The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-31
Republicans Are Vast
ing Time and Accomp-
fishing Nothing.
TAFT'S MEASURES
STILL w ATTN G
Administration Program Likely
to Fail, and Members Are AL
ready Talking of EARLY Ad-
journment-Session Is Be
ing Taken Up With In
vestigations.

Washington. January 3o.--Little
headway has been made in the two
months Congress has been in session
toward the enactment of important
. legislation which is demanded by
President Taft: yet on every side are
heard predictions of an early adjourn
ment. Thoughtful members of Con-
gress arc asking each other what kind
OF reception they will meet IL they go
to tho White House on April Is or May
] with plans TO quit work for tho sum
mer. IL the administration program Isl
unfninlied.
The question is ono which congress
sionai leaders admit is givlng them
deep concern. The absence OF unanim-
1ty or thought on almost all of the
PRESIDENTS measures is such as to make
exceedingly difficult the work mapped
out for thosc who have the bills in
charge. Bills to create a court of COM
merce and amend the railroad rate
laws. to establish postal savings banks.
TO validate Withdrawals OF public lands
wanted for conservation purposes. and
to legalize national charters for COR
porations doing Interstate business.
the White House schedule" have all
met with determined opposition.
Waters Arc NIuddied.
From political point of view Re-
publican waters seemingly are becom-
ing muddied by the several investiga-
tens which are in progress, and the
minority members appear not unwil-
ling to let this procedure continue in
definitely. Inquiries such as that being
Il kat1 H.. 1. L.,
department and the Forestry Service
natnrt.lly are having some effect on
plans to enact land laws and icgisla-
lion for lAla$iSa. and even bear so
some extent upon the Arizona and New
Mexico Statehood bin. Other investi-
cations, such as those relating to
second class mall matter and the post
Once deficit and the causes of the in
creased cost of living, all tend to
minimize the chances for complete
redemption of Republican campaign
pledges.
The rian most in favor with Re-
publican leaders is for a rcarrange-
mcnt of the Taft policies. placing them
in order of executive preference or in
such sequence as, ii IL thought would
most benefit the majority party. 1t
has been declared that no progress
Will be made so long as some of the
leaders are pushing interstate COM
merca legislation, others conservation
policies. still others postal savings
banks. Federal incorporation laws, or
yet other of the numerous measures
on the White House calendar
Played Against Each Other.
AT the present time the House rs
occupied with appropriation bills, and
In the Senate there are two adminis-
tration measures-the postal savings
bank bill and the Alaskan legislative
council bill--being played against each
other Opposition has developed against
both bills, and Republican leaders say
that the present tactics affect the
chances of both The Statehood bill
also is ready for consideration. and.
in addition, the army appropriation
Z bill will be reported Tomorrow.
Committees of both branches of
Congress anticipate busy week. Sew
oral important hearings will be con-
tinued in the House. They include
that in relation to the post-office
deficit. interstate commerce bills, IN
gliding the administration bill, which,
by the way, will receive attention by
the Senate committee as we'll; charges
of extravaganza made by Representa-
tive Hitchcock, of Nebraska, against
Secretary Ballinger. as we'll as the
joint hearing in relation TO the Bal
linger- -Pinchot controversy.
Sensations Expected.
Washington, D. c., January 3o'---
When the cross examination of Louis
r. Claws begins5t to morrow afternoon
before tho Balllnger-Pnchot Congress
sional Investigating Committee. 1t IS
expected that some new and striking
features will be broughtanu In regard
to the charges which have been made
against various individuals by Mr.
CLAWS in his testimony before the
committee, tho taking of which was
finished yesterday
Representative McLachlan. of Cali
fornia, and Kinkaid, of Nebraska, who
wore interested in certain Alaskan
coal claims, according to testimony
given by Mr.. CLAWS yesterday, either
personally or through friends on tho
Investigating committee. will put Mr..
CLAWS, 1t is believed, through eruel-
ing examination In an effort TO free
themselves from all taint of suspicion,
Mr.. CLAWS declared yesterday that Mr..
Ballinger after being Commissioners OF
the Land Office, had acted as attorney
for Kinkad. In regard to Mr.. Me-
Lachlan, Mr. CLAWS testified that Mr..
Ballinger had suggested TO him that
the investigation against the Calfor-
= MIA Congressman be not pursued, as
there had been too much or that sort
OF thing In the past"
lust what anglo the cross-eXamna-
tion Tomorrow will take has not been
disclosed by those who arc preparing
to take an active part in tho proceed
ings, but the belief is general that
some vigorous statements are likely
to he made and some important de-
velopments in the situation broV&ht TO
light,
Fatal Pistol Duel,
Middlehpro Ky. January 30.--ln a
pistol duel at iIdgewoon, near here
to-day, Deputy Sheriff Gordon Giyens