The Washington herald., 1914-08-28
Under the Capitol Dome.

The House Merchant Marine and Fish
cries Committee arranged to begin hear
ings today on the administration bill to
Organize . I1oYoOo.ooo company In which
the government shall own the majority
stock TO enter the foreign shipping trade
during the European war Secretary Nc
Adoo and Majority Leader Underwood
are scheduled TO appear before the COM
nittse today in support Of the plan.
A subcommittee OF the House Naval
Affairs Committee agreed upon q tenta-
tive bill which IL to be submitted TO the
President for the expenditure OF 90, 0oo, :
900 for the purpose Of constructing mer-
chant vessels TO be operated in the South
American trade or any other trade. 1t is
proposed that the government line shall
be operated by the Panama Railroad
Company. Provision 10 made for the pur-
chase OF at least thirty vessels which
may be used a. naval auxiliaries In time
Of war. The House bill will be offered
a. a substitute for the Weeks bill passed
by the Senate.
Representative Tom Butler. Of PennsyI-
yania, q Quaker member Of the House,
developed q lighting spirit and notified
the Job in the Lower Branch OF Con-
gresG Returning to Washington, Mr.
Butler discovered the adoption Of the
Underwood resolution to dock all absent
members and in peppery fashion he de-
livered al ultimatum after making two
points OF no quorum.
The Houss passed the substitute for the
La Toilette Seamen's bill without O roll
rnm hrIa o..
boat provisions Of the bill follow out the
recommendations Of the recent London
maritime conference, and the bill also
abolishes Imprisonment as q penalty for
desertlon and requires steamship COM
panieS to provide sanitary quarters for
their seamen.
The Democrats Of the Senate will hold
9 caucus next week to consider the Iegis-
lative program according to Senator
Kern. the majority leader. Senator
Kern admitted there was . disposition on
the part OF some Senators to lay aside
for the present session the Rayburn stock
and bond issue bill II was reported
from the White House that the President
was leaning 70 such q plan also. The
caucus will decide at its meeting what
further emergency measures TO be put
The question as 10 whether
congress 6nOuiO remain IN session De-
cause Of the delicate situation due TO
the war abroad will be discussed. 1t
Is believed.
Representative Prouty. OF Iowa. intro
duced a bill providing that no member of
Congress shall be excused from attend
ance upon his duties for more than thirty
days in any session except in cases Of
sickness Of the member himself. Under
the Prouty bill members will be locked IL
exceeding this thirty-day limit.
Because OF the recent adoption OF the
Underwood resolution revoking all leaves
Of absence, an increased attendance was
shown in the House. On a roll call to
establish a quorum 20 members answered
as against 240 two days ago.
Favorable action was taken by sthe
House Agriculture Committee on the
Lever cotton grading bill. establishing
Federal system for the Standardization of
grades of cotton and their inspection by
the Department Of Agriculture. This bill,
designed 10 aid the farmers Of the South
In maintaining cotton prices during the
war. is TO be followed by a report OF the
Lever bill for the government inspection
and supervision Of warehouses in which
cotton may be stored and receipts for
which from the warehouse may be used
as negotiable paper.