The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-07
HOLD CONFERENCE
Democratic Leaders Confer
With President.
Many Questions of Legislation
Taken Up.
ECONOMY IS CONSIDERED
Wilson Takes Up Glass Legis-
IatiOn Matter.
Is in Favor of STRENGTHENING
Sherman Law.

Washington, March President
Wilson today began conferences with
some of the leaders of his party in
congress. He was in the executive
offices shortly after o'clock and
soon after Senators Culberson, of
lima, and former Governor Glenn, oE
North Carolina, called. Chairman
Fitzgerald of the house appropriation
committee followed. Chairman Fitz-
gerald had many questions in regard
to legislation to talk over with the
president.
Late today in the East room Mr..
Wilson was to meet Charles Murphy,
the Tammany leader. Mr.. Murphy
was expected to come with eight 9TH
er New Workers. and it was not prob
able that the president would have
an opportunity to hold a private con-
ference with him. White House Of
ficialS announced today that the pres
ident had decided to hold regular
cabinet meetings on Tuesdays and
Fridays of each week, as has been the
custom for many years. Many spe-
ciaI sessions, however, are likely to be
called before April 1, when congress
is to convene in extra session. Ine
cabinet was to hold a session TO-DAY TO
consider appointments of bureau lead
erS
Representative Fitzgerald talked
with the president about half hour
ana SAID later IdnI lney QlSCOSSOO OhAS
general subjects. No decision has
been reacehd, he said, as to whether
the house should now appoint an ap-
preparation committee and dra1t
sundry civil appropriation bill to take
the place of the one Veted by Mr.. Taft.
1t is possible a new sundry civil bill
and an Indian appropriation bill Will
be introduced in the special session
without going through the hands OF
appropriation committee. The house
passed the bill in the last congress
over Mr.. Taft's veto by large ma
jority and it probably could be rein
troduced and passed as it then stood.
Economy Taken Up.
President Wilson took under con-
sideration economy of administration
and socalled class legislation. Chair
man Fitzgerald of the house appro-
priation committee, discussing with
the president the question OF appro-
priation for the coming session, re-
called that Mr.. Taft had vetoed the
sundry civil bill because of provisions
to prevent the government from using
a certain sum to enforce the Sherman
law against labor unions or farmers
organizations. President Wilson took
a firm position, it was said, behind
Mr. F'itZgerald for rigid economy. 1t
is known that he looked apprehen-
sively from Trenton at the appropria-
ton at the last congress. Mr.. Wilson
had before him in New Jersey a situ-
alton where the labor organizations
of the state, prompted by President
Gompers of the American Federation
of Labor, objected to one of the
'seven sisters" antitrust laws, on the
ground that they restricted labor
unions from making agreements with
corporations or individuals as to
wages, hours, etc. They suggested
that the bill be amended, but Mr..
Wilson insisted that such an amend
ment would be class legislation, for
hidden under the New Jersey consti-
tuition. He contended, too, that New
Jersey courts had not and could not
include labor unions within the scope
of corporation regulation. Federal
legislation, he told the labor leaders,
might be different.
Some of the presidents confidants
think that if the provisions exempt
were included in the sundry civil bill
again, Mr.. Wilson would be inclined
to influence their elimination, prefer
ring to postpone the enunciation of
of the Sherman antitrust law was at
tempted. Mr.. Wilson is known to be
in favor of strengthening the Sherman
antitrust law so that its Jurisdiction
may be explicitly understood
Daniel c.. Roper, South Carolina,
was nominated today by President Will
son to be first assistant postmaster
general. Dr. Charles p Neill, whose
denomination as commissioner of labor
failed of confirmation in the last con-
gress. is to be re-nominated as commits
sioner of labor statistics
James r. Blakeslee, secretary of the
Pennsylvania state committee, has been
selected for nomination as third assist
ant postmaster general.
Former Governor Robert c. Glenn, of
North Carolina, called today to con-
graduate the president. The two men
were classmates at Davidson college.
North Carolina years ago. and played
on the same baseball team.