Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-28
MANY MEASURES
AWAITING ACTION
Unfinished Business on CaIen-
darS of Both Houses of
Congress.
NEW LEGISLATION ALSO
TO RECEIVE ATTENTION
Bills Likely to Excite Controversy.
Canal Tolls Issue Among the
Most Important.

Immediately upon the reconvening of
Congress January II the calendars Of
both the House and Senate will present
a series of legislative opportunities Of mo-
ment to the general public. Although the
committees OF the House and Senate re-
manned practically dormant throughout
the summer, the work done since the be-
ginning of the present session December
has already placed a number of i'm
portant bills on the calendars for imme
diate consideration.
At the close of Congress for the Christ
mas recess the House left three items of
unfinished business on its calendars
namely. the Alaska railroad bill, a Joint
resolution providing for the appoint
ment of commission to investigate and
report a plan for national aid to voca
tional education and the District OF CO.
lumbia appropriation bin. The Senate
also had special order on the Alaska
railroad bill, SO that that legislation Is
practically certain to pass the Congress
at no distant date.
Senate Calendar.
In the Senate the calendar is made up
under rule OF that body. which per-
mits legislation to be brought up after
routine morning business on each legisla-
tive day, provided no special order OF
business OF privileged matter intervenes.
On this calendar the joint resolution pro-
posing an amendment to the Constitution
extending the right of suffrage to women
stands near the top. followed closely by
the Owen bill for the establishment OF
legislative reference bureau of the LII
brary Of Congress. which Is intended to
give Congress at first-hand expert advice
on legislative matters, particularly in the
drafting Of legislation. Should this meas
ure pass. it would provide Congress with
bureau similar to the successful bu-
reau which now assists 1.-THE legislature OF
Wisconsin in it's legislative work.
On the House calendar. to be considered
by the committee of the whole House on
the state of the Union, are many impor-
tant bills
After the Alaska railroad bill. the
Adamson bill to create a public health
service with broader powers than those
now enjoyed by the Public Health and
Marine Hospital service. is near the top
the Senate early in the last session. pro-
hibiting the sending Of campaign con-
tributions from one state to another,
stands at the head, followed by the
Booher bill relative TO interstate COM
merce In convict-made goods. Also. near
the top, appears the Burnett bill. to
regulate the immigration of aliens into
the United States. This bill passed the
last Congress and was vetoed by Presi-
dent Taft. Ii contains an educational
provision, and was reported to this ses-
sion Of Congress only after a heard hght
in the committee. and the measure is
sure to be holly contested on the floor
of the House.
Measures Of Importance.
On the calendar of motions to discharge
committees appears a large number of
important measures, which. if passed.
would materially alter existing law.
Among them are bills to create tariff
board, number of bills intended to pro-
mote the safety of employees and trav-
elers upon the railroads of the country;
bill to regulate corporations engaging
in interstate and foreign commerce. and
to create an industrial commission for
their supervision; joint resolution pro-
viding for the direct election of President
and Vice President of the United States:
bill providing for the registration of
lobbyists: a bill to create a country life
commission; a bill to provide a commits
sion of army engineers to investigate
flood conditions in the Mississippi val
ley. and other measures of like impor-
lance. 1Ne house Also awaits reports
from the judiciary committee on resolu-
tons relative to the punishment of Rep
resentative James T. McDermott of Chi
cago. and officers of the National Asso-
citation of Manufacturers In connection
with the investigation of the Mulhall
lobby charges which was recently COM
pleted by a special committee 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 canlendars of either house. The first
of these is the amendment to the anti
trust law. which the President will rec
ommend to Congress, in a special mes
sage soon after the Christmas holidays.
The other measures are the La Toilette
seamens bill, which has already passed
the Senate, and upon which hearings
have already been held by the merchant
marine and fisheries committee of the
House; also the Adamson resolution, in
troduced in the House just before the
Christmas recess, providing for the sus-
pension for two years of that provision
in the Panama canal act which will give
to American coastwise vessels free tolls.
The Senate may add one more measure
to this list In the bill introduced by
Senator Williams providing for the in
surance of bank deposits
At present the seamen's bill is a sub
ject of great controversy among the
members of Congress. The bill intro
duced by Senator La Toilette is under
stood to have the unqualified support of
the Seamen's Union and the unqualified
opposition of the steamboat companies
especially those companies which operate
vessels on the great lakes and rivers
and on the short coastwise trips on
either coast.
Includes Drastic Provisions.
Among the items in the bill are
drastic provisions relative to the safety
of life Of the passengers and employees
who use these vessels. According to the
steamboat owners, the bill will put out
Of business practically all of the ex-
cursion boats on the great lakes and all
vessels OF somewhat similar character
which ply between the larger coast
cities and nearby resorts. Many of
them contend that If they are compelled
to comply with the provisions of the
bill their vessels would be laden to the
full capacity by the crew and by the
additional lifeboats they would be COM
PEELED to carry. The House committee
will continue it's hearings until it Is
satisfied that all available information
on the subject has been secured, and it
is believed that the bill which passed |
the Senate will be somewhat modified
before 1t reaches the House.
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