The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-29
MUCH LEGISLATION
FOR next SESSION.
MANY IMPORTANT MEASURES .ARE
AWAITING ACTION BY
CONGRESS-.
CALENDAR LOADED
NEW LEGISLATION ALSO TO RE-
CEIvE ATTENTrON--MANYB BILLS
LIKELY TO EXCITE con-
TROyERsY.
CALENDAR LOADED


both the house and senate will present
series OF legislative opportunities of
moment TO the general public. AL
though the committees OF the house
and senate remained practically DOR
mant throughout the summer. the
work done since the beginning of the
present session December 1st, has al
ready placed a number of important
bills on the calendars for immed
consideration.
At the close of congress for the
Christmas recess the house left three
items of unfinished business on its
calendars-namely, the Alaska rail-
road bill, joint resolution providing
for the appointment of commission
to investigate and report a plan for
national aid TO vocational education
and the District of Columbia appro-
priation bill. The senate also had
special order on the Alaska railroad
bill. Sc that that legislation is prac-
ticaiiy certain 10 pass the congress at
no dietant date.
Senate Calendar.
In the senate the calendar is made
UP urder rule & of that body, which
permits legislation To be brought up
after routine morning business on
each legislative day, provided no spe-
cial order of business or privileged
matter fntervenes. On this calendar
the joint resolution proposing an
amend ment To the constitution extend
ing the right OF suffrage to women
STANDS near the top. followed closely
by the Owen bin for the establish
ment 81 a legislative reference bureau
Of the library of congress, which is
intended To give congress at first hand
expert advice on legislative matters,
ri ~ In rtx In In a IF fefSf Sta
ton. Should this measure pass. II
would provide congress with a bureau
similar to the successful bureau which
now assists the legislature Of Wiscnn
sin in It's legislative work.
On the house calendar. to be con-
sidereo by the committee Of the whole
house on the State Of the Union, are
manv important bills.
After the Alaska railroad bill the
ADAMS n hlli TO create "a public health
I service with broader powers than
those now en5oved by the public
frr1tr-r --rrt tfzrtrrr trr1r--Tir7if ErrvfcTs II
near the top of the list. The Clamp
bill. which PASSED the senate early in
the iaS session, prohibiting the send
ing ~ campaign contributions rom
one State 10 another. stands at the
head followed by the Booher bin
relative - Interstate commerce. ri
convict made goods Also, near the
ton anpeays the Burnett bill 10 regif-
late tho immigration IF aliens into
fire GFrited States. This bill pa ssea
the laat congress, and was vetoed by
President Taft. II contains an edu-
cetis provision. and WAS reported
To this sesslon of congress only after
ha'd fight in the committee and
the measure is sure To he hotiy con-
tested on the floor Of the house.
Measures OF Importance.
On the calendar Of motions to dis
charge committees appears n large
number - important measures which.
IL passed. would materially alter exist
ing law. Among them are bills to
create . tariff board. number Of
bills Intended To promote the safety
Of employees and travellers upon the
railroads Of the country; n bill 10
regulate corporations engaging In in
terstaie and foreign commerce, and
To create an industrial commission for
their Supervisson;4 II joint resolution
providing for the direct election of
president and vice president Of the
EFnitee States; bill providing for the
regis ration of lobbyists; bill TO
create a country life commission;
bill to provide a commission of army
engineers to investigate food condi-
tions In the Mississippi valley, and
other measures of like Importance
The house also awaits reports from
The judiciary committee on resolutions
relative to the punishment of Rep
resentative James T. McDermott of
Chicaso. and officers Of the National
Association of Manufacturers in con-
nectioE with tho investigation of the
Muihali lobby charges which was re-
GENTLY completed by special com
mittee OF the house.
Expected Legislation.
In addition to bills already on the
calendar. there are three other pieces
OF legislation certain to come before
this congress, which have not yet
reached the calendars Of either house
The first of these Is the amendment to
the anti-trust law. which the presi-
dent will recommend to congress In a
special message soon after the Christ
mas holidays, The other measures
are the La Toilette seamen's bill.
which has already passed the senate
and upon which hearings have al
ready been held by the merchant ma
rtne and fisheries committee OF the
house, also the Adamson resolution.
introduced In the house just before
the Christmas recess. providing for
me suspension for two years of that
provision In the Panama canal act
which will give to American coastwise
Yesseis free tolls. The senate may
ldd one more measure TO this list in
ne bill introduced by Senator VIII
dams providing for the insurance OF
bank deposits.
A. present the seamen's bill is a
mbtect of great controversy among
he members OF congress. The bill
introduced by Senator La Toilette is
understood to have the unqualified
support of the Seamen's union and
he unqualified opposition of the
teamboat companies. especially those
companies which operate vessels on
he 81 eat lakes and rives and on the
short coastwise trips on either coast
Includes Drastic Provisions.
Among the items in the bill are
arast.c provisions relative to the safe
OF life Of the passengers and en-
,Ioyes who use these vessels Accord
ng tc the steamboat owners, the bill
viii put out OF business practically
IN of the excursion boats on the great
axes and all vessels OF somewhat
amiia- character which ply between
he larger coast cities and nearby re-
sorts Many OF them contend that II
hey are compelled toacomply with the
provisions OF the bill their vessels
would be laden to the full capacity
by the crew and by the additional
sfifeboata they would be compelled to