The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-19
Only Three More Days of
 Work Before Christmas
PUBLIC IS NOT INTERESTED
Congressional Proceedings Have At- trncted Few People to the GaI- Ieries During the Past
 Two Weeks

] Washington, December 1s.-Congress is
 expected to adjourn Wednesday for the
 holiday recess and not to resume busi-
 ness until January 5. The resolution which passed the House probably will
 be brought up in the Senate tomorrow. No objection to the programme has ap-
 peared, as it is practically certain that a half dozen of the big supply bills will be out of the way by Wednesday night. Business before both branches of Con-
 gress thus far has not stimulated much public interest and seats in the galleries
 have been vacant. The omnibus claims
 bill in the Senate has failed to attract
 crowds and the appropriation bills in
 the House proved no better magnet.
 Outside of the claims bill there has
 been no business before the Senate ex- cept the Cummins resolution to change the rules of the Senate and House so as
 to facilitate piecemeal revision of the
 tariff. Several speeches on this subject
 have been made and the indications are
 that the resolution will be sent to the Senate rules committee before the re-
 cess.
 The rules committee is generally be- lieved to be opposed to the adoption of
 any measure which would undertake to
 deal with the rules of the House. The indications are that some measure may be reported out which would give the Senate opportunity of voting on some form of cloture for itself without invad ing the prerogatives of the House. | The question of legislation to create a permanent tariff commission is attract Ing far more attention in the House than In the Senate, where there has been manifested disposition to await the
 outcome of conferences being held by Representative Longworth of Ohio, Good | of Iowa and Lenroot of Wisconsin whether these members are able to har- monize their differences has not been | made clear, but It is said that in the House as whole there is sentiment generally for enlargement for the tariff
 hoard and making it's existence continue | for at least six years. Some members favor making the life of the commis- sion ten years and still others would go as high as twenty years.
 
 involved is that of giving to the com mission the power to demand books and papers of corporations. Many members | favor having the commission call for such documents where they believe them | to be necessary and in the event of re- fusal to make reports to Congress with a view to separate action In each case. | The report of the Ballinger-Pinchot in vestigation is still slumbering in the House committee on agriculture. Minor | ity members of the Investigating commit | tee are threatening to demand report from the committee on agriculture so | that the vote on the merits of majority | and minority views might be had in the House, but no step in that direction has been taken. There appears to be little prospect of action in the Senate | It is likely the investigation of Indian contracts, which has been at stand still several weeks, will be resumed dur | ing the holiday recess. A number of at | torneys who are in Washington will be Easked to testify to their fee arrangements with the Indians, tribally and individual | ly. Chairman Burke expects the inves- | tigation will be closed some time in Jan | uary The committee began work as the | result of charges made In the Senate by Mir Gore of Oklahoma just at the | close of the last session. The Senate committee appointed to investigate sim | liar charges has never met. Senator | Jones, chairman of the Senate commit tee, will make report showing that
 the House committee covered the sub feet in a manner that made second investigation unnecessary. It Is under stood his report will include a statement to be made by Senator Gore. declaring that a probe by the Senate would have covered the same ground as that made | by the House.