Smyrna times., 1910-02-23
CONGRESS- PLANS
To QUIT BY MAY
Only -Four Important Bills on
the Program
SLIM CHANCE FOR ANY
Profitless Session of National Law
makers May End Without Much
New Legislation.


makers May End Without Much
New Legislation.
Washington, Feb. 21.-Congress may
adjourn by May /. The leaders in both
houses are confident they can carry
out the program agreed upon by that
time. The general legislation to be
enacted is a matter they are not wor-
rying about, for they really don't care
whether any general legislation gets
through. They are going to pass the
regular annual appropriation bills and,
perhaps, a river and harbor bill, and
with that they will be entirely salts
fed.
The presidents once pretentious
legislative program is now little more
than joking matter with them. They
have tired out and disorganized the
president to such an extent that he
will be satisfied with anything he can
get and be glad to see the profitless
session brought to a close. His pro
gram of legislation, once made up of
nearly a score of important bills. has
dwindled down to four, the anti-in-
junction bill, the bill amending the
interstate commerce act, the statehood
bill and the postal savings bank bill.
If he can secure the passage of these
he will give the session his blessing
when it closes and tell members and
senators they have done very well,
indeed, as he did after the tariff strug-
gle at the end of the special session.
In order to get any kind of postal
savings bank bill at all, the president
has been forced to agree to PROPOSE
tions that will make the measure of
doubtful const tutionality, according to
the presidents own view as set forth
in his New York speech. After much
arguing with Senator Smoot, the pres
ident and Senators Aldrich and Root
have induced the Utah senator to
withdraw his amendment designed to
prevent the drawing OF the savings
funds from the localities where they
were deposited to New York and other
big money centers. If this amendment
were left in the bill, according to the
| president and his senatorial advisers
| it would have made the law unconsti-
tutional. besides rendering It very OBJ
| jectionable to the interests.
! But Senator Smoot did not consent
to the withdrawal of his amendment
until assured that the Root amend
ment would also be withdrawn. This
amendment provided for the invest
| uoopf Of tho cav{ngc fuDdo in oOvorn
ment bonds, and the New York sena
tor holds that, without such a provis
ion in the act. it would be unconstitu
ticnaI The president coincided in this
view But he has now agreed to the
withdrawal of the Root amendment be
cause assured in no other way coul(
the bill be passed through the senate
So as the matter stands. the presiden
is willing TO accept an unconstitu
tional bill in order to make a shown,
of legislative accomplishment 10
himself
Rut when the bill gets through tn
senate in this assumed unconstitu
tiOnal form it will have to run tn
gauntlet Of the house where the OFT
look for ITS adoption is by no mean
good. If II secures the Endorsement c
the hose st all It certainly will no
be in the fern in which It now seem
likely to pass the senate There will b
long and hard struggle over it ant
when it goes into conference. a fu'
!: ther struggle will ensue 1t will SUI
prise no one if the bill be held I
conference until adjournment and the
allowed to go over to the short sessio
of next winter.
The statehood bill is in even MOI
serious DANCER of defeat than the DO
tai bank bill. The Republican leader
don't want the bill to pass. and, If the
:, can encompass it's defeat they wi
!, do so. They don't like the prospect
four new senators from what they ter
pocket boroughs" being added to tn
senate rolls in the near tufure. esp
cially as the chances are excellei
that all four of the senators would |
,. Democrats This is why the leade
o mean to sidetrack the bill for the sc
d sion If they can find a way of doir
a so. And the belief is general that tn,
d will find a way.
E. The Alaska legislative council bi
% the federal incorporation bill and Sc
1t eral other measures desired by Il
o president, also will either fall by Il
IN wayside OF be laid upon the shelf f
Ie another time.