The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-01-21
CONGRESS- And
ITS BATTLES.
No LGtup In War Between Can
non and the Insurgents.
DEFEAT OF THE REGULARS.


Taft's Railroad Message-The Con-
servation Situation-Plans of the
Antitrust League.
Washington, Jan. 12.-The trimming
of Speaker Cannon by the insurgents
when they deprived him of the appoint
ment of the house members of the
Ballinger investigating committee may
be but the forerunner of similar trounc-
ings to be administered to him during
the session. This Is the sort of pin
pricking tactics agreed on in the be
ginning, only il was more than pin
prick. 1t was very nearly q swat over
the head with the big stick. What is
to prevent the insurrectos from COM
handing a similar majority whenever
they really desire to do so? The re
suit on the Norris amendment to the
investigation resolution showed that
the rumors which have long been cur
rent in Washington-that the Demo
Gratis and insurgents had consolidated
their forces and reached a working
agreement-was no idle gossip.
NO Backward step here.
The presidents railroad message
bore out the predictions that he had
conceded little or nothing to the rail-
road presidents who visited him.
commerce court, enlarged powers for
the interstate commerce commission,
control of capitalization and prevention
of watered stock, the right to make
traffic agreements subject to the ap-
prevail of the commission, strengthen
ing of the safety appliance law and
employers liability act and voluntary
national Incorporation, these were the
main features included, and they have
been forecasted for weeks. The mes
sage made one exception in the mat
ter Of prohibiting stock ownership in
competing lines, and it is possible that
here the president listened to the rail
road heads and modified his original
message. Even so. 1t is an ambitious
program. and it remains to be seen just
how far congress will carry 1t out
not very far. in my opinion, If the
senate has It's way. There may have
been no Significance in the fact that
the senate adjourned on the day 1t was
known that the railroad message was
to come; but even IL that was not a
sign Of hostility, there are plenty Of
others.
A Ray Of Light.
There Is one promising indication IN
the conservation situation, and IL is
that all sides seem now to be con
Vinced Of the necessity Of legislation
and are in practical agreement as to
what that legislation should be. Sen
ator Newlands pointed this out and
insisted that whatever investigations
are held there should be no halt In en-
acting adequate laws for the protec-
ton of the nations resources. True,
Gallinger, Hale and others rather un-
mercifully heckled the senator from
Nevada, but only OH bubbles and tech
nicallties. None of them attempted to
answer him on the importance of
crowding through conservation legisla
ton without waiting for the aid or
consent OF any investigation on earth
If adequate conservation laws should
re suit the agitation will not have been
in vain.
Paoifying Washington.
Mercifullv the commissioners of the
District OF Columbia have been named
and now those who sojourn I'm Wash
ington may lie able to hear the call of
national questions undisturbed by 10
cal Clamor The appointment Of these
IA
bothered the president almost as much
as the decision Of the momeutous ques
ton What is whisky"
Are We All to Become Boyeotters7
The Antitrust league to boycott high
priced meat and other necessities of
life, which was to have held fits first
open meeting the end Of last week. has
put IL over into this week. The leader
Of the movement il Or. L. l.. Scharf.
who says he has 200 congressman with
him anu hopes to enlist l,OOO.OOO house .
holders. II boycotting Is a iailable Of
Tense, as decided In the Gompcrs case. /
Dr. Scharf hal better look ont or he +.
will get the whole nation into jail.
Morgan Emerses.
Recent events have proved true the
story ~ last summer to the eject thai .
:. Ticgpout Morgan was the real pow
or in the dismissal Of Charles r. Cram .
igi the Chinese situation. Morgan
now appears iu the open 90 back M
Secretary Knox aud Co finance the .
MsG.huriau railroad. IN the govern .
mput II nation there are wheels .
within w-p,i
c. c.-l Soci-l Ccascn on.
lie eftl~ tl. formal opening Of the .
official social season Goo Washington oe-
CURED. when the president held the
first of the four state r. options. this .
being i'm honor Of the diplomatic corps.
From now the social season in the ma
tinnal capital viii lc regarded as az Is 4
height. until the advent 81 Lent turns
society's atte1tion from gayct- 20 sack
cloth and ashes. metaphorically speak
ing. Ash "Wednesday win arrive 50
early this year. however, that some Of
the cabinet dinners win not take place
until the Lenten season has arrived.
a condition which could be remedied
by reducing the size OF the cabinet OF