The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-02
TREATY QUESTIONS
BEFORE congress
| RECONSIDERATION
Panama Tolls Dispute and
California Land ContrO-
versy Also Come Up
FLASS CASE WILL BE
SETTLED THIS WEEK
Increasing Necessity For Party Activ-
ity Is the Seventeenth Constitu-
tional Amendment-Imm
ton Legislation

tion Legislation
Washington, February 1.-Extension of
FILTRATION treaties, antitrust legislation,
ural credit enhancement through the es-
Enlistment of land mortgage banks for
hrmers, legislation authorizing the gov
rnment to build or purchase a railroad
h Alaska and revision of the ,mmigra-
ion laws appear today as guide posts for
ADMINISTRATION leaders in the present SEES
ion of Congress.
Though many other subjects are being
ressed for consideration, leaders realize
he whole statutory structure of the gov
rnment in day. To complete their pro-
ramme they appreciate that continuation
( party supremacy is necessary, and that
reelection of a democratic Senate and
Iouse next fall is more important than a
bng session of Congress choked with
astily considered legislation President
Wilson is known to share this view
Seventeenth Amendment
Increasing the necessity for early party
ctivity is the seventeenth constitutional
nisrdment, which commands the people
elect their own United States senators.
Hence the Senate cannot, as of old, sit
ontent in Washington while members of
he House strain to get into their home
lstricts. Senators must stand shoulder
b shoulder with members of the House
nd make joint appeal to the people for
otcs.
So with the congressional campaign rap
hly approaching the pet measures of
lany loyal democrats must be postponed.
besides regular departmental legislation
nd supply bills, some of the subjects be-
ng urged for action are equal suffrage,
rohlbition of the liquor traffic, guar
ntee of bank deposits, government reg
lation of stock exchanges and many 9TH
rs. June / flaviiis been set as the proK
BILE date of adjournment, party leaders
ntend soon to map out a programme of
york for the remainder of the session.
White House conferences ON this subject
obably will be held this week.
Renewal OF arbitration treaties with
light foreign nations, recommended for
atifcation by the foreign relations COM
littee last week, will occupy the at
srtion of the Senate after the passage of
he agricultural extension bill. The
eaties that have expired are with Great
britain. Japan, Italy, Spain, Norway,
weden. Portugal and Switzerland. Presi-
eht Wilson has urged their extension as
Don as possible as a groundwork for
eneral readjustment of foreign affairs.
Ratification is confidently anticipated.
Panama Tolls Dispute
Involved in the treaty questions will be
ne Panama tolls dispute and the Cali
crHia alien controversy. The administra-
on seems to regard the latter as virtual
settled; but with the ratification of the
british arbitration treaty there will fol-
w some action in Congress on the sub
bet of canal tolls, either through repeal
the section of the Panama canal act
'hich exempts American coastwise ships
rom tolls, or by suspension of that pro-
ision for period of years
Consideration of trust bills and their
erfection win continue during the week
efore committees. Hearings will begin on
enator Owens bill to prohibit the use
the mails and telegraph and telephone
mes for fraudulent or harmful stock ex-
hange transactions, and the Senate will
ispose of the contest over the seating of
rank p Glass to succeed the late Sena-
br Johnston of Alabama.
immigration legislation will have the
fght of way this week in the House. The
Burnett bill, with the literacy test as
eature that has aroused opposition, will
e taken up again tomorrow. Chairman
Burnett today said he expected the bill to
ass substantially in it's present form.
conference with the President on the
|ubject has been ordered, however, by
he Senate immigration committee. Rep
esentative Baker of California was at
Fork today perfecting his BILL through
[hich he hopes to effect the exclusion OF
Japanese and other Asiatics and the cer-
tfcation of the limited number of them
hat may be allowed entry. The fight in
[ne immigration committee over the prop
sition of hearings on the exclusion bills,
Lo far deferred for diplomatic reasons,
robably will be resumed Thursday.
Perplexing problems of the battleship
rogramme, ratification of the big Nor
|olk navy dry dock project, government
Construction of armor and fuel oil pro-
}ucing plants. and the creation of the
Erade of vice admiral are before the
House naval affairs committee for de-
|lision in the next few days.
I Woman suffrage advocates in the House
|kho want to see new standing commit
lee on suffrage are still hopeful of fav-
|Irable action in the rules committee de-
|Ipite the committee majority's indefinite
,ostponement of the question. A petition
br q democratic caucus on the question
las been circulated. but has not developed
Inough strength to insure a call.