The Washington times., 1910-03-06
Postal Savings Bill Out of
Way, Leaving Field
Clear.
CONTEST PROMISED
BEFORE 1T PASSES.
Encouraged by Success in Recent
Fight, Insurgents Grow
More Active.
By JOHN SNURE.

With the postal savings bill through
the Senate, the next important measure
before that body is the railroad bill.
About this measure will rage a strug-
gle in the Senate which will be the most
animated Of the session. II win be
much more intense in all probability
than the fight over the postal savings
measure.
1t IS the intention OF the Senate lead
ers TO lam the railroad bill through. as
It has come from the Senate Interstate
Commerce Committee. The bill Is to be
made 5he unfinished business and il viii
occupy the Senate's attention from them
on until passed, except as appropriation
bills and routine matters are taken up.
The debate on the railroad bill viii prob
ably last a month or a month and a
half
The question is whether the railroad
bill will be forced through as it stands
and as the President wants It to pass
or whether the Insurgents and Demo-
Gratis will compel its modification. In
surgent leaders declare they will be able
TO effect important amendments.
President Mad At Insurgents.
Already, President Taft is angered at
the Insurgents because they forced
notifications In the postal savings bank
bill and did not allow this to 90 through
as ne advocated. And in the course Of
the discussion on the postal savings
measure there were sharp reflections on
the President by some of the insurgents
This was particularly true of the
speech Of Senator DOlliver He criti-
CIsed the Presidents ideas as 10 postal
savings legislation plainly. That Is, he
Hf~rr-r sg.-zH fTf4rFe
that the postal savings funds ought 10
be invested in Government bonds. Sen
atOT DOlllVer held this was a plan 70 use
the savings Of the poor people 70 help
out the banks which had speculated in
the . per cents.
But il is expected the feeling between
the insurgents and the President will
be shown much more plainly In the de
bate on the railroad bill This is for the
reason that the insurgents declare the
Administration measure IS full of holes
and has many defects and weaknesses
In fact. they feel the measure has a
number of Jokers concealed about IT,
In the recent minority report of Clapp
and CUmminS, they pointed out what
they considered a number Of defects and
did so IN fOrceful language.
Alleged Defects Pointed Out.
One OF the defects in the railroad bill
to which attention will be called on the
floor of the Senate Is IN the fact that
II the bill were passed as It stands now
IL would permit the Hartman merger
At least, this is the view taken by some
good lawyers about the Senate. They
hold that the bill would compel the
Government TO drop the Hartman mer-
ger suit, for the reason that under the
proposed law, such merger would be
legaliZed-
The postal savings bank bill passed
g ~
the fact Senator Chamberlain OF Oregon
voted with the Republicans and sup
ported the measure
II IS not expected there will be early
action on the bin by the House, as the
appropriation bills will be put through
as fast as they come from the COM
mfttees and Will have the right Of way
But little doubt is now entertained that
the bill will pass before the end Of the
season
Not Out of Danger.
II is not, however. entirely out Of
danger. A good deal hinges on the
fate OF the BOrah amendment which the
insurgents were able to force Into the
bill before IL passed the Senate. This
amendment will have the practical effect
O. preventing the transfer of posfal
savings funds out Of the communities in
Uhicn they are deposited. The Porsb
amendment, which was adopted as an
amendment 10 the Smoot amendment.
makes the bill provide that the funds
may be transferred from their localities
IN dime of war or eXfgency threatening,
the public credit and be invested ir
bonds bearing interest at not less than
~ per cent.
But II is generally realized, So far az
present bond issues are concerned tba+
the only bonds which are available TO
any extent for the investment of postal
savings funds would be the > per cents.
II follows that with the Borah amend
ment in the bin. the funds are going
70 stay in the localities where thev are
deposited. 90
This IS 1ust what the Insurgents and
large share OF the Senator's want
But il is not what the President bsr
urged OF what the Senate leaders have
been wanting.
II Is not impossible complications will
arise over the Borah amendment thar
vii endanger the bill i'''
AS the insurgents view II. II the Sara+o
ana House regular leaders find thor
cannot get the , per cent bonds ubicI
are drag on the hanks. aken cara =, -,
they VIII Try to SidetracL tho bin w.