Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1910-02-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Rrop Dur Regular Correspondent


been considered in committee and
there has been considerable debate
in both the House and the Senate.
No important bills have as yet been
passed. but they are DOW in forma-
tive stage and are being carefully
considered and some OF them will
doubtless be passed Perhaps the
most important is the postal bank
bill. which in spite OF opposition
from Senators Bailey OF Texas and
Davis OF Arkansas and other Sens-
tors, it is DOW understood will be-
come a law before the end of the ses-
sion. II has been President Taft's
policy to hold personal interviews
with leaders in Congress and at one
of these the postal savings bank
bill has been discussed at the White
House The result OF its discussion
has been the devising OF other means
to meet the ends for which Senator
Roots amendment was intended.
This amendment had to be abandon
ed on account OF real or imagined
objections. Senator'S Aldrich, Pen
rose, Crane and Carter. who have &C
tive charge OF this bill. have all had
conference with the President. Sens-
tor Bailey OF Texas will oppose the
bill on Constitutional grounds,
others will make speeches against
it, but it is expected that toward
the close Of the next week a vote
will be had and il is said that the
bill will be passed.
e.
Another important bill under con-
sideration relates to a federal license
for automobiles. 1t was stated by
representative OF the American
Automobile Association, now in ses-
sion in Washington, that there
are at the present time $50, O09 of
these vehicles in Washington, that
there are orders booked with the
various manufacturing and sales
companies for 100000 more. This
means that there will be zoe. 900 mo.
tor vehicles travelling throughout
the country and across state lines
before the end OF the year. The
different states have different laws
and regulations with reference TO
automobiles and the users OF the
machines who wish to go from one
end OF the country to the other find
it quite embarrassing to get a new
license at every crossing OF state
lines, to say nothing OF knowing or
remembering the diverse laws and
regulations OF the different states
with reference TO speed and other
road conditions and restrictions.
A license from the general govern
ment with registration at the Agri-
cultural Department. or the Depart
ment OF Commerce and Labor in
Washington, will make it necessary
to have only one placard number on
the card, aud as it will be seen, q s.
license fee for every car will raise
q considerable sum; $500. 900 can
be devoted TO building good roads.
-
The committee to investigate the
increased cost OF living has at last
been appointed in the Senate by the
Vice President Of the United States.
Senator Lodge OF Massachusetts is
chairman. Senators Gallinger, Sim
mons, Crawford, Smoot and McCum-
Der are members OF the committee.
Ii will be remembered that there
was q dispute Q week or two ago
between Senators Elkins OF West
Virginia and Lodge of Massachu-
sets with reference to leadership in
this Investigation. Remembering
this, Vice President Sherman an.
nounced that in accordance With Gus
tom, he had offered the chairman
ship to Senator Elkins, the author
OF the resolution under which the in
quiry is 10 be conducted, but that
Senator Elkins, having charge of
the Interstate Commerce bill, would
be unable to serve as chairman of
this committee. Il had been ex-
pected that open hearings would be
held by the Committee, but Chair
man Lodge, It is understood, does
not favor this plan and is of opinion
that better work can be done by call
ing in experts from the various exc
cutive departments who are suppos-
ed TO have special knowledge Of the |
many subjects to be probed. Sena-
tor Lodge has promised that the |
investigation will be thorough and |
cover fully the wide scope provid-
ID for the resolution. he said also !