New-York tribune., 1910-02-17
TAFT FOR ACTION
FEHRY. OF DELAY IN
THE SENATE.
l4ld,1ch Hastily Summons
Leaders to a Conference to
Push Bills.

aSfG OttSc.
WASHINGTON Feb 16-1n effect, Presi-
dent Taft said to some Of the Senate
leaders whom he called to the White
House to-day:
why don't you push measures to re-
deerr party pledges while the House is
dealing with appropriation bills? You
are moving too slowly It is said he
exhibited extreme impatience with the
degree of progress made thus far toward
the enactment of administration bills.
BY way of result the Senators were
able to announce tonight that this pro-
gramme had been inaugurated. The al
most hopeless tange- in which the Root
and Snnoot amendments have ensnarled
the postal savings bank bill will receive
attention at a conference to be held to-
morrow in the rooms of the Finance
Committee, OF which Senator Aldrich is
chairman. When whipped into shape
the postal savings bank bill is 70 dis
place the Alaskan Legislative council bill
as the unfinished business. and the lat
ter is TO be laid aside as involving prob
iems that cannot be solved at the pres
ent session.
The administration railroad bill is to
be reported from the Committee on In
terstate Commerce during the next week
and force put behind 1t TO pass it with
out material amendment,
The several conservation bills are TO
be perfected by a special committee or
Western Senators. appointed to-day iy
Chairman Nelson from the membership
of the Committee on Public Lands. and
these measures are to be reported 20 the
Senate as rapidly completed.
The anti-injunction bill is 80 be con-
siaered by TIE Judiciary Committee at its
meeting next Monday.
Statehood legislation. which already
has been reported from the Committee
on Territories. is not to he permitted to
lag. and probably will receive attention
as soon as the postal savings bank bill
is out of the way.
This programme includes neither the
federal incorporation bill nor ship sub
sidy legislation. although the latter is
likely to pass the Senate without much
debate. II will meet difficult hurdles in
the House.
carried to the Capitol President Taft's
views Of the delays encountered by the
bills contained in his programme They
reported that there could be no nlistak-
ing the Presidents temper. The postal
savings bank bill gave him the most
concerr- il was said. because the opposi-
tion that had developed to such legis-
1atfon did not appear to him TO be based
upon sound principles
When the Senate adjourned to-day
after a very brief session, the postal saw
Sings bank. bill was in such d tangle that
no one was willing TO prophesy its out
come. In truth, the adjournment was
brought about chiefly because the Senate
was not ready to face the situation IN
reference to this bill and there was moth
ing else that could be considered, as the
Alaskan bill was in snarl even more in
eAtricsble.
All afternoon Senators were seen en-
tering and emerging from Senator Aid
rich's room. AS result Of these visits
1t was arranged to have a conference OF
wider scope Tomorrow At that time
will gather all Of the Senators who have
introduced conflicting amendments TO the
postal bank bin in consultation with the
Republican leaders who have announced
their determination 10 ''see the President
through on his programme. Senator
Aldrich predicted tonight that the in
/ congruous amendments would be har-
j raonized and an agreement reached
which would bring to the support Of the
bin a majority OF the Republicans large
enough To pass il.
Mr. Aldrich does not disguise the fact
that he considers the problem exceed
ingly difficult. On the one hSnd, Sena-
tor Root and his followers are contend
ing for a provision. like that contained
tn the Root amendment. which would
constitutionally justify the creation of
the postal banks by placing them under
the borrowing clause Of the constitu
ton On the other hand, many of the
Western Senators take the position that
such q clause would inevitably have the
effect of concentrating at Washington
the vast fund that il is expected the
postal repositories will bring ort of hid
ing.
The two positions are ultra-anta gonis
tic, and friends Of the bill fear that
unless one side or the other Gives way
the bill must fail. This is the situation
which must be dealt with at the con-
ference Tomorrow.