Catoctin clarion., 1910-02-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.

The week just passed has been one
of considerable activity in Congress.
Most legislative work has been con-
sidered in committee and there has
been considerable debate in both the
House and the Senate. No import
ant bills have as yet been passed, but
they are now in a formative stage and
are being carefully considered and
some of them will doubtless be pass
ed. Perhaps the most important is
the postal bank bill, which in spite
Of opposition from Senators Bailey OF
Texas and Davis of Arkansas and
other Senators, it is now understood
will become law before the end of
the session. 1t has been President
Taft's policy to hold personal inter-
views with leaders in Congress and at
one of these the postal savings bank
bill has been discussed at the White
House. The result of its discussion
has been the devising of other means
to meet the ends for which Senator
Roots amendment was intended.
This amendment had tC be abandon
ed on account of real or imagined OBJ
jections. Senators Aldrich, Penrose,
Crane and Carter, who has active
charge of this bill, have all had con-
ferences with the President. Senator
Baily of Texas will oppose the bill on
Constitutional grounds, Others will
make speeches against it, but it isex-
pected that toward the close of the
next week vote will be had and it
is said that the bill will be passed.
Another important bill under con-
sideration relates to federal license
for automobiles. 1t was stated by
representatives of the American Au-
tomobile Association, now in session
in Washington, that there are at the
present time 10000 of these vehicles
in Washington, that there are orders
booked with the various manufacture
ing and sales companies for 25O,OOO
more. This means that there will be
100000 motor vehicles travelling
throughout the country and across
state lines before the end of the year.
The different states have different
laws and regulations with reference
to automobiles and the users of the
machines who wish to 60 from one
end Of the country to the other find
it quite embarrassing to get new
license at every crossing of state lines,
to say nothing of knowing or remem
bering the diverse laws and rcgnla-
tons of the different states with ref
crence to speed and other road con-
ditions and restrictions. A license
from the general government with
registration at the Agricultural De-
partment, or the Department of Com
merce and Labor in Washington, will
make it necessary to have only one
placard number on the card, and as
it will be seen, a SIS license fee for
every car will raise a considerable
sum; SO, 100000 can be devoted to
building good roads.
The committee to investigate the
increased cost of living has at last
been appointed in the Senate by the
Vice President of the United States.
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, is
chairman. Senators Gallinger, Sim
mons, Crawford, Smoot and McCum-
Der are members of the committee.
1t will be remembered that there was
a dispute week or two ago between
Senator Elkins of West Virginia and
Lodge of Massachusetts with refer
ence to leadership in the investiga-
ton. Remembering this, Vice Pres
ident Sherman announced that in ac-
cordance with custom, he had offered
the chairmanship to Senator Elkins,
the author of the resolution under
which the inquiry is to be conducted,
but that Senator Elkins having charge
of the Interstate Commerce bill would
be unable to serve as chairman of this
committee. 1t had been expected
that open hearings would be held by
the Committee, but Chairman Lodge
it is understood, does not favor this
plan and is of opinion that better
work can be done by calling in ex-
perts from the various executive de-
partments who are supposed to have !
special knowledge of the many sub
jects to be probed. Senator Lodge
has promised that the investigation
will be thorough and cover fully the
wide scope provided for the resolu-