Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-07
POSTAL SAVINGS
! HELD In HOUSE
Appropriation Bills to Have First
Call There Under Agreement
with President,
B0RAH AMENDMENT PECULIAR
Affects Investment in Low Rate
Bonds, Opposing Taft's Views.
RAILROAD BILL NOW IN SENATE
Creates Court Of Commerce and is
Bound to Draw Fire.
LEADERS PLEDGE IT'S PASSAGE
Statehood Measure Apparently VIII
rive TFoubIe--Attempt I'm House
60 Push Small Public Build
ings Measure.
Affects Investment in Low Rate
Bonds, Opposing Tafts Views. Z
RAILROAD BILL NOW IN SENATE
Creates Court Of Commerce and is
Bound to Draw Fire.
LEADERS PLEDGE IT'S PASSAGE

WASHINGTON, March e.-The postal
savings bank bill will be received by the
house tomorrow and promptly sent to sew
eral weeks oblivion in a committee, while
the administration railroad bill is given
the center Of the senate stage and the
house drones on with appropriation bills to
the accompaniment Of political speeches
made under the cloak OF general debate
Dreary discussions probably will be the
order Of business for the next few days
or until congress has warmed to another
OF the administration policies.
Before the railroad bill which creates
court Of commerce besides amending the
Interstate commerce laws in other ways
is taken up in earnest, 1t is likely that the
agricultural appropriation bill will be put
through the senate. This will not take long,
however, and consideration of another of
the Taft policies soon will be in full swing.
Members Of the house are beginning to
analytic the amendments which were put
on the postal savings bank bill Saturday In
the last few hours of consideration. The
one that is causing the most comment is !
that which will prevent postal funds from
being invested in per cent government
bonds, while making all higher interest
bearing securities available for such in
Vestment in time OF war or other exigency.
Amendment Aimed at Taft.
Practically no contest was made against
this amendment when It was offered by
Senator Borah. 1t was accepted by Sena-
tor Carter who had charge of the bill, and
the votes against 1t we're few. In the light
OF President Tafts New Yory speech call
ing attention to the obligation of the gov
ernment that the holders Of the per cent
consols should not suffer loss, and that
the government could give the relief by
using postal funds to buy these low class
bonds, some members Of congress profess TO
see in the senate action direct slap at the
president
In only one other way is the adoption of
the amendment explained and that is by
the fact that those who were In charge OF
the bill believed It could be passed only
by making concessions to insurgent sena-
tors. 1t was charged on the democratic
side of the senate, chiefly by Senator
Bacon, that the adoption Of the Borah
amendment was not in good faith and that
It would be dropped in the house and fin
ally eliminated in conference This charge,
however, obviously cannot be based upon
certainty and Is nothing more than specu-
Appropriations First.
At an informal conference at the White
House last week 1t was agreed that the
administration bills shall be held in COM
mittee in the house until the appropriation
bills are passed. II this rule is followed
Chairman Weeks Of the committee on post
offices and post roads can be trusted to
keep the postal bank bill bottled up until
the time is propitious for its passage m
the house.
The senate will be given an opportunity
within few days to compare the majority
ana the minority views Of the committee
on interstate commerce in regard to the
administration railroad bill The majority
report, which will support the bill in the
form in which II was finally drafted by
Attorney General wickersham, isr eady for
presention tomorrow. Under an agreement
already reached it will be printed in the
record in Connection with the report of
Senators Clapp and Cummins, which was
HPesented several days ago.
Little Change Expected.
While the debate on the railroad bill is
likely to extend over several weeks re-
publican leaders in the senate have
promised President Taft that It will be
passed without material change. Unques-
tionally this attitude will provoke acrid
discussion accompanied by condemnation
Of. what is termed White House domina-
TIM. Charges Of this character were made
with the postal bank bin and in this meas
ure there was influence exerted outside
Of congress TO prevent changes Of prase-
ology Senator's who recall the heated de-
bate over the Hepburn bill predict even
warmed exchanges over the Townsend
Elkins measure
All OF the reports which come from the
senate committee on territories seem to
indicate that he saehood bill is in rouble
and that senaor Eeveridge will have diff
houlty IN getting It passed. The exact
cause Tor the delay is not apparent beyond
the dissafacticn that has been expressed
with the qualifications for voting in the
TWO proposed new states senator
beVeridse continues to Insist that it will
pass he expects soon 10 be absent from
the city Tor several days and the hearings
VIII go over until his return.
Public buildings Bill.
Another effort is being made IN the bo,so
to have a small omnibus public b,,u,trae
bill in order TO give some assistance 10
certain political districts where the CON
Yressonal incumbents are in distress Tho
senate sopposed TO the bill, however. ana
points 10 the large rivers and horbars hin
IN support OF It's objections to another pork
barrel measure at tin secession. The latter
bill probably viii not be brought out Of
the committee on commerce before March
10 OF 30
Little discussion Is heard concerninR the
conservation bills and the court Injunction
bill, which are on the presidents program
The reason is said to be that leaders be
svo that IL action on these measures is
Mayed they can be brought out OF com
nlNtees and passed with comparatively lit
tie debate, IN the last few days OF the ses-
sion' when all members win be anxious 10
80 home to look after their campaigns.
The postoffice appropriation bill Is stiu
before the house. All Of last week was oo
cupied BY members In making political