The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-03-05
WHAT WILSON
INHERITS FROM
HIS PREDECESSOR

q, more stupendous task than yester-
day confronted President Wilson. And
| probably no President ever realized
| more fully the gravity of the tremen-
| dous responsibility that is his
Sentiment for progressive reforms,
which put the Democratic party intol
| power today demands performance.
| To secure legislation of real reform
| is the four years task facing the new
| Administration. fractional divisions
| within the dominant party, Demo-
cratic leaders themselves admit, make
| the next four years potent with pos
| sibilities.
| This nations course of peace and
| friendship with the world powers and
| it's policy in Central and South Amer
| lea have been placed in the hands of
| President Wilson. Alone this consti-
/ tutes a mountainous task Confront
| civic strife in Mexico-the problem Of
preserving peace and order there with
out Shedding of American blood
Administration of the Panama ca
nal vase another giant problem as
| suned involving settlement Of dis
putes with Great Britain, Canada, and
other European countries over the
free tolls, CONCESSION given AIneri-
| can shipping. The Taft Administra-
ton left these negotiations practically
| in state of incubation. Repeal of
| the free tolls clause is the demand
| Wilson's Cabinet must face and solve.
| Other diplomatic questions confront
| ing the new administration is pro-
posed recognition of the new Chinese
/ Republic, negotiation of new trade
| and passport treaty with Russia, work
| of the Alaskan boundary commission,
/ tariff reprisals in Europe, joint action
in conserving the Alaska sealing sit
uation, and the Newfoundland fisher
les, muttered rurnblings of strife in
| Cuba, Santo Domingo, Haiti, Saliva
dor, and Honduras, besides the dispute
/ with Brazil over coffee importations.
| Immediately confronting President
Wilson was the great question of pa
| tronage and the program for the ex-
ira ordinary session of Congress. Re-
vision of the tariff and possibly bank
| ing and currency reform are urged for
special immediate action. Calling of
the special session is to be one of the
first acts of the new President, prob
| ably within a. few days.
| Platform pledges galore. await full
| fIment by the Democrats. These in
clude such knotty problems as Phil
! ippine independence. Porto Rfcan cit
| izenship amendment or strengthening
/ the Sherman antitrust law, a single
| Presidential term and labor legis-
! Iation.
eLegacies'' innumerab1e were left to
| the new Executive by former Presi-
| dent Taft These include the Panama
| tolls controversy, the Mexican trouble
i and many measures which e@died'' in
i Congress when the Sixty-second ses-
4 sion ended
i Among the bills and policies await
i ing action by the new. administration
j and Congress are.
Il Senator Works resolution for a con-
i stitutionaI amendment limiting ten
I ure of President to one term of six
/ years.
/ Limited independence for the Fill
pinos.
Representative C1ayton's anti-injunc-
Creation of the new Department of
/ Labor. ~
The s.seamen's labor bill
The Page educational and vocation
1 al bill.
Conservation of water power and
| beauty of Niagara Falls.
t Direct election of Presidents and
4 Senators.
| .Regu1asting of ealnraign contribu-
tons.
Maintenance of the Commerce Court
and the Economy and EFFICIENCY Com
mission. 4.41<sl
..Money trust regulation and inves-
Worknen's compensation.
Repeal of. the Canadian reciprocity
4 treaty.
Conservation of forests and water
power
Physical valuation of railroads.
| Prohibition in Hawaii.
.tshipping trust Investigation and
1 regulation. .-z...--.z
! Senator ovens bill for direct cleo
j ton of Federal judges.
| Senator Bristow's bill for a national
i initiative and referendum.
i Fsta b1ishment of a national public
/ health service.
/ Opening of Alaska.
/ Eght-hour day for women in the
! District Of Columbia
p +,o,,4 lou
| Limited woman's suffrage
/ Reorganization Of militia.
Creation of a, national council of de-
Tense.
j Reorganization of the customs and
revenue service.
| Increase of pensions
In addition to these problems, the
| opening of the Panama canal and es-
i Enlistment of a civil government on
the Isthmian zone face the new Pres
/ ident
Scores of unfinished trust prosecu-
! lions begun by Attorney General Vic
kershan, also await the new Admin
fstration's action Many important
| cases must also be presented to the
/ Supreme court by the new executive
| heads which were instituted during
| recent years.
: Administration and extensions Of the
| parcel post is another important prob
| lem. Appropriations for the navy,
| army, good roads, the San Francisco
| exposition and economy in expendi-
! lures generally furnish even more
| huge tasks.
| ORGANIZATION of the Sixty-third Con-
| gress augurs difficulty for the new
| party in power. An extremely small
| majority in the Senate and an over
| whelrning majority in the House, with
disputes over important committee
| chairmanships, present a delicate par
! tisan Situation.
CHARLES |. SVEN
j