The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-01-11
IMPORTANT Bills
TO Be ACTED ON
Congress Will Be Busy During
the Next Few
Months.
ANTITRUST LAW CHANGE
Amendment Will Be Discussed-Adam-
son Resolution Will Bring Up
Canal Tolls Question.

Legislative matters OF the greatest i'm
portance are before Congress to be ham
died during the present session. which
will convene tomorrow. While not as yet
on the calendars Of either House. an
amendment to the antitrust law will
arise following a special message from
President Wilson, recommending the
adoption o. a clarifying amendment. ac-
ton upon which will be awaited with the
greatest interes. by the business world.
Some time during the session the Adam
son resolution. introduced just before the
last session adjourned, will be brought
UP. and will reopen all OF the old con-
troversy regarding Panama Canal tolls.
The AdamsCn resolution provides for the
suspension for two years of that pro-
vision OF the Panama Canal act which
will give free tolls to American coast
wise shipping.
Much interes. has been displayed in the
La Toilette Eeamen's bill, which Is sup
posed to nave the firm backing Of the
Seamen's Union and l. sale to be op-
posed by the steamship companies oper-
ating on the Great Lakes, rivers. and
along the lasts. There has been much
discussion Of this among members OF
Congress. .nu II is evident that there Is
to be considerable controversy when II is
brought up. The La Toilette bill already
has passed .he Senate. and hearings have
been held upon IL by the Merchant Ma
rine and Fisheries Committee of the
House.
Ia Toilette seamen's Bill.
The La Toilette bill IS said to contain
rather drastic provisions relative to the
safety to life and limb Of passengers and
employees Upon vessels. The steamship
companies Issert that the adoption OF the
bill by Corgre would put out of bust
ness every excursion steamer on the
Great Lakes and summer resort steamers
throughout the United States Some
steamship owners assert that IL II were
necessary to comply with the provisions
of such a law their steamers would be
crowded to capacity by their crews and
the large number of life poats they would
be compelled to carry. The House COM
mittee viii. aoli furthe- hearings on the
bill, and there seems TO be some belief
that II will te modified before being taken
up on the floor of the House.
On the calendar OF the Senate is the
Joint resolution providing for an amend
ment to the Constitution to give suffrage
to women. Suffragists all over the coun-
try will follow the progress OF this resolu-
ton. and :: is likely many OF them will
appear before Congress. The Owen bill
providing a legislative reference bureau
for the Library of Congress, to give ex-
pert advice and information on legisla-
tive matters to members OF Congress.
modelled after the bureau maintained for
the benefit of the legislature of WILSON,
sin, also Is well up on the Senate calen-
dar.
Alaska Railroad Bill.
In the House the Alaska Railroad bill
is among the more important matters
heading the calendar. Other matters
pending for the appointment Of commit
tee to investigate and report a plan for
national aid to vocational education. and
the District of Columbia appropriation
bill. The Adamson bill for the establish
ment of a prblic hea1tl. service of greater
scope than the Public Health and Marine
Hospital Service, will come before the
House. a. well as the Ciapp bill. which
passed the Senate last session, prohibit
ing the sending OF campaign contributions
from one State to another. and which
heads the House calendar. Following the
Clapp bill on the schedule are the Booher
bill. relative to interstate commerce in
convict-maGe goods. and the Burnett bill
to regulate immigration. containing an
educational provision. This bill. which
was passed by the last Congress and
vetoed by President Taft. is almost GER