The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-05
Su||oWay Bill Would Add Fifty Millions to Pres-
 ent Amount
.TAFTS OPPOSITION 10
 MEASURE NOT STRONG
Another Bill Originating With Grand Army Members Is Moderate and It May Finally Be Passed
 By Congress
By wArrERsoN sTEALEy

washington, January 4.-(Special)- Those who have talked over the proposed pension raid with the President in the last few days report him as being not so vigorously opposed to the pension com mittee's bill as originally described his attitude.
 When the matter was first preached statements were made to the effect that the President would veto the Sulloway bill if 1t were passed by the Senate and House. Now 1t is said the President would not go to that extreme, but would prefer that Congress send him more moderate measure.
 The Subway bill increases annual pen- sion appropriations from $16o,ooO,0oO to $200,oO0,00o. Instead of s12 month at the age of 62 years and s15 monthly at the age of TO- the bill allows $15 at 62 years, $20 at s5, $25 at 70, and $36 at 10.
 The President is said to believe that the proposed increase of s5o.000.o0O carried by the bill is more than he cares to stand for at this time, especially in view of the fact that his administration is trying to impress upon the country the idea that
 
 the capitol it is declared that the Sullo- way bill would not have a chance, but for the fact that the democrats have car- ried the House and outgoing republican members are willing to vote for almost anything to help them to get back at the congressional elections next year.
 In the meantime the President feels that he has some responsibility, all of ..l- lf,ax, .1S<ax- Co to consider. ..
 At the last annual convention of the G. A. R. bill was recommended for passage by Congress considerably less than is proposed by the Subway bill. The G. A. R. bill carries an estimated in- crease of sO000,0o0. It leaves the present SIP rate for pensioners of 62 years, but in- creases to s15 the Sste for 65-year-old per- sioners. Twenty dollars Is fixed for 70 years and $25 for 7b years
 Those who are watching pension legis- lation say that the G. A. R. measure is the one which may be placed on the statute books by March 4. It is an old trick of legislation to ask for great deal in the hope of getting little.
 The forces behind the Subway bill may have this in view. The President is said to be satisfied with the comparatively moderate increase carried by the G. A. R. measure.
 Commercial COngress Meeting
 President Taft and two of his cabinet. Secretaries Dickinson and Wilson, will be present at the great meeting of the Southern Commercial congress in Atlanta March S. and 10. This meeting will typify the physical recovery of the south
 In an interview today, G. Grosvenor Dave, managing director, said:
 Just fifty years ago the struggle be- tween the states was approaching head. Consequently this semi-centennial meet ing will have unusual significance The proceedings will cover three days. One whole division of the meeting will be styled external views of the south.'
 'The group of speakers is of national weight: Secretary of Agriculture Will son. George w. Perkins. Edward Hines, president of the National Lumber Manu- facturers' association; Samuel McRob- erts, vice president National City bank of New York; George Westinghouse of Pittsburg and Arthur M. Harris of N. w. Harris & Co. of Boston,"
 The first night will be devoted to the subject of "The Solid South of Business," spoken. to by one business leader from each z Ute; the second night to Making the " [ South Understood closing with sv ch by Colonel Roosevelt on "The Soul Obligation in Statesmanship and in Business Endeavor;" the third night ito "The Souths Higher Thought"
 The speakers invited for that night are William G. McAdoo, Dr. B. A. Alderman, Gov. Woodrow Wilson and Secretary of War Dickinson. The final speech of the meeting will be by President Taft, his subject being "A Greater Nation Through a Greater South"