The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-09-10
C0NgAESS PlANSyElR'sWORK
ANTITRUST, CURRENCY AND
RAILROAD LEGISATION TO
COME.
ret Measure Of Wilson .Administra- /
ton Will be Presented Before End
Of Next Session.


Of Next Session.
Washington, Sept. 1.-THE pro-
gramme of antitrust, railroad and
currency legislation that faces con-
gress for the ensuing II months has
become fairly well outlined. Presi-
dent Wilson and Democratic leaders
apparently have agreed on an ambi-
tiOus plan of legislative work, which
will bring all of the most important
administration within the period that
ensues between now and the end of
the next regular session of congress.
The tariff bill will be out of the
senate and in the hands of q confer
ence committee of the house and sem
ate before the end of this week Cur
rency legislation already has forged
to the front and promises to dominate
congressional activity within few
days. The prospects for immediate
currency legislation in the senate
have not improved the last week, but
supporters OF the administration bill
hold to the hope that by the time the
measure has passed the house, the
senate committee on banking and cur
rency will be ready to act.
In the meantime. senate leaders are
announcing that antitrust legislation
and further important amendments to
the railroad laws, are to he among the
first and most important subjects
taken up at the regular session of con-
gress in December. Twice last week
Senator Simmons. in charge of the
tariff bill i'm the senate, headed off
attempts to put trust or rate amend
ments on the bill, by the announce
ment that the subjects would re-
ceive prompt and effective considera-
ton when the winter session begins.
President Wilson's idea of anti
trust legislation have been we'll known
since his effective work in New Ter-
sey during the closing days of his adj
m.nistration as governor. He has u
general outline of what he desires in
the way of trust control legislation
mostly embraced In series of
seven laws enacted in New Jersey.
This plan undoubtedly will undergo
elaboration in congress; and the in
fluence of Republicans as we'll as
Democrats, who have long been ac-
tive I'm the fight for more adequate
regulation of the trusts. will be felt
in the making of these reforms.
Senator Cummins failed in his at
tempt to have the tnriff bill changed
so railroads would be forbidden t.
give special rates to importers. This
will he pressed at the next session, as
part of railroad rate law pro
gramme. Senator Simmons announc-
ed yesterday that he believed import
ant changes would he made in rail-
road laws at the next congress.
The currency hearings, begun early
last week before the senate commit
tee on banking and currency, have de-
veloped radical expressions of opinion
from many members Of the senate
committee. This indicates that lony
debates and discussions within the
committee will be necessary before
any agreement can be reached as iu
the merits of the administration bill.
That measure Is to come formally be-
iore the house tomorrow; and it is
believed that with the party indorse-
ment behind it. it will pass almost
without change.
While little marked antagOnism has
de' c'oped at the senate hearings
among Democratic committees toward
vital features Of the administration
bill, individual members have shown
wide variety or opinion as to the
economic strength of certain features
oil the measure. Senator'S Hitchcock,
O'Gorman, Shafroth and Reed were
active in their questions addressed to
the representatives of the American
Bankers association who held the
stand last week; and have advanced
many tentative suggestions as to
iheir own views of necessary currency
legislation.
Senator Weeks Repuhlican) will
attempt this week to force the com
mittee to act on his resolution, put
ting off action on the currency bill