Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03
Many important Matters Will
Come Before Congress.
LONG SESSION IS EXPECTED
Legislators May Be Kept Busy Until
June.
TARIFF AND TRUSTS IN FRONT
Each Party Will Be on the Alert
to Make Political Capital Of
Its Work.

| Tomorrow at noon Congress will meet,
! beginning session likely to run until
June and propfesied to prove to be one
| OF the most eventful and important ses-
| sions of the past quarter century. The
first week will be devoted to prelmi-
naries-one might call it a girding of
| the loins for the fray to come.
Contemplation Of the work cut out for
this session almost staggers one. The
subjects for legislation pressing for at
tention are SO numerous and Of such
weighty consequence to the country as to
| indicate that the unremitting attention
| OF representatives and senator's will be
required up to the very eve of the pres'.-
Dental campaign
And there's the rub; it Is to be COM
mingiing Of wise craftsmanship and
adroit politics throughout the work In
hand. 1t falls out that consideration of
proposed statutes vitality affecting ''big
business comes at "a time when "big
politics" must be played by both parties.
Short Session Tomorrow.
Tomorrow will probably witness short
session. In the House the roll will be
| called and a committee appointed to join
notify the President that Congress Is as
sembled. That committee will report
that the President will communicate with
Congress by special message the follow
ing day and the House will soon adjourn.
In the Senate a similar proceeding will
be followed with. probably. an executive
session to distribute nomlnEIio
Tuesday the Presidents message on the.
trusts will be read. Departing from, fer
mer custom. the President is sendii4g In
SPECIAL messages devoted to particular
subjects instead of reviewing the whole
state of the nation at once. Thursda! lie
will send a message on foreign affairs.
and Friday will transmit the report '1f
the securities commission >On railway
capitalization. During the same week or
the succeeding one he will transriit the
findings Of the tariff board on the wool
schedule. Toward the end of the month
both houses will take two-week recess
over the Christmas holidays. q
{ Thus at the very outset Congress will
be provided with, information upon the
three most vital topics OF proposed leg
isiaton-the tarin, the trusts and the rail-
ways. These messages will be referred
to the appropriate committees. which Will
probably at once begin hearings.
Chairman Underwood Of the ways and
means committee has announced in The
Star that his. COMMITTEES. is estdy to sgo
the report OF the tarin board Is sent liz.
and to proceed anyhow If that report is
not forthcoming within a reasonable time
The wool schedule, the iron and steel
schedule, the cotton goods schedule, su-
gar, leather and miscellaneous schedules
are well III frand, with considerable data
already in the possession Of the COM
mittee. 4
Democrats Intent. on Economy.
Work on the great appropriation bills
will occupy much OF the time of Con-
gress. The democrats in both houses are
intent upon making record for econ
omy, and this will require a great deal
Of study, to be followed by considerable
debate. The party leaders. who realize
the importance OF the economy issue, will
have their hands full bringing into line,
individuals who desire appropriations for
their districts.
The monetary commission is required by
law to make a final report to Congress
January upon It's studies of the bank
ing and currency question. Whether Con-
gsess will attempt at the coming session
to deal with the involved and disputed
question of amending. the banking and
currency laws is uncertain. 1t is prob
able, however. that Congress will at least
pass the republication Of the banking
laws, even II 1t is not deemed practicable
to undertake new legislation.
Supervision of Corporations.
1t is generally and publicly understood
that the President will recommend in his
first message to Congress- federal super
vision Of corporations doing interstate
business, renewing the suggestions here
tofore made upon that subject There
are wide differences of opinion between
the parties and among the factions and
individuals over this proposition, and pro-
lonGed debate Is assured
n a m rAy,1o - 81,
the weight of opinion inclines to- the
view that this will not be undertaken
at the coming session. President Taft
Is known to be strongly opposed to
Gratis are in favor of insisting upon strict
enforcement of existing law, rather than
attempting to amend it.
Regulation Of Railways.
The report Of the securities commits
sion will open up the question of fur
ther Strengthening the authority of the
interstate commerce commission and ex-
tending It's power Of regulation of the
railways. Although nothing is officially
known upon the subject reports have
been current for several days that the
commissions report would advocate
something Of this kind. Again, there is
division OF sentiment, party, factional
and individual. as to the physical valu-
alton OF railroads. ana the extent to
which the government should go In super.
vising the capitalization OF the common
carriers.
The joint waterways commission will
make a report and there will be strug-
gle between the good spenders' and
the economists over liberal appropria-
tons to carry out the expected recon-
mendations.
Civil Service Retirement.
Senator Cummins committee is ex-
pected to make report on some kind
Of plan for civil service retiremen;
to expedite the work in. the great de-
partments OF the government without
inflict;ng cruel hardships upon age4 and
faithful employees.
. Congress will be called upon to provide
system Of tolls for the Panama canal,
ard effort In tbs direction will immedi-
ately open up the question OF a ship
subsidy or other method Of reviving the
merchant marine.
President Taft's arbitration treaties
will occupy considerable Of the time OF
the Senate and lead to vigorous discus
sion.
Running through consideration OF all
OF these weighty topics Will be the tariff
legislation upon which both parties are
determined. Whatever Is done or omit
ted with regard to the other questions
-