River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-01-15
CONGRESS MEETS;
MUCH WORK AHEAD
BOTH HOUSES CONVENE AFTER
HOLIDAY RECESS - IMPORT
ANT LEGISLATION PENDING.
ANTITRUST AMENDMENT DUE
Controversy Over Canal Tolls Will Sc
Reopened by Adamson Resolution
LA Toilette Seaman's Bill Is
Likely to BE Modified


matter OF great Importance are be-
fore congress to be handled during the
present session which convened to-
day following the Christmas recess.
While not as yet on the calendars of
either house, an amendment to the
antitrust law will be taken up, follow
ing a special message from President
Wilson recommending the adoption of
clarifying amendment.
Question of Canal Tolls
Some time during the season
the Adamson resolution introduced
just before the last session ad-
journed, will be brought up, and win
reopen all of the old controversy re-
garding the Panama canal tolls.
The Adamson resolution provides for
the suspension for two years OF that
provision of the Panama act which
will give free tolls to American coast
wise shipping.
Much interest has been displayed
in the La Toilette seamen's bill, which
is supposed to have the firm backing
of the Seamen's union and is said to
be opposed by the steamship com
panies operating on the great lakes.
and along the coasts. There has been
much discussion of this bill among
members OF congress and II is evident
that there is to be considerable con
troversy when it is brought up. The
La Toilette bill has alread passed the
senate and hearings have been held
upon it by the merchant marine and
fisheries committee Of the house.
la Toilette Safety Bill.
The La Toilette bill is said to con
tain rather drastic provisions rela-
tive to the safety to life and limb of
passengers and employees upon YES
sells. The steamship companies as
sert that the adoption of the bill by
congress would put out OF business
every excursion steamer on the great
lakes and summer resort steamers
throughout the United States. Some
steamship owners assert that If ii
were necessary to comply with the
provisions of such a law their steam
ers would be crowded to capacity by
their crews and the large number OF
life boats they would be compelled to
carry. The house committee will hold
further hearings on the bill and there
seems to be some belief that it will be
modified before being taken up on the
floor.
On the calendar of the senate is the
joint resolution providing for an
amendment TO the constitution to give
suffrage TO women. Suffragettes all
over the country will follow the
progress of this resolution, and it is
likely that many of them will appear
before congress.
The Owen bill providing a legislative
reference bureau, to give expert ad-
vice and information on legislative
matters to members OF congress, mod
eled after the bureau maintained for
the benefit of the legislature of Wis
consin, is also well up to the senate
calendar.
Other important Matters.
The Adamson bill for the establish
ment of a public health service Of
greater scope than the public health
and marine hospital service will come
before the house, as well as the Clapp
bill, which passed the senate last SEES
sion, prohibiting the sending of cam
paign contributions from one state to
another, and which heads the house
calendar. Following the Clapp bill on
the schedule are the Booher bill, re-
lative to interstate commerce in con
vict made goods, and the Burnett bill
to regulate immigration, containing an
TIT
which was passed by the last congress
and vetoed by President Taft, Is al
most certain against to arouse storm