The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-02
Democrats Likely to Let the
Rural Credits Legislation
Go Over if TangIe Occurs
Over Trust Bills.
MUCH WORK AHEAD
OF THE. CONGRESS
Repeal Of Toll Exemption
Provision of Panama Ca
nal Act VIII Probably
Come Up This Week.

WASHINGTON, March 1.-Trust
legislation and new law TO enhance
rural credits before adjournment of
congress arc the only measures on the
"must'' list of the administration for
the present session of congress, il was
made known today. This of course ex-
cepts the necessary appropriation bills
which are now being rapidly disposed
Of.
Should congress get into tangle
over thee trust bills and prolong the
session until campaign leaders at home
begin to cry for help, some party lead
ers believe the rural credits bill might
be put over until next session, but
there is an earnest desire on the part
of the Democrats TO establish a system
of rural banks before the approaching
congressional campaign.
Promises Made.
When the currency law was passed
many promises were made that it would
be followed by legislation to help the
credit Of the farmers, and, although
no declaration was made that such
law would be concluded at the present
session, criticism of the Republicans di-
rected at the freelisting Of farm prod
ucts in the tariff law demands, in the
opinion of many prominent Demo
Gratis, that compensatory action on be-
half of the farmers should be taken as
soon as possible.
1t is probable that many other bills
will be passed from time TO time while
trust, rural credit and appropriation
bills are being considered, but so far
as legislative programme is concerned,
the leaders in both houses Of congress
intend to keep it short.
Toll Exemption.
A bill to repeal the toll exemption
provision of the Panama canal act prob
ably will be introduced within ten days
by Representative Adamson, chairman
of tho Interstate commerce committee.
1t will offer no compromise whatever in
Cuc oIIualloh dHu is ceIIaln 10 provoke
opposition both in the house and sen
ate. The immigration bill which has
passed the house and is to be reported
from the senate committee this week,
also will be urged to q. conclusion
Senator Ashurst has given notice
that he will press the constitutional
amendment for equal suffrage In the
senate, but his efforts to fix a time for
voting on It will be opposed by Demo
Gratis and Republicans alike. The con-
stltutlonal amendment for prohi bition
probably will not be taken up at this
session.
The trust bills, it is now apparent,
will require considerable more time in
perfecting than originally was antici-
pated. March / was set month ago
as the time for beginning consideration
or the proposed administration bills,
but none Of the bills proposed is ready
for consideration in either branch. It
| is probable that either the house or sem
ate committee on Interstate commerce
will report q bill to create an interstate
trade commission this week or next, but
many weeks will pass before there will
be reported proposed measures TO pro-
hibIt interlocking directorates, holding
| companies, and to provide for federal
regulation Of railroad securities.
Halt Is Called.
| Growing opposition to measures which
would supplement tho Sherman act, such
as the tentative trade regulations and
monopoly definitions bills, may result in
abandoning these measures altogether.
| Democratic members of the senate
and house committees at work on the
trust programme already have ex-
pressed fear that such legislation will
disturb tho effectiveness of the Shcr.
man law, and the attorney general does
not approve OF the bills in their present
form, President Wilson, himself, is
considering the trust legislative sit
uation and further conferences
between the legislative and exec
utive branches on the subject are Ger.
tain to be held before the program is
completed.
A general dam and waterpower bill
is being formulated in the house inter
state commerce committee aud II prob.
ably will be ready within fortnight to
report to the house, The committee de.
sires TO keep within the lines recon-
mended by President Wilson and to so
frame it as to avoid any possibility OF
constitutional objections, especially any
suggestion Of federal invasion into state
affairs.
The purpose is to induce private capi-
tai TO promote navigation in shallow
streams through hope OF profit from the
use Of tie water power generated, The
II bill ls heino shaped in Il gllbcommi n eo