Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-02
TAFT's PET BILLS
ALL IN TROUBLE
Railroad, Statehood and Rivers
and Harbor Measures Have
PeriouS Future
HEAT FAST MELTING HOPES
Exodus of congressman Adds to
Difficulties Faced by
Administration
HEAT FAST MELTING HOPES
tAssoclated Pressl

WASHINGTON, May 1.-Administra-
tion leaders in congress are beginning
to feel a good deal of concern over the
chances of putting through the several
measures on which President Taft has
set his heart.
Hot weather already has settled upon
the city and sitting days are sure to
create a general desire among MEM
bers of congress to get away. Many
who have hard battles in prospect now
are making their plans to leave.
Nearly all the Tatt bIlis are suspended
by more or less uncertain threads. The
railroad bill, which is the pending bust
ness in both branches, is not out OF
danger. The amendments already
adopted in the senate and house Will
produce measures so widely different
that harmony in conference threatens
to be utterly out of the question.
BY the time the bill reaches confer
ence President Taft will have returned
to Washington, and it is hoped he may
bring the conferees together.
Chairman Mann of the house commit
tee and Chairman Elkins of the senate
committee both hope to bring the bills
to their final votes this week.
That the administration senators will
put the bill through in the form it now
appears on the calendar is indicated by
the vote last week on the Cummins
amendment relating to traffic agree
ments.
Supporters of the long and short
haul amendments introduced by Sena-
tor Dixon claim they have votes
enough to incorporate it in the bill.
DEMOCRATS URGE STATEHOOD
What measure will be taken up in
the senate after the vote on the rail-
road bill is a matter of speculation.
The administration senators want to
bring up the bill giving to the presi-
dent unlimited authority to withdraw
public lands for conservation purposes,
but Democratic senators, under the
lead of Mr.. Bailey, will insist that the
statehood bill be considered.
In the house there is some demand
that the postal savings bank bill will
be taken up, but it is still in commit
tee and an order of majority of the
house may be necessary to dislodge it.
Peculiar situations exist in relation
to both the statehood and the postal
bank bills The first has passed the
house and a radically different bill has
been reported from the senate commit
tee on territories. The postal bank
bill has passed the senate, but in a
form which seems to be unsatisfactory
to the house. If the statehood bill
should pass the senate in the form it is
recommended and the postal bank
passes the house in the form demanded
by that body it is doubtful whether
either bill could get out of conference.
The rivers and harbors bill is now
in conference, but no headway has
been made in disposing of the differ
ences between the two branches. The
delay is said to be caused by the rumor
that the president will veto the bill.
Practically nothing is heard about
the anti-injunction bill, which the
president included in his program.
The Moon bill, favored by the admin
istration. still is in the house COM
mittee and will not be reported until
after there has been extended hear
ings.
The only measure in the Taft pro-
gram which appears to have a straight
road is the land withdrawal measure.
The bills pending in both branches are
so nearly alike that little difficulty is
expected in reaching an agreement
after the two houses have acted.