The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-12-21
CONGRESS GETTING BUSY.
Pre-Hoiday Activity in Both of the
Chambers at Washington.

Washington, Dec. 1S.-A sharp d.
vision of sentiment among Senators
regarding service pension legislation,
protests against large congressional
expenditures, the Russian treaty
question, continued investigation,
and enactment of the urgent def1ci-
ency bill into law, will keep congress
busy this week. Both houses will
adjourn on Thursday until January
3 Plans are going forward for what
promises to prove a congestion of
legislation after the recess.
The Sherwood so-called ''dollar-a-
day. pension bill, which the house
has passed, probably will not find an
easy way in the senate. Senator
Gore, of Oklahoma, a leading Demo-
cratic member of the pensions COM
mittee, already has started an inquiry
into the possibility of postponing ac-
ton until the next session, when
there will be no presidential election.
In the house proceedings on the
Sherwood bill, the effect upon either
party of marked libcrality to the
Mexican and civil war veterans, ag-
gregating possibly s75,000,OOO ul-
timately, was conspicuous factor
and Senator Gore contends that the
subject will not be so popular in
congress after the presidential elec-
ton.
Senator McCumber, chairman of
the pension committee, while not
committing himself to the Sherwood
bill, expressed the opinion that some
general pension legislation would be
enacted during this session of con-
gress.
1--WE should do now what we are
going to do regardless of politics, y,
he said. He thinks congressional &C
ton should depend on the state OF
the treasury and has taken steps to
ascertain that and to determine what
various plans of legislation might
cost. Secretary of the Interior Fish
er is Investigating the cost.
The house democrats will caucus
on a number of pending questions,
probably soon after the recess. The
leaders contend that the economy
program must be maintained, that
some of the Democrats on the COM
mittee's list for appropriations must
be refused, but in such way as to
avoid party dissension.
The pension bill already passed by
the house, carrying from s7O,000,0OO
to s75,00O,000; the demand of the
public buildings committee for an
omnibus measure to carry between
s25,OOO,OO0 and s30.000,00O, and
other larger drafts on the treasury
have complicated the situation.
Democratic Leader Underwood in
sists that the public buildings bill
shall not be put through. The work
of the investigating committees is
also piling up expense accounts.
The tariff boards report is expect
ed from the president this week,
but the ways and means committee
probably will not recommend action
until after the recess, but will then
proceed vigorously.
The Democrats were not agreed
last summer as to the raw wool tariff
many favoring free raw wool. This
question, trust legislation and other
things will be considered in caucus.
The proposed plan to open the eau
Gus to the public has developed
strenuous opposition from those DEM
ocrats who believe parry differences
should be settled behind closed
doors.
All the witnesses who will be
heard in the defence of Senator Lori
mer, except Mr.. Lorimer himself,
will appear before the senate COM
mittee this week, and the committee
will then adjourn to meet after the
Christmas recess. Senator Lorimer
will testify under oath for the first
time.
The Steel Trust investigating
committee of the house and the SEN
ate committee on Interstate COM
merce, which is investigating trust
problems, will be in session this
week.
There are 798 species of roses
known, and 448 of chrysanthe-
mumuS.