The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-11
Lively TIMES AHEAD.


Congress will be in session tomorrow
with a myriad of administration and
other bills ready for the legislative hop
per. 1t seems TINT President Wilson
is determined to go ahead with his anti
trust programme In spite OF all that
was said to the contrary and business
may as well be prepared for q series
of jolts.
Some time ago It was semi officially
announced that the Democrats would
await the effect of the tariff and cur
rency laws before attempting any more
new legislation. The country took the
announcement at its face value and
breatbed easier The change Of plan Is
probably due to the fact that the coun-
try endured the tariff and currency laws
without panic. The Democratic lead
ers, therefore. concluded it must be
able to stand almost anything and de-
termined to apply the pressure.
All sorts of distractions are to be
placed In the way Of big business and
the ordinary stookholde- In any given
enterprise VIII And his pathway hedged
about II the proposed legislation goes
through 1t win be easy enough to ap-
ply the whip and spur and send almost
any kind Of measure labeled "admip-
jstrative" through the house. There Is
some hope, however, that the senate Will
be able to apply the brakes.
There has been decided change In
another quarter. With O great flourish
OF trumpets Speaker Clark called the
chairman and ranking majority member
of each committee having TO do with
the appropriation OF money to meet In
conference, and 1t was solemnly as
serted that the government would
henceforth be economically admins
tered. Now we are told that while the
Democrats are strong in the spirit they
are weak In the flesh. In other words,
that they are unable to withstand pres.
sure and that the pork barrel will be
in evidence before the long session of
congress adjourns. The Democratic
states Of tho south yearn for distn
button Of Uncle Sam 3 wealth in the
good old way, improvement Of rivers
and harbors.
In times past hundreds of thousands
Of dollars have been spent on streams
scarcely navigable for light draft ducks.
The streams are not benefited to any
approciable extent, but tho money is
spent in the districts through which
they meander and the constituents Of
the congressman who have hand in
making the bill succeed In getting ho.u
of most Of the each.
Upon the return Of President Wilson
to Washington hungry horde of of
ficeseekers will swoop down upon him
to force q division Of the political
spoils. and it Is more than likely that
many names Will be sent to the senate
FOR approval before the end Of the
week. There are a number of nomtna-
tions now hanging fire IN the upper
house, with the prospect Of several stiff
fights before they go through. The
Republican minority, aided by strong
civil service sentiment throughout the
country, may be able to prevent con-
firmation Of a number Of men who
have been appointed to places for which
they arc totally unfit. In any event,
there viii be contest and the rec
ords Will be made to show the kind Of
material Mr.. Wilson is using to build
up his party.
Outside of legislative matters and
the rush for spoils on the part Of the
Democrats, politics will play promi-
nent part in the halls of congress. One
membership of the house will 90 before
the people for reelection this fall. The
senators will be elected by direct vote
for the first time, and naturally there
is some apprehension on the part Of the
men who have dealt with the state
legislatures heretofore. There will be
much political activity during the Sos
sion. Those who cannot talk will be
gwen leave TO print for the benefit of
the folks at home. The Democrats, be-
ing in the majority, will be on the de-
fensiye throughout the session, while
the Republicans ard Progressives, hav-
ing no responsibility, win keep them
busy answering charges of incfficiency.
Taking it all in all. the opinion is
general that the next few months will
witness stirring scenes at the national
capital.