The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-09-08
PROGRAMME:
FORNATIONAL
Legislation

Washington, Sept. S.-The pro-
gramme of antitrust railroad, cur
rency legislation that congress faces
for the ensuing twelve months has be-
come fairly well outlined during the
last week. President Wilson and the
democratic leaders in congress appar-
emily have agreed upon a plan that
will bring all of the most important
reforms contemplated by the Wilson
administration within the, period be-
tween now and the end Of the next
regular session of congress
The tariff bill will be in the hands
of a conference committee of the house
and senate before the end of this
week. The currency legislation al
ready has forged to the front, and
promises to dominate congressional
activity within a few days. The pros
poets for immediate currency legisla-
ton in the senate have not improved
during 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 commit
tee on banking and currency will be
ready to act.
In the meantime senate leaders are
announcing that anti trust legislation
and further important amendments to
the railroad laws are to be among the
first and most important subjects taken
up at the regular session of congress
next December. Twice within the last
week Senator Simons, in charge of the
tariff bill In the senate, has headed off
attempts to put trust or railroad rate
amendments on the BILL by the an
nouncement that these subjects would
~ TNtsr -AEo <4s
alton when the winter session begins.
President Wilson'S ideas of antitrust
legislation have been we'll known since
his administration as governor of New
Jersey. He has a general outline of
what he desires in the way of trust
control legislation, most Of it being
embraced in a series of seven laws en-
acted in New Jersey. This plan un-
doubtedly will undergo elaboration in
congress; and the influence Of repub-
licans as well as democrats will be
felt in the reforms.
Senator Cunmins failed in his at
tempt to have the tariff changed so
that railroads would be forbidden to
give special rates to importers. This
will be pressed at the next session, as
part of a railroad rate law pro-
ed yesterday that he believed import
ant changes would be made in the
railroad laws at the next congress.
The currency hearings begun early
last week before the senate committee
on banking and currency indicate that
long debates and discussion within
the committee will be necessary be-
fore any general agreement can be
reached concerning the administration
bill. That measure lis to come form
ally before the house tomorrow; and
At is believed. that with weight Of par
ty endorsement behind it, it will be
passed practically without change.
& Senator Weeks, republican, will at
tempt this week to force the commit
tee to act on his resolution putting off
action on the currency bill until Dec.
2. Democratic leaders in the senate
have made it plain that President
Wilson does not favor such a course
and that his influence will be strongly
exerted against it.
The tariff bill as 1t passes the sen
ate this week. will represent an aver N
age reduction of nearly per cent
from the rates of duty fixed in the bill
as 1T originally passed the house of3
representa- wise Wihi-yu shrdlu mfw
representa- With an increased
representation on the joint conference
committee, the senate leaders hope to
hold most Of their reductions in the
bill.
The final fights iii the senate over
the free wool and free sugar duties
will occur today or Tuesday, when the
bill goes to it's final passage; but the
democratic forces are believed 70 he
intact, and no notifications In the
measure are expected.