The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-02
Chances Of Putting Through
Some Of Presidents
Measures Not Bright
RAILROAD BILL IS NOT
YET CONSIDERED SAFE
House Members Demand That Postal
Savings Bank Bill He Taken and
Nothing Is Heard From the
Anti-Injuncton Bill

| Washington. May Administrator
| leaders in Congress are beginning to feel
a great deal of concern over the chances
of putting through the several measures
on which President Taft has set his heart.
Hot weather already has settled down
upon the city and sitting days in the leg
islative halls are certain to create de-
sire among members of both branches OF
Congress to get away.
Many members who have hard political
battles in prospect are even now matur-
ing plans TO go to their home states.
Nearly all of the Taft bills are suspended
by more or less uncertain threads. The
railroad BILL which is the pending busi-
ness in both houses. is not out of danger.
The amendments already adopted in the
Senate and in the House, aid a number
of others which are almost certain to be
adopted in one branch or the other, will
produce measures so widely different that
harmony in conference threatens to be-
come utterly out of the question.
The House has adopted an amendment
making provision for the ascertainmeni
Of the physical valuation of railroads.
and this is sure to meet with determined
opposition in the Senate. It is said also
that on the final vote the House is like
ly to strike out the provision for tho
| creation of a commerce court. which fe9-
t,fre is certain to be retained by the Sen
3. aie.g Furthermcral present indications
4 point to the abortion of rrevisiena for
the making OF traffic agreements which
will be at variance
The differences do not by half repre-
sent the conflicting views of the two
branches, it is said. BY the time the bill
reaches conference 1t is declared President
Taft will have returned to Washington,
and it is hoped he may bring the con-
ferees together by commanding each side
to grant concessions.
Nothing but the most determined pres
sure from the White House, it is admit
ted, could accomplish such a result.
Chairman Mann of the House eommt-
tee and Chairman Elkns or the Senate
committee both hope to bring the bills 10
| their final vote This week. There is lit
tie doubt that Mr.. Mann will succeed,
but in the Senate there is no way In
which debate can be shut Off and 1t
|
10 days or more in this body.
That the administration senators will
put the bill through in about the form In
which IL now appears on the calendar Is
| indicated by the vote last week on the
| Cummins amendment relating to traffic
| agreements. This provision. which was
given the support of all the democrats
and the insurgent republicans, was de-
| feated by six votes and this lead Is
a1o Nv Mr
amendments supported by the majority
! of the interstate commerce committee.
| Supporters of the long and short haul
| amendment which was introduced by
Senator Dixon claim they have votes
enough to incorporate II in the bill.
Party lines will be broken on this
| amendment in all probability and the
outcome generally is thought to be un-
| certain,
| What measures will be taken up in the
| Senate following the vote on .the railroad
| bill is matter of speculation. The ad-
| ministration senators want to bring up
| the bill. giving to the President uniim-
| tied authority to withdraw public lands
| for conservation purposes, but demo-
| era tic senators under the lead of Mr..
| Bailey will insist that the statehood bill
| be considered
Postal Savings Bank Eli
| II, the House there is some demand
| that the postal savings bank bill bs
taken up. but it is still in committee and
| an order of a majority of the House
| may be necessary to dslodge 1t.
| Peculiar. situations exist in relation to
| the statehood and postal bank bills. The
| first named has passed the House ana
a radically different bill mas been re-
ported from the Senate committee on
territories. The postal bank bill has
| passed the Senate, but in a form which
| TO ha
| the House. If the statehood bill should
| pass the Senate in the form in which
ii was reported and the postal bank bill
passes the House in any form approach
| inr the general demand il is extremely
doubtful whether either could get out
of conference 1t Is asserted.
What the President will do with the
rivers and harbors appropriation bill Is
agitating the minds of many members or
the House and Senate in both parties.
The measure is now In conference, but
no headway has been made in deposin%
it The delay is said to be caused by
the rumors frequently heard that the
| President will veto the bill. No one
seems to have drawn from him what his
intentions are concernng it. 1t carries
appropriations aggregating s52.ooo.Coo, and
1. is known that the President Is ex-
tremelv anxious to make the present
session q record-breaker in the matter
OF holding down public expenditures
Injunction Bill.
| Practically nothing is heard about the
/ anti-injunction bill which the President
Included in his work for the present ses-
i sicn. The money bill which is favored
by the administration is still in the
/ IIorse committee and will not be re-
i ported until there has faen extended
hearings. The Senate committee on the
judiciary has announced that it will wait
| OH the House before taking any action
/ on this subject The only measure in
i the Taft programme which appears to
fhave a straight road is the land with
i fi1awal measure.
The bills pending in both branches are
| so near alike that little difficulty Is ex-