The Washington herald., 1914-01-12

l.
In importance to the party and the coun.
| try, mapped out for the remainder Of the
session. It easily can be made . party
| measure. The country demands the leg
islation. the Democratic platform prom.
ises II, and the Democratic Congress Il
| pledged to give It. The farm credits. i'm
migration, and good roads legislation alnu
| win have party support. 49,
There viii be the usual navy night, and
whichever side the President takes, II he
takes sides. will not 1eopardixe the
solidarity of his party. Measures calling
| for Federal regulation Of stock exchanges,
revision Of the banking laws. Legislation
regulating cotton futures and grain op-
tions, agricultural and vocational educa-
tion-all these measures may be passed
or killed without Jeopardixing the esprit
de corps of the party leadership,
Two Treublesome Measures.
But there are two measures. mem
toned in the Presidents frst annual
address to Congress last month. which
easily may cause trouble. and one of
them-the Alaskan railroad bills
ready for debate in both Houses now.
The other measure wound call for ma
tional Presidential primaries. Both Of
these measures are more strongly sup
ported in the platform OF the Progress
sive party than in that Of the Demo-
cratic party, and upon either or both
of these measures the President and
his legislative Iieutenants may expect
q good deal OF dimculty within the
party.
The Alaskan bill. authorizing the Presi-
dent to expend not more than SIS 900
in the construction of railways IN
Alaska. is the unfin.-.ied business in the
Senate from now on. and has precedence
in the House on calendar Wednesdays
1t Is estimated II will take at least
three weeks to get II through the SEN
ate. and thre or four calendar Wednes-
days to obtain its passage in the House.
1t has been debated but one day IN the
House and not at all In the Senate. but
general discussion OF the measure has
opened wide the question of government
ownership and the sponsors for the
measure see stormy times ahead. There
is little question. as matters lire up now.
but that the Alaskan bill will 60 through
eventually; the only question concerns
the effect the measure will have on the
party.
The fate Of the Presidents urgent
recommendation in favor OF nation
wide Presidential primaries is not so
assured. The Democratic platform
went no further than to urge party
organizations in the States to honor
primary verdicts. As Presidential pri-
maries would be bitter medicine for
the Southern Democrats to swallow, the
whirlpools awaiting this proposed leg
islstion are quite obvious.
Other Important Problems.
Three other important legislative
problems surely will come up for con-
sideration-the Adamson resolution TO
suspend for two wears the free tolls
provision Of the Panama act, the La
Toilette seamen's bill, and the Clapp
bill prohibiting the sending of cam
paign contributions from one State to
another. Stiff fights are promised over
all of these, particularly over the first.
wherein the decision Of President Will
son is expected to play a large part.
With all these national problems up for
legislative action, the District OF Colum-
bia catches a ray OF hope that clogged
calendars will bring about the same
result as in the past-inattention to Dis
trict affairs. The stiffest and most vital
District fight probably will be wased
in the Senate over the legislative provi-
sion in the District appropriation bill,
providing for the turning back into the
treasury of any District revenues not
matched by Federal appropriation in the
District bill. This provision probably will
go through the House before the end OF
the present week.
The District bill will come up today
and be passed before Saturday. In the
Senate it stands little less than a fight
ing chance OF adoption. however. and
the half-and-half taxation arrangement
may yet weather the storm and rest in
safe haven while cool heads seek an
equitable settlement Of the present un-