The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-08-28
UPSETS
PROGRAM in .
CONGRESS-
Schedule Of Regular Business T.
sidetracked to Make Way for
Special Legislation House Is
Slowing Down Radical Wa
ter Power Bill Is Passed.
By Ernest O. walker,
.Mail speeinl 10 Tho AIvertlsar. }

(Mail Special 20 The Advertised.
WASHINGTON, August 13.--Con.
gress is still trying to be industrious.
There have been Interruptions, which
could not well have been avoided The
European war entailed business which
occupied congress much Of the time dur
ing week and during that time, Of
course, nothing was done on the pro
gram which President Wilson has set
out for completion before adjoprnment
There was a delay Of one day on &C
count of the death Of Mrs. Wilson and
indeed that sad occurrence seems 10
have diverted the senate Considerably
more than one day. II was right at the
point Of a vote on the shipping bill at
five clock on the Thursday that She
died. Fifteen minutes more and the
vote would have been recorded. But
the Democratic leaders fastened 70 adj
journ as an expression of sympathy.
The next day the takers had more
strength and they went TO the task
with spirit 80 that the vote was delay
cd several days thereafter.
Meanwhile the Federal Trade Com.
mission Bill has passed the senate and
Is in conferences. Differences will be
adjusted shortly and that act may be.
come law within fortnight or even
before that. Only two measures are
now left TO make adjournment feasiflc.
One Is the Clayton antitrust bill. which
the senate is now working on. Tho 9th.
CIR is the railroad securities bill. 10
LOOKS as though the senate would be
the remainder OF this month disposinn
of these two bills, but the debating Of
the next week will demonstrate how
Tremendously the measures are 60 he re-
sisted. September IS is now generally
set as the prospective date Of adjourn
mont. ~
House slackening Pace.
The house is materially slowing down.
u II has advanced with the Conservation
program. The general dam act, known
Il as the water power bin by Chairman
Adamsoh Of the interstate commerco
committee, is through the house. Pro
gressiye Democrats and Republicans
Joined forces and put through d bill al.
together radical. Tho governments is
permitted to charge for water power
franchises across navigable rivers, these
franchises are limited 70 fifty years and
terminate automatically. The consor
vationists generally approve OF the bill.
|, but u will be resisted in the senate.
The House has also been spending days
upon the Moon railway pay ill., one i'm.
/, Iportant feature of which is the custer
of assistant postmasters from the clnasi.
! fed service and enabling the Postmaster
general to appoint them with certain
restrictions. That feature Of the bill
Is spoils legislation pure and simple.
; There is considerable doubt whether
) the senate will accept IL in this form.
The Moon bill, however, Is comprc'
hensive and contains much good mate.
rial. There is a controversy as 70 how
much should properly be paid the rail
roads for mail transportation service.
The Democratic house and the postmas'
ter general disrcpardcd the work OF n
railway postal commission, which has
been in session NJ intervals for several
years, and blocked ont rates and pro-
visions Of its own. Nevertheless, thoro
is pressing need Of legislation IN mn
meTous matters affecting the adminis-
tration Of postal affairs and some Of
these are covered into the pending bill
lone paragraph Of much interest 10 nos
E tai savings bank depositors and like.
lwlse TO the banks provides that a de-.
& lpositor shall receive no interest on such
part of the balance 10 his cred as IL IN
excess Of $1,000. The private lrgt and
National banks have Eeen opP0si X any
legislation that would further libeiulize
the postal saving hanks on thr ground
that ii would be an unGue cncrt achnent
upon their own business, Anothor Of
the many provisions in the Nom bill
declares TINT pcstmRsters shall MT ro.
ceiye any additional Compensation for
the transaction Of postal savings dcpoa-
itory business Still another prosis ion
makes more specific punishment for
tampering with any kind Of letter
boxes
Y Important Private Bills.
Members Of the house are always
gratifed when time can bc given TO tho
passage Of private bills. Days have
now been set aside for that undor a
unanimous consent Arrangement Prob.
ably 10 or 100 private bills VIII get
through the house this week under this
agreement large grist Of these have
accumulated They affect great nam.
Der Of localities and their passage
through the house will possibly arouse
the country To tho fact that congress Il
In session and doing work, more than
all the big undertakings like anii.trusl
bills. From these measures the house
goes TO more conservation bills, likf
that for the leasing of coal lands il
Alaska. One important conservation
ill, which extends from ten 70 twenty
years the time in which settlers may
pay for lands reclaimed by the govern
mept Is now before the President. j
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