The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-02-02
CONGRESS BLOCKING TAFT.
WHITE HOUSE LEGISLATIvE
PROGRAMME FARING BAD
LY.
All the Administration Measures 50
Far Introduced Are Meeting with
considerable Opposition, and All
The Republican Campaign Pledges
Stand Little Chance Of FulflIment.

The Republican Campaign PLEDGES
Stand Little Chance of FulAlImeut.
washington, Jan. 30.-Lttle head
way has been made in the two
months Congress has been in session.
toward the enactment of important
legislation demanded by President
Taft yet on every side are heard pre-
dictions OF an early adjournment.
thoughtful members of Congress are
asking each other what kind of re-
ception they will meet if they go to
the White House on April Is or Nav
1 with plans to quit work for the
summer, if the administration pro-
gramme is untitled.
The question is one which Com
gressional leaders admit is giving
them deep concern. The absence of
unaminity Of thought on almost ALI
of the Presidents measures is such
as to make exceedingly difficult the
work mapped out for those who have
the bills in charge. Bills to create a
Court Of Commerce and amend the
railroad rate laws, to establish postal
savings banks, to validate withdraw
ais Of public lands wanted for con-
servation purposes, which have been
Dlaca6 hno 90
House schedule" have all met with
determined opposition.
From a POLITICAL point Of view Re-
publican waters seemingly are be-
coming muddied by the several in
vestigations, which are in progress.
and the minority members appear
not willing to let this procedure con-
tinue indefinitely. Inquiries such as
that being made into the affairs of
the interior department and the for
est service naturally are having some
erect upon the plans to amend land
laws and enact legislation for Alaska,
and even to bear to some extent up-
on the Arizona and New Mekfco
Statehood bin. Other investigatfdns,
such as those relating to second-class
mail matter and the postofice de-
hcit. and the causes Of the incres ID
cost Of living, all tend to mir ze
the chances OF a complete redemp-
tion OF Republican campaign pledges.
publican leaders is for a rearranee-
ment of the Taft policies. placing
them in order of executive prefer.
ence or in such sequence as II IS
thought would most benefit the ma
)ority party. It has been declared
that no progress would be made as
long as some Of the leaders are push
ing Interstate commerce ieeis,a-
tion, others conservation policies.
still others postal savings banks.
Federal incorporation laws or vet
other OF the numerous measures on
the White House Calendar.
AT the present time the House IS
occupied with appropriation bills.
and in the Senate there are two Ad-
ministration measures-the postal
savings bank bill and the Alaskan ex-
ecutive council bill-being played
against each other. Opposition has
developed against both bills, and Re-
publican leaders say that the present
tactics affect the chances of both. The
Statehood bill also is ready for con-
sideration, and in addition the army
appropriation bill will be reported to-
morrow.
Committees Of both branches Of
Congress anticipate a busy week.
several important hearings will be
continued in the House. They in
clude that in relation to the post
Office deficit, Interstate commerce
bills, including the Administration
bill, which, by the way, will receive
attention by the Senate committee as
well; charges of extravaganza made
by Representative Hitchcock, of
Nebraska, against Secretary Ballin-
ger, as we'll as the joint hearing in
relation to the Ballinger- -Pinchot
controversy.