The Washington times., 1914-01-12
CONGRESSRESUMES
LAWMAK|NG TASK
Presidents Message on Anti
Trust Legislation Now Is
Eagerly Awaited.

Facing a grueling session Of not less
than six months, with an enormous
legislative grist to be ground, and With
big politics Of the utmost moment loom
ing up in the background, both houses
of Congress resumed work at noon to-
day.
The three weeks recess was the first
opportunity many members have had
for real rest since the special session
opened last spring. Today, nearly all
back at the Capitol.
1t was agreed that the session would
run into midsummer, and, perhaps,
longer, though members who are seek
ing reelection will do their utmost to
wind things up here not later than the
middle OF July.
Await Presidents Message.
Discussion of the probable antitrust
program was rife, and the return Of the
President and the read ng OF his anti
trust message are eagerly awaited.
Apart from the bills awaiting action
on the calendars. the matter Of most
Importance expected to arise today.
especially In the Senate, is the demand
Calumet strike. Senators Ashurst and
MARITIME both are expected 10 urge this
The Alaska railroad bill is the un-
finished business in the Senate and will
come up this afternoon.
Many Senators regard Il as next OF
Importance to the antitrust program,
and every effort VIII be made by the
Progressives and Republican and Demo-
cratic radicals to put through the Poin-
dexter substitute, providing not only
ton
with proht-sharing features for work
men, and special regulation of hours OF
work.
May Extend Ownership.
Every effort will also be made 70 ex-
tend the Government ownership to Alas
kan steamship lines.
Grave questions OF precedent are in
volved in the credentials OF Blair Lee.
of Maryland. and Frank p. Glass. OF
| Alabama, appointed Senators under
different constructions Of the new di-
rect elections law. to be considered by
| Senate committee today
For the present the IouSe will busy
| itselt with appropriation bills.
In the long legis .ative grind which is
ahead the House probably Will be
LUsier, for here the appropriation bills
originate and the ANTITRUST measures
are dlsO DSLllS lIdIltl-
I Fourteen appropriation bills are to be
parsed and only one, the District oi
Columbia budget, has come from com
mittee. This bill will be under debate
in the House during tine present week
and will be followed by the report OF
the legislative. executive. and judicIa
appropriation measure. House leaders
at then economy conference" decreeC
/ retrenChment. but the estimates submit
! ted by all the departments are so large
| that another billion-dollar session ap
pears unavoidable.
The Antitrust Bills.
The antitrust bills, supplementing thu
! Sherman law so as to prohibit interlock
ing directOrates, to define monopoly, 4
make the guilt OF offending trust baron,
personal, and to wipe out the rule Of
reason" in the restrainst Of trade, will
| be introduced as soon as President vii
son peruses the tentative bills draw
by subcommittee of the House Judi
! Ciary Committee.
| The pork barrel Issue alco trouble:
| the wOuld-be economists of the House
| A plan is now afoot - prevent the re
port of a good roads Dill and TO limi
| the appropriations for rivers and har
| bors and public bui dings ~ refusnI
| to sanction new projects. The econo
| mists say that even The appropriation
for existing projects MIST be Druned.
| Ihere are tnouSanuS OF private Din
and resolutions awaiting consideration
In the two houses. but their chances ar,
| slight. The Congress will De engrosse,
with appropriations, trust legislation
| and matters of Importance, and tn
| private bill stands a prIr show.
This means woe for the aYerag
member who was denied the oppor
| tunity of calling up his pet measure
during the extra session, and who will
go back home empty-hamded to fac
his constituents during the approach
ing campaigns.