Putnam patriot., 1912-08-16
l0ngress


 The progressive platform and ex President Rooseeelt,s trust views oe- cupled the attention of the House in the closing hour of the first debate Of the Stanley steel trust investigation. Representative Lafiedy of Oregon in- tsrpolated the progressive platform in- t1 the debate, and Representative Gardner of Massachusetts pointed out what he called inconsistencies in Mr RooseHolt's position. "He believes in the Sherman antitrust law and in the recognition of trusts. said Mir. Gafd- ner. "He is riding two hoises going in opposite dlfeeiions.9 "Have you read the colonel speeeh2' asked Mir. Laneriy. "Yes, and Il Is entirely dil- fefent from the views be expressed in the Outlook ln November He does not make himself clear on anything He is not clear eH immigration the tariff or anything else.
 Disregardlng the protest of the Brit ish government, the senate passed the Panama Canal bill, providing for the maintenance and operation of the canal and the establishment of gov ernment in the Canal Zone, by vote of 47 to l5 The measure as passed provides for the remission Of tolls to American vessels engaged both in eoastwise and foreign traffic, prohibits railroad owned vessels from using the canal, admits to American register American owned foreign buiit ships not in coastwise trade and contains modification Of the House provision divesting the railroads Of their steam. ship lines.
 By vote of Il to II the Senate re fused to strike from the Panama canal bill the provision exempling American ships from payment cf tolls for pas sage through the Panama canal De- batepon the question had continued from l D. m. until nearly midnight. The Senate then adjourned without voting on the bill itself. The defeat Of the Burton amendment to strike out the discrimination in favor of Ameri- can ships was the Senate's answer to the protest of the British government against the legislation. It was this clause of the bill which led Great Britain to send formal protest to the state department.
 The House last Thursday showed what it could do in the way of ex- pediting business by passing the gen eral deficiency bill, carrying S6, ,lS2, ,S6S agreeing to the conference reports on the agricultural and legislative, exeeu. tive and judicial bills, and declining to agree to the conference report on the invalid pensions appropriation meas. ure. The latter, which carries up- ward of Sl60,000, ,000, contained pro. vision for the abolishment of the eigh. teen pension agencies scattered throughout the country which the Senate refused 10 accept. The bill WIS sent back to the Senate, with an al. most unanimous vote that the proVis- ion be accepted.
 On Tuesday Congress by an unfair ruling of the House speaker passed the free wool bill over President Tafts veto. It will be dear victory for the Democratic party,
 The annual post-otiiee appropriation passed the Senate after sharp fighting over provisions relating to parcels post, good roads improvement and the atiili- ation of postal employees with labor or ganizntions. As II goes back to the House it contains some restrictions up. on the right of postal employees to join outside organizations, and an entirely new system of parcels post, based on the "zone plan," with varying rates for varying distances. The measure will go into conference with many i'm. portant differences remaining to be settled.