The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-25
HOPES OF LEADERS
MAY Be SHATTERED
Congress Is Likely to Struggle
Along Until Quite Late
in Fall.
EARLY OPINION is REVISED
Program of President Means
Many More Weeks Spent
/, in Washington.
EARLY OPINION IS REVISED

gle along until late In the fall prob
ably VIII be determined during the
present week. Democratic leaders have
predicted for several weeks that they
would be able to put through tho leg
islatlon asked By President Wilson, and
Rtill get away by July 10. Develop
ments In tho last few days, however.
have led somc Of the leaders to revise
this opinion. and II was admitted to-
day that II the Senate undertakes TO
put through antitrust legislation or q
comprehensive nature such as Its com
.nittcc In charge Of the subject pro-
poses, adjournment can hardly be taken
for several weeks after the tentative
date that has been mentioned 10 fire.
quertly.
On Tuesday, the Senate Interstate
Commerce Committee will determine
whether IL Siil report to the Senate
its omnibus trust bill, or wait until the
House sends over its thrcc'billa on the
same subject. If the committee de-
cides To go ahead with It's own sort OF
trust legislation, and reports out a
Dill framed by a subcommittee. there
Is every prospect for debate which
con hardly end In less than six weeks.
ii 1t decided to wait for the House
bills, II may conclude to report only
one OF them to the Senate. the bill pro-
yiding for trade commission. AL
though the appearance OF this bill on
the Senate floor would also lead to
much debate, Democratic leaders could
force its passage In much less ti'nc
than the omnibus bill
DEBATE on CANAL TOLLS
MEETS FURTHER DELAY
Senate leaders had expected TO get
through with one troublesome subject
during the week, the bin 10 repeal the
exemption clause Of the Panama Canal
act The death OF Senator Bradley,
however, AMI tho fact that the Senate
Undoubtedly viii adjourn tomorrow
out Of respect for his memory makes
its probabl" that debate cannot be
closed on the bill before late Friday.
As many amendments and substitutes
lave been offered n vote on the bin it
self probably cannot be taken until
next week. Majority Leader Kern.
however. who had been anxious to SC.
cure vote on the tolls repeal bin this
week. may resort to night sessions IN
order 10 end debate before Friday.
While the Senate Is busy with the
tolls repeal bill the House will take up
III. second OF its antitrust measures.
having put through the trade commits
sion bill without change. This bill.
drawn by Representative Clayton,
chairman OF the Judiciary Committee.
contains many provisions for the
further regulation of trusts. The
House will hold night sessions to dis
pose Of general debate this bill.
and there Is q possibility that IL will
b- able to put the bill through by Sat
urday.
The appropriations bills are not wor-
ryinE House leaders. but If tho Sen
nte consumes Az much time with each
of tho seven II has yet to pass as 1t
did with the agricultural bill passed
yesterday these bills alone Will keep
Congress here for many months. The
naval appropriation bill! will he laid
before the Senate on Tuesday, and, al
though some OF it's provisions win
cause debate, Democratic leaders do
not believe it's passage will be long
deferred.
General debate on the Clayton bill
probably will start Tomorrow night
and then the bill will come up for
amendment under the rule permitting
fvc-rninute speeches on each para
graph. That liz expected 10 occupy all
tho week.
MEASURE is THREATENED
WITH GENEILAL ATTACH
The measure is threatened with a
general attack from the Republican
side. 1t carries provisions dealing
with interlocking directorates, holding
companies. price fixing and the issue
of labor rights and demands.
The American Federation OF Labor
Is insisting upon stronger provisions to
exempt labor unions from antitrust
prosecution, and to liberalize injunc-
tion processes and contempt procedure.
The Judiciary subcommittee on
Trusts contends that the labor sections
were approved by labor leaders when
drawn. The labor men contend it
should be stronger as an exemption pro-
posal.
Night sessions of the House Will con-
tinue SO long as the general debate is
in progress on this and the succeed
ing measure. the bill to regulate issues
OF railroad stocks and bonds House
leaders are much interested in Presi-
dent Wilson's declaration he will not
be satisfied unless the whole antitrust
program goes through both houses.
Some OF the House leaders think the
Senate may be counted upon TO pass the
trade commission bill, possibly without
amendment and to go no further at
this session except possibly to pass the
general dam BILL which Is privileged to
come up at any time in the House
The dam bill, regulating water power
on naviEabie rivers, Endorsed by both
the War Department and the House In
terstatc Commerce Committee. en-
powers the Federal government to
make regulations of practices. rates
and charges for water power when n
State fails to perform that function. and
would provide that after fifty years
tho government may take over any
water power project under the bill.
CRISIS IN fIEXICO
rs NOT ANTICIPATED
That Democratic leaders arc not con-
templating any immediate eNigency for
legislation for the Mexican situation Is
Indicated by the departure of Repre-
sentative Flood, of Virginia, chairman
of tho House Committee on Foreign
Affairs. TO his home in Appomattox.
JIG expects to remain away two or three
weeks.
House Democrats are figuring on an
early conference on whether rural
credits should be taken UP now or next
session. The Lever bill; to regulate
cotton futures transactions may como
up in day or two before the entire
Committee on Agriculture. Meantime.
other committees are trying to got ap-
proval of conservation ana other nea-
sures before adjournment, though SO
lar without aRaurnncn Of nctinn.