Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-12-03
PRESIDENT TO
PICK MEASURES
CONFERRING WITH LEAD.
ERs OF CONGRESS ABOUT
PROGRAM
CONSERVATION COMING. UP
Many Other Measures Being Lin
ed Up for Next Session of
63rd Congress.
CONSERVATION COMING. UP!

NdoHlHSo lOl, DcC. Z.--GIeSlueul WILL
son is comforting with the leaders OF
congress with reference to a leGisla.
tive program for the third session OF
the SiXty-third congress, beginning
next Monday. SO much time neces-
sarily must be used in considering the
appropriation bills that the general
program must be very limited. The
administration apparently is deter
mined that there shall be no extra
session next summer, so the president
must make very adroit selections il
he is TO get favored measures through
without too great risk of compelling
an extra session to finish with the
supply bills.
Conservation will undoubtedly have
an important place on Mr.. Wilson's
list. Two waterpower bills have
passed the House and are favored 10y
the president, having been improved
from the viewpoint of the conserya,
tionists, over the form in which they
were introduced The president may
also urge a bill which extends the
policy of leasing public lands, follow
ing the model of the Alaska leasing
Bill. This proposed measure will find
opposition in the Senate.
The Seamen's Bill.
The mystery attending the fate Of
the seamen's bill has not yet been
solved. The president has continued
non-commital regarding this legisla-
tioa. which has passed both houses
in radically different forms, and is
now awaiting conference. This bill
is one Of the pets of union labor. Ac-
cording to its opponents, its provis-
ions are wholly inconsistent with the
business policy which must be fol.
lowed by ship owners if they are to
take full advantage of their privileges
under the ship registry law. During
the present period of transition, it
might embarrass the administration
Nevertheless, the unions are likely to
insist that this measure be enacted,
despite the argument that it may
Handicap the growth of the American
merchant marine. .....
members will insist again upon the
Henry!Smith BILL providing for gov
ernment loans on cotton. They will
at least support amendments to the
federal reserve actt, which they over
looked in the last session in their
eagerness to force the government
into cotton speculation, and which,
according to the reserve board, would
have increased the lending power OF
the reserve banks having dealings
with the south to the extent Of $780,
100000
Railway Mail Pay.
Not the least important among the
measures which congress must con-
slider soon is the railway mail pay
bill. The president, by his silence,
haa practically approved the Moon
bill, which is backed by Postmaster
General Burleson, and virtually turns
the assistant postmasterships over to
the spokesman. This bill also pro-
vides for less rate of compensation
to the railroads than provided by the
Bourne bill, which has been worked
out as a scientific measure. The rail-
roads are enthusiastic over the Bourne
b II, and the president may be forced
into definite position soon.
The Shackleford-Bryan good roads
b-il has passed the House and awaits
action by the Senate. This is girt
to the states of S'5,000,000 Another
bin has been prepared, embodYing a
scientific plan of federal aid to road
building. Here again the president
must make a choice.
Convict Labor Bills.
The House has also sent to the Sen
ate two convict labor bills; one max
ing goods OF this kind carried in inter-
state commerce subject to the laws
of the state of destination, and the
othe" forbidding their importation
from abroad. The Burnett immigra-
tion bill, with its literacy test, is ready
for action by the Senate.
The president is expected to renew
his advocacy of the ship-purchase bill,
which will meet with hard shedding in
both branches An important House
bill seeks to place all water trans
portation under the jurisdiction of the
interstate Commerce commission. Re-
sale prices, patent legislation, the Ia
belling of manufactured goods with
reference to adulteration and mis-
branding, the licensing Of warehouses,
the admission of state banks to the
federal reserve system-these are
only few of many important subjects
for legislation which may be consid-
cred during the term of President Viii
son, if not in the coming session.
The contest over the rivers and
harbors bill may be renewed, although
it can be said that the spoilsmen are
in somewhat chastened mood. So
far. President Wilson has not an
nounced his attitude toward this
measure. But, with the necessity OF
economy staring him in the face, it is
expected he will ask for its close
pruning.
MORTON GETS JUDGESHlP.
Manning, ~ D., Dec. 2.-At the last
session of the county board, George