The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-04-01
NEWS FROM
WASHINGTON
Canal Legislation What is
Needed
HARD TO INTEREST THE HOUSE
Influence of the Baltimore Gamers in
the Pure Food Legislation
The Debate Over
Wool.
HARD TO INTEREST THE HOUSE

/ Washington, April l.--Despite the ap-
parent need Of enacting at this session
of Congress legislation bearing on what
tolls shall be charged on the Panama
canal and other matters relevant there
To, it is understood that it is tremend-
ously hard to interest the leaders in
the House in this legislation which has
proceeded SO far as to be out of commit
tee and on the calendar of the House.
The stage of the calendar is such nov
that some special rule or other procedure
giving the Panama canal toll bill pre-
eedence except over appropriation bills,
must be resorted to if the legislation
is to come up at all this session The
leaders have suggested that the bill b.
taken up on calendar Wednesday on
Il call of committees, but the interstate
commerce committee is so far down the
list that it seems impossible that ii can
be reached at this session and as tn.
regular appropriation bills still to be
considered are important and likely to
take much time, it is regarded that the
of in way out of the ordinary if it
is to be put through. And that has
Leen the case heretofore with Panama
bills.
The interstate commerce committee
naturally regards its own bills of prime
Importance but it is especially justified
in this case and may be excused in
maryeling that it cannot make the
Democratic leaders see its big battle in
this light As matter OF fact, the
leaders are a bit too blinded with poll
itics, and need prodding from the people
to concern themselves about highly nee
e.sary non partisan legislation as this
Panama canal bill is The canal is to |
be opened next year and commerce must |
know how to adjust itself. Further |
more, the bill ought to get into the Sen. /
ate in decent season to pass that BODY /
which is always deliherative at best
II is learned that the Baltimore can
ners are proving quite effective in the |
House interstate commerce committee in |
the reporting out of a bill !
amending the pure food act so as to /
make compulsory under regulation by !
the treasury department the putting of !
a statement on all packages in inter /
state commerce telling the quantity of /
their contents The commercial world /
seems agreeable to this provision. but |
some Baltimore Gamers have urged IN
additional amendment making it man,
dutory to stamp upon any package the
name of the manufacturer. but this
is opposed all over tie
United States as impairing private
brands of commercial houses. Indeed
the commercial world is quite wrought
IN over this proposal. but the Balti-
more Gamers seem to have enough in
iiuence in Congress so as to be able to
say so far that their wishes shall pre-.
vail or the whole amendment fail Con-
sequently there is cry for help IN
Washington Rad one of its fine spring
lays Saturday and it was very hard
TO keep the members in Congress Aft
ar its strenuous sessions over pension
bills, the Senate took a recess Saturday
and the House might as well have adj
iourned. too. The wool bill was up for
and the afternoon was
spent on speeches, but to an audience on
The floor that seemed never to exceed
30 men. The country may be inter
'sted in the tariff, but Congress really
) not and especially the House Steam
'oller methods and legislation by eau
us are not provocative of interest in
legislation. Chairman Underwood ia
'mch opposed just now TO considering
ind reporting out any cotton bill, feel
ng the House ought to wait to see if
he Senate is going to do anything with
Is tariff bills sent over. But in view
# the report of the tariff board some
Democrats feel cotton bill ought to
70 passed by the House.
Representative Gillett will make
peech on the wool tariff bill in the
House to-day