The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-17
Efforts to Keep Peace h {, .,
 ?, Family Are In Vain
LEGISLATION IS IN DANGER
Taft Wants Some Pet Measures Made Into Law, But Is Not Sure of the Result While the
 Fight Is On.

Washington, January 16-No matter how satisfactory an arrangement is made for
 the selection of the Joint committee to
 investigate the Ballinger and Pinchot
 controversy, the insurgent fight promises to occupy n prominent place in the con- gressioDal situation during the coming week.
 Dssensions between the insurgents and l regulars in the House have occupied the center of the stage for a fortnight, al- i though several important measures have been passed. The bickerings have even l spread to the Senate wing of the capitol and legislation there has been at a stand still. That there will be Hull in hostilities in the House as soon as the Baliinger and Pinchot committee is appointed is conceded, but those who are anxious that l legislation may proceed without delay are not over sanguine of their efforts to
 keep the insurgent row in check. They look for renewed outbreaks whenever any question affecting the Cannon rules is injected into the proceedings. There is a good deal of discussion as to the fate of the several administration bills to put into force what are now
 known as Taft policies, as differentiated from Roosevelt policies. These embrace the programme for the amendment of
 the interstate commerce laws, the Sher- man antitrust law, and carrying into effect measures for the conservation of
 natural resources.
 Interstate Commerce Bill. Little has been heard of the measure for the strengthening of the interstate
 commerce acts. On all sides it seems to be conceded that some such measure as is provided by MT. Taft will be en- acted
 The insurgents of the Senate expect to hold a conference at an early date to consider the attitude of the admnistra- tion In the meantime the interstate commerce commission will take up the subject of amending the interstate com merce laws at a meeting to be held Fri day, and the Taft measure win have to run the gantlet of opposition in the House committee on interstate and foreign com merce.
 The message of the President bear ing upon the question of enacting a voluntary federal incorporation law to offset the interpretation placed upon the
 Sherman antitrust law by the Standard i oil company dissolution case and pos- sible affirmation by the supreme court of that decision has attracted little at tention in the House.
 On the Senate side the members of the judiciary committee have been favored with the opportunity to read the bill
 which President Taft and Attorney Gen
 eral Wickersham have prepared and will present through MT. Clark. chairman of the committee judiciary
 Comments upon the federal corporation bill have not been altogether favorable. Many lawyers have taken different atti- tudes.
 Rights of States. Many of these lawyers have taken the position that 1t nterferes with the rights of states to tax the property of cor l porations while there are other attorneys whose views are governed to some ex- tent by the belief that if the decision in the Standard Oil case is affirmed by the supreme court that company would be the first to take advantage of vol untary federal incorporation act | Opposition to the Standard oil company as a monopoly compels these members of Congress to be against any measure designed to give relief to any of the al- legged trusts. The administration bills to carry out MT Tafts views on the subject of the conservation of national resources arc still before the House committee on pub lie lands awaiting the announcement of some volunteer that he is willing to dn- dertake their defense in the House cn things of natural growth. half0Va the aQminStrat ton forces make mistage in declining the |
 proffer of Chairman Mondell to intro
 duce the bills 'by request.' His oppo- !
 sition to the Ballnger bills is said to
 be in harmony with luke warm support |
 given by him in the past to the Roosevelt 1 and Taft policies, and programmes for | the conservation of natural and national |
 resources
 Mondeils Attitude.
 It is pointed out that few bills which | are drawn up for the public domain in | behalf of governmental conservation and
 subjected to public entry have had MT.
 Mondeils support. The measurements in
 question were drafted by Secretary Bal finger and the indorsement Introduced by
 request would have brought them prom
 inently to the attention of the country | as administration measures.
 In view of the fact that MT. Ballin- gers conservation tendencies have been questioned. tonics have been adminis- tered to him in an effort to have him
 change his views.
 Several hearings of more than ordinary interest are scheduled to take place or at least begin during the coming week There will be the consideration of the | interstate commerce bills at both ends of the capitol; the Mann canal bill before the Senate committee on inter-oceanic canals, and the meat inspection question , before the House committee on Agricul- ture.
 Another interesting situation will be raised In the House committee on ex- penditures in the interior department by [ MT. Hitchcock of Nebraska, |ho will endeavor to substantiate the charges [ made by him in the House of extrava gance in the conduct of land offices.
 The bill giving separats statehood to New Mexico and Arizona Is TOW in the House calendar. MT. Hamilton of Mich igan, author Of the measure, does not I expect serious opposition in the House l and says that if its passage is delayed, | 1t will bo by the Sonata