The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-11-11

Washington. Nov. ILL Special.
There Is n slight sign ~ activity about
the capitol building Although the
rumblings OF the recent election are
stlll heard. and members ~ congress
are taking "a brief breathing spell hc
fore they begin work. orders have
been issued to the clerical force to be
Gin speeding mp the preliminary work
on the supply bills. SO that congress
will not have 10 have an extra session
Without regard to anything else, con
cress VIII devote its time toward pre-
venting an extra session. For the FIRST
time since Roosevelt was president an
extra session was avoided In 1915. and
members Of congress remember with
pleasure that vacation of nine months
with the pay check coming IN reguiar
ly. They want another period OF the
same kind. and ms the employees ARE
paid during the recess they. too. have
already begun work TO avoid an extra
session next spring and summer.
Legislation In Sight.
There IL plenty of legislation ahead.
but whether 1t IL of such pressing ne.
cessity as To call for an extra session
only the president can tell ~ may
be necessary to supplement the eight
hour law by additional measures Per
haps President Wilson may desire some
OF the recommendations which he made
nj the time the law passed acted upon
IL may be necessary 10 have lcglsla.
ton to make the rural credits law and
the good roads law more workable.
The administrative officers have had
al opportunity TO SEQ what II neces.
sary and mas have found faults which
can he corrected.
The immigration Bill.
Political expediency no longer de
mands "a delay OF the immigration bin.
and w may expect an early vote on
that measure. which went over after
a wrangle Mt the close of the last ses
sion. This bin can now be voted upon.
vetoed and passed over the veto with
out having any political effect. IL -
now four years 60 the next election.
And will II have N political effect
So far as I can recollect, the immigra
ton bill never became an issue In the
campaign. In was one of those propo
sitions which might have had dyna.
mite possibilities and boomerang ef.
fccts. 50 II was never brought forward
High cos. Of Living.
There IL one thing that congress
must consider; that Is the high cost OF
living. That was an important issue
In the campaigns OF 1910 and 1912, and
now prices are much higher than eve
OF course we know that II is all due TO
the demand created by the war in Eu-
D but that does not make IL any
nor palstable.
In this connection the buying and
storage OF great quantities OF food will
be the subject OF comment I'm congress
One man In New Jersey told me he
had made 800 600 In buying and stor.
ing eggs. His concern was sending
men out among the farmers and con
tracing for all kinds Of produce TO
hold for higher prices.
Ii will take some time to investigate
the entire subject. but when congress
meets there Will be a food Of bills and
resolutions on the subject.
Should Reason With Them.
A former congressman from New
York outlined his plan to me, and
give 1t for what 1t is worth. Suppose
the president should call in the heads
Of all these great food storage trusts
he said. and tell them: Here. it's all
right for you to make a big wad OF
money, but you're going too far. Now
what do you propose TO do before ! 20
to congress and ask fof remedial legis
lationf' That would bring them t.
time"
Perhaps they might be susceptible
TO reason OF that kind. Roosevelt was
able to deal with the anthracite Goa
men. Blu. he had a small group deal
Ing In one commodity, centered In one
locality. The food supply comes from
every section OF the country. and thou
sands Of persons are engaged In cor
pering and boosting the prices.
Will Attack Cold Storage.
Here is one certain feature OF thu
high cost OF living: There will be I
vigorous attack upon cold storage
This adjunct TO price boosting was un
der fire I'm a most vigorous mannel
when the late Senator Hepburn Of Ida
no vas preparing to make 1t the grea
feature of his legislative career. Hey
burn had been largely responsible TO
the pure food law, and he intended I.
make a cold storage law upon tn
anne lines.
In the house Congressman Mckella
Of Tennessee began an investigation
OF the cold storage business and pro
posed 10 have It regulated. As q sen
ator he may do much more. and witt
the incentive of having such regula
tiOn reduce the cost OF living 1t
possible that be may be able to a.
complisIl 4 great deal.