Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-12
SUNDRY CIVIL BILL
WHITE HOUSE TOPIC
Measure Vetoed by Taft
Brought to President VIII
sons Attention.
ANTITRUST PROVISION !,
SUBJECT OF SCRUTINY
Many Contracts and Numerous Sal.
aries Dependent Upon Enactment.
Early Action Expected.

carry Actl0n Expected.
neither the sundry civil bill. which
was vetoed by President Taft before tho
last session OF Congress expired will be
passed with the same provision that
caused the veto-exemption from the op-
erations of the Sherman antitrust law
OF farmers associations and labor or
Sanzations-was not settled at the White
House today. Senator Martin, chairman
or the Senate committee on appropria-
tons. and Representative Fftzgerald.
chairman of the house committee on ap-
preparations, had brief conference with
the President. at which this particular
matter was discussed.
The President is Understood to have
sent his visitors to Attorney General
McReynolds, legal adviser Of the admin
istratfon, for a discussion of the subject
and for talk with democratic leaders
in Senate and House. If Mr. McReynolds
objects to the bill containing the exemp-
ton II may not go before the House in
that shape
The attitude of the President has nor
been presented officially, and he no doubt
prefers the viws OF his Attorney General
ton with the most important active law
now on the statute books but his per-
sonal trend of mind is said to be in the
direction of keeping appropriation bills
free from general legislation and carry
ing this long-fought-for exemption to
later period in his administration, when
remodeling of the Sherman antitrust law
will be undertaken by the democratic
party.
President Wilson's Position.
She President is inclined to hold. il IN
said. that legislation of this sort properly
belongs to the general question of
changes in the Sherman law a big prob
lem in itself, and sure to come up at the
regular session of Congress In December
next. At the same time the President is
said not to object to the proposed exemp-
ton being enacted into law some time IL
the democratic leaders believe 1t might
just as well become law on the sundry
civil bill as elsewhere the President
would not veto the bill for that reason
President Taft denounced the exemp-
ton clause as the worst piece of class
legislation he had ever seen attempted In
Congress.
No appropriations committee is to be
appointed by the House democratic or
ganizatfOn to prepare the sundry civil
bill. according to the present program
Mr. Fitzgerald will simply introduce the
bill from the floor Of the House. The out
look Is that the bill will be introduced
exactly As 1t finally passed Congress.
containing legislation favoring the farm
ers and the labor organizations II that
Is the form 1t takes it will not meet OBJ
lection from the White House, except the
general objection that such legislation
does not belong on appropriation bills.
May Be Introduced Monday.
Representative Fitzgerald will probably
introduce the bill, carrying $1l6 7g5, ,327.
Monday.
The measure is Of vital importance to
thousands of government employees in the
District of Columbia. and to contractors
on millions of dollars worth OF public
building work. on river and harbor i'm
provements. and to the Panama canal
fortificat tons
On returning TO the Capitol from the
White House. Mr. Fitzgerald called a con
ference in his Office. and a statement
from him is expected later in the after
noon. The bill will be presented to the
House. and i'm order to bring II up on the
floor a special rule will come from the
rules committee.
The sundry civil bill carries millions
of dollars i'm salaries and wages. for va
rious government bureaus, and provides
buildings. supplies and light, heat and
power 10 prdctcaily ever! soNefihieh' c.
tablishment in the city. The present
measure provides for a large addition
to the National Geological Park. extends
the Capitol grounds. raises the rate of pay
for operators and assistants at the bu-
reau of engraving and printing. provides
a big central heating plant for several
government buildings and takes care OF
all the parks within the District.
1t pays all salaries at the government
printing Office. sustains the Smithsonian
institution the geological sufvey. the
bureau of mines, and makes partial ap-
propria lions for several hospitals in the
District. In addition il takes care of
millions more of expenses for govern
ment service not covered In the otner big
bills