such repub-
lican leaders as are now In Washington is
for a rearrangement Of the Taft policies
placing them in order of executive prefer
ence or in such sequence as It is thought
would most benefit the majority party. 1t
has been declared that no progress will
be made so long as some of the leaders are
/
others conservation policies, stnl others
postal savings banks, federal incorporation
laws other Of the numerous measures
! on the calendar.
At the present time the house is occupied
with appropriation bills and in the senate
there are two administration measures
the postal savings bank bill and the Alas
kan legislative council bill-belng played
against each other. Opposition has de-
veloped against both bills and republican
| leaders say that the present tactics affect
the chances of both. The statehood bill
| also is ready for consideration, and in addi-
tlon the army appropriation bill will be
reported tomorrow.
Rules Measure in House.
| 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 1t more repre-
sentative of the whole membership of the
house, OF both, form the basis OF informal
discussion. No one is willing to predict
when the questions involved in these resolu-
tions 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
approaching primaries in their districts.
Committees OF both branches OF congress
expect a busy week. Several important
hearings will be continued in the house.
They include that in relation 20 the post
office deficit interstate commerce bills, in
cluding the administration bill, which, by
the way. will receive attention by the
senate committee as well; charges OF ex-
travagance made by Representative Hitch
cock (Neb.) against Secretary Ballinger as
we'll as the joint hearing In relation to the
| IaaIIlp ipahot nontvoUarav