Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1914-01-09
WHAT FACES CONGRESS-.
outline Of Work to be Done rs RepOi t..
eddy the News'Speclal Cor
respondent.
(R. d. Elkin.)

Or. ID. ElkIn)
Washington, d. c., Jan. S.--Wben
Congress reconvense next Week, after
three weeks vacation, IL VIII have be-
fore 1t long program of important
measures to be considered. Months Of
work are ahead of 1t and many legis-
lators see visions Of being tide up in
Washington all summer. However,
the fact that the administration and
the Democratic leaders in Congress-
have virtually decided not to enact
radical antitrust legislation may have
a tendency to make the session short
er than expected. Pressure to end the
session in June will be great. Apart
from consideration of the trust ques-
tion, there are numerous matters Of
moment either on the calendar of the
House or Senate or under considera-
tion in committees.
Government Ownership.
The Alaskan railroad bill is on the
calendar in both houses and will be
threshed out as soon as Congress re-
convenes. 1t involves the great ques-
ton of Government ownership of rail-
roads and other public utilities, 80
possesses an Importance not measured
by the boundaries of Alaska. Congress-
men Davenport and Ferris are fight
ing this bill, believing that ire pro-
posed cost of construction is far out
ne nj IL,
capita allotted other States in the
Union, besides contending that the
needs at ome are Of greater moment
for the building of good roads, public
buildings and for other necessities.
They further insist that construction
by the Government costs more than
that by private concerns.
Government ownership of tele-
phones and telegraph will not get into
law this session, but will come in for
much discussion.
Other Legislation.
Labor legislation of far-reaching
character is sought, especially anti
injunction legislation. Then there arc
the appropriation measures which
alone will cause ample debate. Be-
cause of the time consumed in author
izing the expenditure of about bill
lion dollars numerous proposed pieces
of legislation will find, at the end of
the session, that they have been side
tracked.
Rural FARM Credits.
According to President Wilson one
among the tasks of Congress is the !
enactment of farmers credit law for
cheaper money for the farming class.
The committee appointed last summer
consisting of six Democrats and three
Republicans to draft this law are bus
lily engaged in Washington holding |
hearings to seek light on the subject.
Representative Weaver is member
of this committee and is taking an
active part in the examination of those |
testifying.
Good Roads Activities.
Representative Ferris who recently
introduced a bill in the House to es-
tablish a legal holiday to be known
as Good Roads Day." has set the pace
for some activities in behalf of good
roads. AS a result Representative
Bryan and Stephens have dropped in
to the Legislative hopper" a couple OF
measures calling for Federal and State |
cooperation in road building. The |
opening of this question and the intro !
duction of a number of bills immedi- !
ately following the convening of the
present regular session indicates that
the Governors who worked" on the
road created a worthy sentiment in
asmuch as the Ferris measure is a
sort OF suggestion that shoveling dirt |
may become a social event. The other !
bills seek to secure financial assist
ance from the Federal Government to
be used in cooperation with the States |
and local authorities in this great
work. Grave differences exist between |
government agencies and the advo-
Gates OF highways intended almost en-
tirely for automobile tourists. Rep
resentative Shackleford, chairman of
the House roads committee, has taken
a pronounced stand in favor Of good
dirt roads which will connect up farm
ing communities with towns and he
wants lots of them rather than routes
that stretch out across great distances.
Gore to Address Jackson Club.
Senator Gore has accepted an invi-
tation extended to him by Democratic
WHENEVER YO|| Nj