The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-05
TWO BILLS FAIL
Appropriation Measure Lost on
Last Day.
Senator Fall Talked Indian
Bill to Death.

Washington, March 1.-Two of the
great annual appropriation bills nee
essary to the maintenance of the fed
erai government failed for passage
yesterday whensth S1xty-second con-
gress wound up its affairs.
senator FAN of New Mexico, hold
ing the floor through the closing
hours of the session, talked the In
dian appropriation bill to death with
It's S12,OOO,000 for the support of the
indian service, while President Taft
wrote his veto on the $115,O0O0O0 bill
TO take care of the sundry civil ex-
re-passed the sundry civil bill over
the veto. but when it reached the SEN
ate, Senator Poindexter objected to
any appropriation for the Washington
police force unless an investigation
had been made for the riotous scenes
attending the suffrage parade Mon
day, and the senate did not get to a.
vote on the bill. Mr.. Taft vetoed the
sundry civil bill because of it's pro-
visions exempting labor organizations
and farmers organizations from
prosecution under the antitrust law.
Most of the appropriations would not
take effect until July 1. however, and
the new congress will be able to pre-
pare appropriation measures by that
time.
The provision to which Mr.. Taft
objected provided that no funds could
be spent in prosecution of organiza-
lions or individuals for entering into
any combination or agreement having
in view the increasing of wages,
shortening of hours or lettering the
conditions of labor or for the prose
and association of farmers who CO.
operate and organize to obtain and
maintain fair and reasonable price
for their products" This he declar-
ed. was "class legislation of the most
vicious Sort and that 1t would I'M
doubtedly be held unconstitutional by
the courts.
Referring to the farmers clause
President Taft said: "At time when
there Is a WIDESPREAD COMPLAINT of the
high cost of living, it certainly would
be an anomaly to put on the statue
books of the United States an act in
effect preventing the prosecution of
combinations of producers of farm
products for the purnose of artificial
ly controlling prices'
Taft Gives Reasons.
In signing the labor department bill.
the president left with congress a
memorandum expressing the conviction
that nine departments are enough to
conduct the government. He said:
81 sign this bill with considerable
hesitation, not because I dissent from
the purpose of congress to create
department of labor, but because I
think no new department ought to be
created without a reorganization of all
IN the government and 4
of the bureaus between
them. The distribution of bureaus be-
tween the existing department is far
from being economical or logical and if
there is one thing that is needed in
the present situation it is a reorganiza-
ton of our government on business
principles and economy in the regular
governmental machinery.
81 forbear however, to veto. this bill
because my motive in doing SO would
be misunderstood. There is no pro-
vision in the bill itself for 81 recon-
by the head of the hew de-
partment as to the reorganization of
bureaus that may itself lead to a gem
eral reorganization which is so much to
ne daro1nrad - !