The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-12-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.

posal OF the Sixty-f1rst Congress Wnen II
meets after the holidays The calendars
already are padded With bills seeking
and the coyhmittees viii bring
forward mauy other measures during
January and FEBRUARY. The scramble
for supremacy Min be of the liveliest
character, especially in the case Of
smaller bills largely Of local interest.
Any bill not whipped into law by March
5 or in the Hands of the President on that
evening flor his signature will lose its
status And expire with the dying Con-
gress/ A number Of lame duck" men,
bersL recently defeated, who will retire
frSm Congress, are endeavoring to jockey
Nhe particular pieces Of legislation in
which they are interested in favorable
position for consideration after the
holidays.
The program is: Pass the big appropria
ton bills; put through the ship subsidy
and tariff commission plans and adjourn
Outside of attempting these things it is
generally conceded that nothing else
"big" will be done. The prospect of
both ship subsidy and tariff commissions
is predetermined. Intheir caucus Jan. 10,
the Democrats will outline their attitude
toward the tariff commission plan of the
Administration The Constitution, it is
argued, vests only the House with the
power to originate measures like the
tariff, affecting the revenue. This being
true, it is contendea that Congress should
have control over the tariff commission.
Whatever the ultimate lineup, the tariff
commission is to be pressed. Next to
this the President and party leaders are
anxious to get action to assist the mer-
chant marine by liberalizing the terms of
the Ocean Mail act now in force.
Immediately after the holidays the
Lorimer Escandal will be forced to the
front in the Senate. The lines are being
closely drawn on the Ballinger- Pinchot
investigating committees report. Rep
resentative Hitchcock, OF Nebraska, has
taken the initiative in endeavoring to get
action on this matter by the end of jan
uary, and is seeking special rnle for
force action.
The Cummins resolution calling for the
revision of the tariff BY schedules rather
than in toto is also pending before the
Senate. Mr.. Cummings will press for
action on it early in January.
By vote taken before the end of the
last session the Senate determined that
vote shall be taken about the middle of
February on the bill for the creation of
the Appalachian forest preserve, This
measure has passed the House, and
would become law If adopted By the
Senate before the end of the session..
One of the most important matters
vitality affecting the Senate is the propo.
sition to have United States Senators
elected by direct vote of the people. A
subcommittee Of the Senate Judiciary
Committee has agreed to report such
resolution. The full committee will act
on the matter early in January.
In all probability new reapportion.
ment act fixing the representation in the
House on the basis of the Thirteenth
Census, amatter also affecting the num-
Der of votes in the Electoral College, will
be passed
Representative Stanley. Of Kentucky.
Intends TO press for action on his resolu-
tion Of inquiry relative to the attitude of
Attorney General Wickershafn toward
the Steel Trust. Mr.. Stanley wants to
know why that trust is not being
prosecuted
~.
just how far it will be wise to 90 in
curtailing the power of the Speaker over
the affairs Of the House Of Representa-
tives will be the most interesting and i'm
portant question likely to come mp for
settlement at the general caucus of the
Democrats elected to the next House.
which will be held January 10 1t is al
ready fairly well settled that the caucus
will decide to take out Of the hands Of
the Speaker the appointment Of standing
committees. Champ Clark. the Speaker
tn-be. has declared for this change in the
rules. as have his principal hackers. But
beyond this nothing is settled.
A numerous element of the present
Democratic membership favors commit
ting to the Ways and Means Committee
to be Professionally chosen at the caucus
Of January 10 the work of naming the
committees, with the exception Of that on
Rnles, which will be elected by the House.
1t bias been claimed that the men who
are active in promoting this plan of APP
pointing the committees have secured for
i It. =