Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-16
Congress Dallies While
Expiration of the
Time Allotted
Draws Near
The immigration Bill Hurried
Through as If Anxious to
Give President His Bad Half
Hour with It-Big Supply
Bills Hang Fire-President's
Pet Measures to Bring Real
Tussle in the Senate.

clal)-The sands are running. Inc
winter is beginning to wear
away. Congress haggles and dali
lies daily. A third and more of
the session has passed. Democrats
in the upper branch have hardly more
than gotten on their fighting clothes.
Not one of the regular money bills
has been disposed of there, although
the first of the IA is nearing final
vote. That is the District of CO.
lumbia appropriation bill.
1t requires no great mental effort
to sum up what has been done in :.
month and more. The Vtal is almost
have had their wrangles with the
President over patronage and seem
TO have been more intent upon that
than in disposing of business that has
been piling up. True the immigra-
ton bill was passed. The Senate
squandered more talk on that than
on anything else through December
and early January. However, that
was nothing the President wanted.
He is supposed to be waiting for the
immigration bill, axe in hand.
Senate and House Democrats,
nevertheless. Joined with Republicans
to speed that bill TO the utmost. The
conferees could normally have de-
layed a week or two settling differ
ences over such a measure. Instead
of that they adjusted all their differ
ences at virtually one meeting. SO
the immigra ton act is going to the
President at a double quick, as
though there was Democratic will
ingness to make trouble,at the White
House. If he vetoes it, there will De
prolonged debate again probably in
the Senate. Long winded orators
can be counted upon for one or two
days, whereas hardy more than 40
working days remain of this session
and those responsible for the course
of legislation are fidgety.
The House is more Industrious. It
has disposed of these appropriation
bills: District of Columbia, legisla-
tive, executive and judicial, the post
office and Indian, and this week is
passing the rivers and harbors bill.
The army bill is waiting So is the
agricultural but it will be noticed
that the House is not half through
Yet with these money measures. AS
the House is required under the Goa
stitution TO, enact these supply bills
first, il has not made startling
progress for short session of Con-
gresS.
For a while there will be big tus-
sic in the Senate over President Will
sons bills, such as that for the pur-
chase of ships the Philippines bill
and the conservation bills. The last
Of these Will soon be out of COM
mittee. The President is very insis-
tent upon action and it will be fine
test Of his influence with Congress to
see whether he gets it.
The struggles to get something
through are at the desperate stage
now in Congress. President Wilson.
be it said. is not the only oRe who is
trying hard for that affirmative vote
in the House and that affirmative
vote in the Senate, prior to March 4.
There are people and corporations
and interests of one sort and another
to the number of thousands, who
would like Congressional approval Of
something now pending. But more
than 10000 bills before the House Of
Representatives will never see the
light of legislative day but will be
lost with the expiration of Congress.
And yet lot of small bills will go
through, in spite of all talk about the
brevity of the session SO that only
appropriation bills can be enacted.
Every Monday and every Wednesday
1.-TWO days a week. are set aside in
the House for considering minor bills
on the calendar. Monday every two
weeks is for unanimous consents"
and that means a great many meas
ures never get consideration because
a member here or there is waiting to
object. Representative Mann Of IL
linois, the minority leader does most
of the Directing but there are others.
The other Monday is for District of
Columbia bills. But the Calendar
Wednesdays are held inviolable and
there has to be exceptionally good
excuse for taking up appropriation
bills on Calendar Wednesday.
Then the Senate goes on the CAL
endar" every few days. There was 4
Democratic agreement in caucus not
long ago. to sit at least one night a
week for consideration of bills on the
Calendar. The objection of one
Senator throws these bills over but
the fact remains that many minor
bills get through. Every week there
is a number of these completed en-
actments at the White House Offices
for the Presidents signature.
But efforts are not relinquished in
behalf of legislation Of a major char
acter. For example the House In
terstate Commerce Committee gave a
hearing the other day on the fair
trade bill, as it is called. Many
business men are trying to have that
bill accepted by Congress. in the
hope of eliminating a certain COM
petition from the chain stores. so
called. These merchants, as the ac-
ousation stands, advertise staple
goods at cut prices for the sake OF
getting people into their stores. This
opens opportunity for other sales.
The regular grocer or druggist can
not afford to sell at these cut prices
and complains to the manufacturer
Consequently a demand that the
makers Of standard goods or pro-
prietary articles shall be permitted
to fix prices at which these goods
may be sold. A decision Of the Su-
preme Court that upheld price cut