Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-07
DEFENSE PLANS
STILL IN MAKING
Strong Opposition to Continental
Army Plan Forecasts Change
in Administration Program
Public Hearings for Brandeis
Witnesses

Washington, Feb. 6.-Conservation leg
islation, the Colombian and Nicaraguan
treaties. the government purchase bill,
Philippine independence, and the inquiry
into the nomination Of Louis D. Brandeis
to the supreme court, are the subjects
of immediate interest before Congress for
the coming week, while completion of the
national defence program is being await
ed.
Water power bills are to be considered
in the open Senate, although admins
tration leaders contemplate devoting
much time to debate of the long pending
Nicaraguan and Colombian treaties The
former probably will be called up first
and opponents of the treaty propose to
sion in the open.
Brandeis Hearings
Beginning Wednesday, public hearings
are to be held on the Brandeis nominal
ton before a Senate judiciary sub-com-
mttee Protestants against confirmation
of Mr.. Brandeis are to be heard first
and witnesses have been summoned to
testify regarding statements filed with
the committee. These relate to Mr.. Bran
deis' connection with the United Shoe
Machinery Co., the per cenl. railroad
rate case and several private litigation
cases in which he was interested as coun-
sci.
In the House tomorrow Speaker Clark
will recognize Representative Padgett.
chairman of the naval committee, to call
up the navy departments bill to increase
the number of midshipmen at the United
States Naval Academy
National defence legislation will be
pending in committee throughout the
week
House and Senate military committees
plan to conclude hearings on army reor-
ganization this week.
Continental Army Opposition
Strong opposition has developed to
the continental army proposal and
there are indications of a conference
soon between congressional leaders
and executive officials to talk over
the feasibility Of dropping the con-
tinentaf army plan and substituting
an increased standing army and an
enlargement of the National Guard
plan.
Philippine legislation, which has Oc-
cupied the floor of the Senate so
long. soon will be debated in the
House. The House committee on in
sular affairs, already has pending the
Jones self-government extension BILL
which differs in many respects from
the bill passed by the Senate. The
committee will meet probably next
Tuesday and determine whether to re-
port the Jones bill or the Senate
measure.
Would Delay Post Office Bill
AS soon as the Indian appropriation
bill is passed, sponsors of the immi-
grafton bill, with the literacy test and
Asiatic exclusion features will at
tempt to dispute the post office APP
preparation bills right Of way in the
House. The post office bill usually oc-
cupies a couple of weeks discussion
in the House. 1t carries $320,000,000
standing practice of paying railroads
according to weight Of mails carried
to a space basis.
Administration officials are still
urging early action on the shipping
bill, and next Thursday Secretaries
McAdoo and Redfield will appear be-
fore the House merchant marine COM
mittee.
With the urgent deficiency appro-
priation bill in conference between the
two houses, the Indian bill about to be
sent to the Senate by the House and
the post office bill already to be con-
sidered in the House, the other big
supply measures are progressing in
and some Of them, includ-
ing the $5,000,000 diplomatic and con-
sular bill, the vehicle Of debate on
foreign policies. will be completed
probably by the end Of the week.