The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-05

chalrmen, who will manage the biz
campaigns and plans for tho approach
Ing party conventions. and the subse-
quent battle OF the ballots, will attract
as much attention from the nations
legislators as will the making OF tho
nations laws.
TO enliven the political interest in
both houses, there are candidates for
the presidency casting their shadows
across the horizon. Champ Clark, tho
Speaker of the House, already consid-
cred among the Democratic possibilities,
may at any time make presidential
announcement to his colleagues, and
Representative Oscar w. Underwood,
OF Alabama, the Democratic floor leader,
also is talked of throughout The coun-
try as presidential timber.
In the Senate Mr. La Toilette already
has been proclaimed by Progressive
Republicans as their choice to wrest
the nomination from Mr. Taft
Bryan Stumbling Block.
In the House the political interest
VIII be further complicated by the atti-
tude of Mr.. Bryan, who has quarreled
with Mr.. Underwood and branded him
as a reactionary, and now criticizes
speaker clark in what many Demo-
Gratis declare Is an effort to cause q
breach between the Speaker and the
majority leader of the House.
The tariff Legislation program will
follow tho long awaited report of the
Tariff Board. which is expected to sub
NIT the result of It's investigations on
wool and cotton before the HOLIDAYS
The Ways and Means Committee of tho
House, however. under the direction of
Chairman Underwood, will begin ut
once the preparation Of new tarlr bills.
Throughout the recess a force of clerks
and experts have been at work pre-
pairing for the committee. President
TAFT has given his pledge that when
the Tariff Board submits its report on
the wooden dnd cotton schedules 1t Will
be his pleasure to make tarifr recon-
mendations to Congress. The subject
Will be treated in special message.
Meantime, however. the Ways and
Means Committee will begin prepare
ton of revised schedules to include
wool. cotton. iron and steel products,
sugar and other foodstufrs An impor-
tant schedule to como up is the sugar
schedule, and In dealing with this thu
House and tho Ways and Means Com
Inittee Will be guided somewhat by the
report OF the special committee oil in
quiry into the American Sugar REIN
ing Company, which Is expected to re-
port early in the session.
Conspicuous in the records of the
Congress Will be the coming vigorous
trust debates. The fight to amend the
Sherman antitrust law already is on.
In the House the question will be first
considered by the Committee on Judi
ctary. This committee has determined
also to report bills amending the In
Junction statutes and the contempt stat
utes. the latter TO include provision tor
trial by jury In cases of Indirect con-
tempt. These Will be pressed for pas
sage before adjournment
The committee has In hand a half
dozen bills providing amendment to
the Sherman antitrust law. The most
recent bill was drafted by Representa-
tive Henry, Of Texas, providing for
penitentiary terms for violators OF the
trust laws and designed to eliminate
from the Sherman law the rule of
reason" as interpreted by the Supreme
Court. Some sort of bill is certain
to come from the committee bearing
on this problem. In the Senate the
trust question is under consideration
in the hearings before the Commit
tee on Interstate Commerce, which
will continue for some time.
In line with the trust question will
be the determination of the fate OF
the House special committee OF inquiry,
into the United States Steel Corpora
ton. The steel corporation has pro-
tested against continuation of the
hearing In view of the ruling of the
government against It. Tho question
Is certain to be brought up In the
House for settlement within few
days, and 1t will provoke lively con-
troyersy.
Tnfts PROPOSAL.
AS a part of the trust legislative
plan President Taft has suggested
Federal Incorporation act. He has
stated his belief that statute might
be drawn-nct as an amendment to