The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-01-12
CONGRESS- AT
WORK AGAIN
Continued From Page One.

COnJIDue0 ETOu rage OuGs
investigation, it is expected the senate
may be more disposed to authorize an
investigation similar to that which 1t
conducted last summer into the coal
strike in West Virginia.
Government ownership of railroads,
as proposed in the Alaskan railway
bills will be forced upon the atten-
ton of members Of both bodies as
soon as they take UP work. In each
branch, a bill to authorize the gov
eminent to build railroads in the
northern territory has received the
endorsement of a committee, and has
been placed before congress as "un-
finished business" where it must be
taken up without delay. While the
principle of government ownership,
even as applied to Alaskan roads, has
many opponents among he leaders Of
both houses, some leaders expected
that a bill authorizing 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. associations;
and that project is expected to vie
with trust questions, in the attention
that will be given to it by the ad-
ministration. The report Of the rural
credit commission which toured
Europe last ear has been carefully
gone over by the president; and when
legislation Is taken up it probably
will be along concerted lines, such as
characterized action on the general
currency bill.
With the prospects Of a hard con-
gressional campaign next summer
and fall, the democratic forces are
anxious to add the rural credit laws,
and several effective trust statutes,
to the record Of legislation with which
they can go before the voters. From
the outset of work leaders in both
| houses will attempt to guide legisla-
ton so that appropriation bills can be
completed early in the spring. and
other important measures disposed Of
in time to permit an early adjourn
ment, ..
Opposition to the so-called sea
mans bill" regulating the labor of
sailors, has become SO pronounced in
the house that a hard fight promises
to face that measure before, 1t car be
passed. The bill passed. the senate
last fall and an effort will be made
to bring it up i'll the house for action
at an early date. -
Woman's suffrage will also give both
branches of congress a busy time.
/ <AAR III ~ OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES dlllSllO-
ment permitting women to vote have
massed their forces In Washington,
and are preparing for a concerted at
tack 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.
The scope of trust legislation prob
ably will not be fully outlined for sew
1 nlNa yUnnlEc .. Pnnanfnr HnIn1nnS1S A~fe 80
financial and commercial circles have
convinced leaders in both houses that
effective legislation to correct alleged
abuses can be passed without serious
lily disturbing business conditions. The
president and his legal advisors will
c~ollaborate with the committees of the
senate and house on effective bills
that will reach some of the more i'm
portant phases of the trust problem
without requiring a revolution Of cor
poration methods. .N
Congress has taken Up the prob
lens OF national defense with unusual
activity since Dec. /. The imminence
OF a Crisis In this country's relations
with Mexico has made more apparent
the weakness OF the military system
OF the country; and important steps
have already been made toward
strengthening the power of the presi-
dent and the executive branches Of
the government, to cope with sudden
emergencies. :
The volunteer army bill, which
passed the house and is fayorably re-
garded in the senate, would provide
effective machinery for the raising of
volunteer forces in any emergency
1.-THE Hay aviation bill, which has the
endorsement of the house military ar
fairs committee. and Of the war de-
partment, would create an aviation
branch of the army capable Of hand.
ling at least twenty-four aeroplanes
and Of training efficient forces Of air
fighters. These n other bills will he
given unusual prominence during rho
balance OF this session Of Congress
Diplomatic relations with Nicaraa. ,,a
and other Central American Countries
may give further troable to the sen
ate. The first Nicaraguan treaty All
lined by Secretary Bryan did moi maet
with the approval of the senate con-.
mittee on foreign relations, because -
the protectorate It would have esfab.
Ilished over the southern repIhIfc
The project Is to be taken 1lp agaiy
during thee oniing months: ana ifsis
expected that a general policy toward
Central American countries viii
outlined by the senate, President WI
lsoll and Secretary Bryan.