Bridgeton pioneer., 1911-11-30

SuIltlSS anu Is uDuPTSIOOQ TO ne re1Qy
TO report. On the basis of its findings
the president will again recommend
government regulation of the rapitai
zation of common carriers. The gen
eral purpose of such legislation would
be to prevent overcapit EiiZs ton and to
discourage the issue of fictitious secu
rities-in word, to squeeze the water
from railroad stocks or at least to pre-
vent the pumping in of more water.
This does not go as far as Senator La
Toilette. who insists on physical valu-
alton of railroad properties as basis
for rate making La Toilette is Ger.
tain to urge physical valuation at this
session. but there is question wheth-
er either his plan or the presidents
will>gO through.
The fight for parcels post will be
one of the features of this congress.
Both the president and Postmaster
General Hitchcock are urging this.
their plan being to try il on the rural
routes first. Senator Bourne. chairman
of the senate committee on postofficeS
and post roads. has made an eXhaus-
tive study of the subject and is in fa-
vor of going further. He advocates a
universal parcels post in place of the
partial and experimental one proposed
by the administration.
Following the investigation of the
Hughes committee into second class
postage rates there is certain to be o
renewed effort to raise the postage on
magazines. This has been attempted
several times before, but has been beat
en-. 1t Is hardly probable that it will
be approved by a Democratic house
and by senate in which the insur-
gents hold the balance of power. On
the other hand, bill may be pushed to
reorganize the postoffice department
and something may be done to reduce
the railway mail pay.
Popular Election of Senators. 4
The amendment to the constitution
providing for the direct election of
United States senators passed both
houses by the requisite majority dur
ing the special session, but an amend
ment was inserted in the senate giving
the federal government control over
such elections. This was objected to
by southern Democrats as an attempt
to revive the force bill, and the house
refused to concur in the amendment.
An agreement between the two houses
had not been reached at the time con-
gress adjourned. The new session will
take up the matter at the point where
the old one left off, and it is probable
that some agreement will be reached.
Representative Henry also promises
to bring in a constitutional amendment
to change Inauguration day from
March 4 to the last Thursday in April
Under its terms congress would meet
In January, the new congress going
into session within two months instead
of waiting more than a year, as at
present. This matter of changing the
date of Inauguration has been before
every session of recent years, but this
time Representative Henry is confident
that it will pass.
General labor legislation. including
a bill to regulate injunctions. will al
most certainly pass the house, but
may meet a check from the senate or
the president. Mr.. Taft has his own
ideas on the subject of injunctions
and is not likely to approve a meas
ure conforming to the injunction
plank in the Democratic national plat
form. which has the approval of the
labor unions.
Intimations have been made that
the publicity law, which now applies
to the election Of representatives in
congress, will be extended to all ma
tional elections. or at least the Demo
cratic house would pass such a bill.
in which event neither the senate nor
the president would probably assume
the responsibility of defeating it, If
made a law this would require the
publication both before and after eec-
ton of receipts and expenditures by
national committees. candidates for
president and senators.
The Arbitration Treaties.
Paradoxical as it may seem, the
first fight of the session will be over
peace, and it will be quite a battle
at that. President Taft broke all rec
ords of presidential journeys to talk
up the arbitration treaties. among
other things, and he proposes to see
them through. The senate has already
indicated the desire to amend the
treaties. wishing to retain its own
prerogatives and to eliminate from
the treaties certain subjects. such as
the Monroe doctrine, the Panama ca
nal and others. Treaties with Hon
duras and Nicaragua are also awaiting
ratification.
The report of the monetary commits
sion places the question of currency
reform squarely before this congress.
In a general way the report recon-
mends the creation of national re-
serve association and the issuance Of
what is known as an asset currency.
Both propositions are certain to arouse
opposition.
Committees from both houses have
visited the Panama canal since the ad-