South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-12-27
EXPECT DELAY IN
BIC LEGISLATION
National Defense and Addl-
tionaI Revenue to Be Sub
jeCt of Hot Fights.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 81. - The
conviction that the vital proposals
in the administration legislative pro-
gram-naitonaI defense and add
tiOnal revenue-are to be long de-
layed and subjected to a cross fire
Of vigorous criticism is becoming
fixed among Washington leaders.
Legislative consideration Of these
issues will be far out of sight when
congress reconvenes on Jan. 4. and
months OF weary battles in commit
tee rooms and in both senate and
house will precede their enactment
into law. The two weeks of con-
gressional sittings prior TO the hoh-
day recess were spent in organiZa-
ton, political jOckeying and in pass
ing the revenue fight Congressional
leaders are convinced that much
more time Will be wasted before the
big proposals Of the administration
are reached.
only two big legislative matters
will be out of committee and ready
for consideration by congress when
it reconvenes. These are:
The land mortgage bank bill
framed by the joint committee ap-
pointed by the last congress to con-
slider rural credit legislation.
The sO-called conservation pro-
gram of the administration.
Mortgage Bank Bill Ready.
The land mortgage bank bill has
been completed by a subcommittee
and is expected to be passed on to
both houses of the congress by the
full committee Ia meeting Jan. %.
The measure provides a general
scheme Of land loan banking model
ed somewhat after the present fed
eral reserve banking system. II will
meet some vigorous opposition in
both house and senate. Another
measure providing for personal rural
credit banking will be framed by the
joint committee later.
The public lands committee Of the
house, which is working through the
holiday recess, expects to have three
conservation measures ready for &C
ton in the house on Jan. 4. The
committee already has agreed to re-
port the administration water power
bill providing for the leasing of water
power sites in federal jurisdiction.
1t is now working on bills authoriz-
ing the leasing of coal, oil, gas and
phosphate lands on the public do
main and providing for an enlarged
homestead for settlers on grazing
lands. All three Of these bills pass
ed the house in the last congress,
bat died in the senate.
Preparedness To BE Delayed.
Preparedness, both military and
naval. is certain to encounter long
delays. Both military and naval af-
fairs committees in the house have
promised public hearings on the ad-
ministration proposals. The naval
committee hearings will begin on
Jan. 5 and the military committee
hearings soon afterwards The hear
ings will continue for weeks before
the committee begin detailed con-
sideratiOn Of the measures. The de-
lay in preparedness will put off ac-
ton on revenue until the extent of
the increased expenditures author
ized for preparedness can be esti-
mated with some degree of accuracy.
The administration taxation sugges-
tons have not met with an enthusi-
astic reception and whatever pro-
posals for direct taxation are finally
made will be greeted by strong Op-
position in both houses Of congress.
Behind i'm Appropriation Bills.
In addition to the general legisla
ton which is dragging along. con-
gress is behind in the consideration
of appropriation bills. None of the
big supply measures has yet been re-
ported out Of committee 10 the
house. and the committees are all
behind in considering them. Usually
two OF the supply bills are passed
before the holiday adjournment.
With the press Of general legislation
,az--r