The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-01-12
FOUR CLASSES OF LEGISLATION
Antitrust Amendments import
ant, But VIII Not 0isplaCe
Other Bills
STRENGTHEN NATIONAL DEFENSE

Washing.c:, Jan. le--Congress Go'
back to work again today aftel hoi-
day play spell.
For the first time since President
Wilson ordered the special session last
April, Congress Is without the over
shadowing influence uf any single dom
inant issue such as tariff or currency
reform, Ia be fought out TO the eNclu-
aioD OF other business
A. Il result the worl, of the next
few months In national legislative halls
is expected To cover wide range of
subjects. Auti-trusy legislation re.
mains as an important factor In Pres
ident Wilson's Legislative program
that must he considered By Congress,
but ii will not displace other import =
ant legislation, as did he bills for
,arin and currency revision.
Four General Subjects
-Four general subjects will embrace
much OF the work of the Senate and
House during the coming months
They are:
Control Of trusts and monopolies
including legislation To prevent cold
storage manipulation. unfair price
cutting. and other abuses directly af-
fecting retail business;
Rural credits, and other legislation
directly affecting farmers and land
owners, such as good road improve
ment and federal aid TO vocational and
agriculture education:
Strengthening OF the national de-
fense, through measures such as the
volunteer army bill" already passed
10y the House; the Hay bill To create "a
new aviation division in the army; the
Padgett bill to put the naval militia on
war footing; the ilobson bill for a
counsel Of national defense; and the
general administration program for a
two battleship addition To the navy;
Passage of the annual appropriation
bills, carry ing more than $1,000, 900, q
containing many items Of general leg
islat!On that must bc fought over In
House and Senate.
Government Owne ership
Government ownership Of railroads,
as proposed in the Alaskan railway
bills viii he forced upon the attention
of members of both bodies as soon as
they take up work In each branch, a
bill To authorize the government to
build railroads I'm the northern terri
tpr,. hoe rccaIyaJ tho apborcapnapt Nr a
committee. and has been placed be-
fore Congress as unfinished business"
where II must be taken up without
delay. While the principle of govern
ment ownership, even as applied To
Alaskan roads. has many opponents
among the leaders of both houses,
some leaders expected that "A bill au-
thorizing the proposed development
will be- passed after a short debate.
President Wilson's influence is
strongly behind The plan for a system
of rural banks and credit association
aud that propect is expected To vie
with trust questions, in the attention
that will be given to 1t by the admin
istration. The report OF the rural
credit commission which toured Eu-
over by the president; and when legis
lat!on is taken up it probably viii be
along concerted lines such as charac-
ter. r.zed action on the general currency
bill
FIGHT on Se,man's Bill
opposition To the so-called sea
mans bin regulating the labor Of
sailors. has become So pronounced In
the House that hard tight promises
to face that measure before IL can be
passed The bill passed the Senate
last fall and an effort viii be made to
bring it up in the House for action at
an early date.
Wuman's suffrage will also give
both branches Of Congress busy
time. Advocates OF a constitutional
amendment permitting women TO vote
have massed their forces in Washing
ton, and are preparing for a concerted
attack on Senate and House, aided by
many senators and representatives
who favor general suffrage and who
will advocate some positive action by
Congress endorsing IT,
Antitrust Legislation
The scope Of trust legislation prob
ably will not be fully outlined for sew
eral weeks Recent Developments In
financial and commercial circles have
convinced leaders In both houses shat
effective legislation To correct alleged
abuses can be passed without seriously
g,pditforo The