Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-12
Members, After a Short
Rest, Resume Sessions
With Busy Program.
IMPORTANT MEASURES
Legislation Urged by President
Is to Receive Early Atten-
tion-RuSh of Bills.

Washington, Jan. 12.-Congress got
back to work again today after a holi-
day play spell. In the house. promptly
at noon. Speaker Clark dropped his
gavel, and similar scene was enact
ed in the senate with Vice President
Marshall in the chair Fresh from a
vacation which followed nine months
of tariff and currency members of
both houses returned refreshed and
ready for work at a new point in the
democratic administration.
For the first time since President
Wilson ordered the special session
last April. congress was without the
overshadowing influence of any single
dominant issue such as tariff or cur
rency reform, to be fought out to the
exclusion of other business.
As result, the work of the next
few months in national legislative
halls is expected to cover a wide
range of subjects. Antitrust legisla-
ton remains as an important factor
in President Wilson's legislative pro-
gSam. that must be considered by con-
gress. but il will not displace other
important legislation. as did the bills
for tariff and currency revisions.
Four General Subjects.
Four general subjects will embrace
much of the work of senate and house
during the coming months. They are:
Control of trusts and monopolies. I
including legislation TO prevent cold /
storage manipulation, unfair price cut I
ting. and other abuses directly affect
ing retail business.
Ruc1l credits and other legislation I
directly affecting farmers and land I
owners, such as good road improve /
ment and federal aid to vocational and /
agricultural education.
Strengthening of the national de-
fense. through measures such as the !
volunteer army BILL" already passed
by the house: the Hay bill to create
a new aviation division in the army;
the Padget bill TO put the naval mi
litia on a war foo-ing; the Hobson bill
for a counsel of national defense; and
the general administration program
for a two-battleship addition to the
navy.
Passage of the annual appropriation
bills, carrying more han S1,00O.0OO,OOO
for support of the government, and
containing many items of general leg
islation that must be fought over in
house and senate
May Take Up Copper Strike.
Aside from those general subjec.s.
congress will take up early in the
session the settlement of labor prob
ems OF far-reaching Importance. Menu
bers of both houses have announced
their plans to call for federal investi-
cation OF the strike in the Calumet
copper mining region and the forcible
from Michigan of Charles II.
Meyer. president of the Western Fed
sration OF Miners. While many house {
eaders oppose the undertaking of q
,pecial investigation. II is expected the {
ienae may be more disposed TO {
.uthorize an investigation similar TO :
hat which IL conducted last summer !
nto the coal strike in West Virginia. l
For Railroad Ownership.
Government. ownership of railroads.
Is proposed in the Alaskan railway
ills VIII be forced upon the attention
4 members OF both bodies as soon as a
hey take up work. In each branch. 9
bill to authorize the government 20 I,
uild railroads in 'he northern terri {
ory has received the endorsement OF
committee and has been pssced be- :
lre congress as unfinished business"
here IL must be taken up without
clay While the principle of govern
lent ownership. even as applied 10 c
.laskan roads. has many opponents n
mong the leaders of both houses. !,
ONE leaders expected that bill =,
uthorizing the proposed Development ~
i'll be passed after short debate. =,
President Wilson's influence Is =
rongIy behind the plan for a system
rural banks and credit associations; n
nd that project is expected to vie 4
ith trust questions. In the tention III
lat will be given TO II by the admin
tration. The report % the rural
edit commission which -oured
urope last year. has been carefully
,ne over by the president; and when
gislation IS taken up II probably
ilI be along concerted lines. such as J0
action on the general 80
lrrency bill. =.
The opening OF congress was greet III
by the usual avalanche OF bills and re
solutions None OF the so-called ad- ~
inistration trust bills made their y.
'pearance- -,
curnnIns' Resolution Defeated. -,
The cenate judiciary commi;te voted fr'