Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-12
DRAGS
ALONG TRYING TO
Be INDUSTRIOUS
Many Delays but Hope of Ad-
journment by Sept. 15-So-
cial Events Cancelled Except
In One Notable Case

! industrious. There have been inter-
ruptions, which could not we'll have
been avoided The European war en-
! tailed business which occupied Con-
gress much of the tipne during a week
and during that time, of course, moth
/ ing was done the program which
President Wilson has set out for COM
pletion before adjournment. There was
delay of one day on account Of the
/ death of Mrs. Wilson and indeed that
sad occurrence seems to have diverted
the Senate considerably more than one
! day. 1t was right at the point of
vote on the shipping bill at o'clock on
the Thursday that she died. Fifteen
minutes more and the vote would have
been recorded. But the Democratic
leaders FASTENED to adjourn as an ex-
preston of sympathy. The next day
the takers had more strength and
they went to the task with spirit so
that the vote was delayed several days
thereafter.
Meanwhile the federal trade commits
sion bill has passed the Senate and is
in conference Differences will be ad-
justed shortly and that act may be-
come law within a fortnight or even
now left to make adjournment feasible.
One is the Clayton antitrust bill,
which the Senate is now working on.
The other Is the railroad securities bill.
It looks as though the Senate would be
the remainder of this month dispos-
ing of these two bills but the debat
ing of the next week will demonstrate
how tenaciously the measures are to
be resisted. September Is is now gen.
orally set as the prospective date of
adjournment.
The House is materially slowing
down. 1t has advanced with the con-
servation program. The general dam
! act, known as the water power bill by
! Chairman Adamson of the Interstate
Commerce Committee, Is through the
House Progressive Democrats and
] Republicans joined forces and put
through bill altogether radical. the
government is permitted to charge for
water power franchises across navi-
gable rivers. these franchises are hmi-
ted to so years and terminate auto
matically The conservationists gen
orally approve of the bill but 1t Will
be resisted in the Senate. The House
has also been spending days upon the
Moon railway mail pay bill, one I'M
portant feature of which is the custer
of assistant postmasters from the clas-
| sified service and enabling the post
master general to appoint them with
certain restrictions. That feature OF
the bill is spoils legislation pure and
sirnnle There is considerable doubt
whether the Senate will accept 1t IN
this form.
The Moon bill, however, Is compre-
, bensive and contains much good ma
terial. There is a controversy as &c
how much should properly be paid
the railroads for mail transportation
service. The Democratic House and
the postmaster general disregaroed the
work of a railway postal COMMISSION
which has been in session al ihterVais
for several years and blocked out rates
and provisions of its own. Nevertne-
less there is pressing need OF leglsla-
ton in numerous matters anecting the
administration of postal affairs ano
some of these are covered into the
nending bill. One paragraph of mucn
interest to postal savings bank de-
nositors and likewise to the banks, pro-
vides that a depositor shall receive no
interest on such part OF the palahce
20 his credit as is in excess of $1,000
The private banks and national panhs
have been opposing any Legislation
that would further liberalize the postai
savings banks on the ground that IL
would be an undue encroachment upon
their own business. Another Of the
many provisions in the Moon Dill de-
clares that postmasters shall not re-
ceiye any additional compensation for
the transaction of postal savings de-
nository business. Still another pro-
vision makes more specific punishment
for tampering with any kind of letter
boxes.
Members Of the House are always
| gratified when time can be given to
the passage of private bills. Days
have now been set aside for that un-
der unanimous consent arrangement
Probably rs or 100 private bills will
get through the House this week un-
der this agreement. A large grist OF
these have accumulated. They affect
a great number Of localities and their
passage through the House will posi-
bly, arouse the country to the fact
that Congress Is in session and doing
work, more than all the big undertake
ings like antitrust bills. From these
measures the House goes to more con-
servation bills, like that for the leas-
| ing of coal lands In Alaska. One i'm
| portant conservation bill, which ex-
tends from 10 to 20 years the time in
which settlers may pay for lands re-
claimed by the government Is now be-
fore the president. 1t is of moment to
a goodly number Of Western people.
Bills to give relief to oil driIlers in
| California, where the industry has
been suspended by litigation insti-
tuted by the Department Of Justice is
also well on the way toward enact
ment.
! However, in about ten days 1t Is very
much of question whether the House
will have a great deal to do, beyond
waiting for antitrust bills from the
Senate. The House will also wait for
the rivers and harbors appropriation
bill, because many members are inter-
ested therein. 1t is said the Senate
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