The Detroit times., 1910-06-24
MAY ENGAGE IN
BATTLE OF WORDS
Senator Burton Wants To Kill Forest
Reserve Bill, While Weeks
Opposes Him.

WASHINGTON, June 23.-When
Senator Burton, of Ohio, arose in the
senate today to make few remarks"
on the bill to create mountain forest
reserves, he had in mind q speech to
last two days. The only questions
were whether his powers would be
equal 10 the strain or whether the
senate might decide upon a night ses-
sion. In the latter contingency 1t
would be one very long speech In
stead of two speeches covering as
many sessions.
Senator Burton's oratorical prepare
tions gave full notice that he did not
like the bill. also that he hoped that
the threatened consumption OF SO
much time in this heated spell, when
all congressman are painting to go
home. would induce them to lay the
bill over until next winter.
On the other hand. Rep. Weeks, or
Mass. has issued an ultimatum that
congress shall not adjourn until 1t has
passed the bill, which carries the
recommendation of President Taft.
So with Weeks filibustering to force
congress to pass the bill and Burton
filibustering to prevent 1t, the states
men faced a peculiar problem.
The bill proposes that the govern
ment shall cooperate with states and
private land owners In maintaining
forest reserves at the headwaters OF
the rivers in the southern Appalachian
and the White Mountains. It's appli-
cation to- other parts of the country is
possible, but the two projects are the
only ones now In view.
This session Of congress. which Is
about ready to quit, after having
spent s1,074, 000.00 has been the
wordiest on record. The Congress
sional Record has already reached g.
900 pages and will probably total TO-
900. Each page contains more words
than the average newspaper column.
Figuring that ony 5000 pages were
devoted TO speeches and debates-the
ether 1000 to records-the statesmen
uttered a mere matter OF 10,S00.OOO
words during the session.
Bills introduced IN the house during
he present session, number 27,O65 and
in the senate. $500.
Thousands OF these were pension
and private claim bills. OF those in
tended for the general good, 126 house
and SO senate bills have become laws.
Three treaties OF no great impor-
lance have been ratified by the senate,
which also confirmed 10000 appoint
ments by the president. This number
is also a record.
Deaths since the last session or
congress included Senators McLaurin,
Miss; Johnson, North Dakota, and
Representatives. Griggs. Georgia: Low
ering. Massachusetts; Perkins, New
York: De Almond. Missouri, and Lass
tier, Virginia.
This session 81 congress convened
on December 8. The long sessions OF
the five preceding congresses ended
on May 30, June go April %, July /
and June Z.
BY vote Of a te-25. the senate
late yesterday afternoon adopted the
house postal savings bank bill and re-
moved what leaders believe is the last
obstacle in the way Of an adjourn
ment by Saturday Of this week. The
fual vote came after the senate re-
peatedly rejected amendments by
various Insurgents
The senate yesterday also passed the
bill for the publicity OF campaign con
tributions. Senator Beveridge said
the measure was not drastic enough
Senator Burrows admitted this bur
said il was n step i'm the right direc.
ton and had the approval OF President
Taft.