The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1913-09-11
NEWS FROM OUR
NATIONAL CAPITAL
democratic Leaders Apparent
ly Agreed on Ambitious
Legislative Plans.


months has become fairly we'll out.
lined In the last week. President vii.
son and the democrat leaders in the
two houses Of congress apparently
have agreed on an ambitious plan of
legislative work, which will bring all
OF the most important reforms con.
templated by the Wilson admlnistra.
ton within the period between now
and the end of the next regular Sos
sion Of congress.
The tariff bill will be out of the sen.
ate and In the hands Of conference
committee of the house and senate be.
fore the end Of this week. Currency
legislation promises to dominate con.
gressional activity within a few days
Antitrust legislation will be up soon.
The influence Of republicans as well
as democrats, who long have been ac.
tive in the fight for more adequate
regulation of the trusts, will be felt
In the making of these reforms.
Senate Passes Tariff Bill
The senate has finally passed the
democratic tariff bill.
Democratic lines In the senate
stood solidly against the final on.
slaught OF the tariff fight with par.
ty leaders urging their colleagues on
to approval OF the bill, the ranks
closed up against the antifree wool
and antl.free sugar forces and defeat
ed all amendments TO the bill as fast
as they came to the. vote.
Attempts to restore O duty on raw
wool and to raise the duty on wooden
manufactured goods made In success
sive amendments by Senators LaFol.
lette. Catron and Penrose we're de-
feated without the loss OF a party
vote.
Among the amendments defeated
was that OF Senator Norris for a
heavy tar on inheritances. This was
beaten 5s TO ~. the following republi-
cans Joining the democrats In voting
against Il: Senators Brandegee. Ca.
tron, Clark. OF Wyoming; Colt, Fall,
Gallinger. Jackson. Lippitt, Lodge,
oliver. Penrose. Perkins. Root, sher-
man and Sutherland.
Two attempts by Senator La Fol.
lette to secure the adoption OF substi'
tutes for the democratic wool tariff
failed by strict party votes.
Secretary Reports Adversely on Bill.
Assistant Secretary OF the Interior
Jones sent TO congress an adverse re-
port on the Borah bill recently passed
by the senate. amending the three
year homo stead bill by providing that
In lieu OF cultivation settlers may
make improvements on their land TO
the aggregate value OF $3.50 an acre a
year, The secretary objects TO the
language OF the bill and further rhain'
tains that many homesteaders are not
able TO expend this amount in i'm
He also maintains that the Borah
bill repeals the provision In the pres
ent law which gives the secretary OF
the interior discretion TO reduce the
areS OF cultivation.
The effect OF such legislation, he
,aid would be to penalize the poor
and make II impossible
'or the interior department to extend
him any relief.
New Homestead Regulations Easier.
With a view TO making IL "as easy
IS possible for honest entrymen to
<ain homesteads and as difficult as
for speculators." Acting Sec
-etary OF the Interior Jones published
1 new list OF homestead regulations.
The principal concession to home
,teaders is a reduction In the number
of acres each is required TO cultivate
under such circumstances as the
illness or OF exception
al difficulties In the way OF cultiya'
tion.
No reduction in cultivation area is
permitted, however. on account OF the
removal of standing timber-a blow at
timber spectators.
National Capital erevltles'
The house currency committee has
completed it's work on the admins
ration bill, and has authorised Chair
nan Glass to report the measure. De-
,ate will probably begin early next
week.
Congressman Allen of Ohio and
,tephens of New Hampshire are draft
ne a bill TO provide for the abolition
# all wooden cars in the United
states within five years.
AT the currency bill hearing before
he senate finance committee, Festus
Wade of st. Louis said that the Amer
can bankers association regarded the
ssuance of currency by the United