The Arvada enterprise., 1916-03-09
RULED BY POLITICS
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FIGHT
OVER SETTLEMENT OF BIG
PROBLEMS.
LEGISLATION IS HAMPERED
Bill for Government Ownership Of
Merchant Marine. Materially
Changed. May Be Passed-Pans for
Raising Revenue Still Undecided.
By GEORGE CLINTON.

tloH sui are moving together through
the halls of congress. stopping every
few feet. metaphorically speaking at
any rate. for fist fight Heat. rancor.
our old friends elimination and re-
elimination, and the stand.bys. con.
tention and abuse. still are present.
Here Is a program of the things
which the members of both parties
will wrangle over before the winter is
| done, or now are wrangling over. as
the case may be:
National defense.
New taxation measures.
The government ownership OF mer-
chant marine.
Independence for the Filipinos.
The seaman's law and attempts to
change or repeal it.
Child labor.
The appropriations.
Prohibition and woman suffrage
amendments to the constitution.
| Prohibition for the District OF Co.
lumba
The Colombian and Haitian treaties.
Some of these things. as 1t will be
seen, already are up for discussion.
or course the matter Of national de-
tense is foremost and 1t has been gain
Ing interest and acrimony from the
fact that both on the Democratic and
Republican sides there is to be found
considerable number Of stanch op-
ponents Of anything like preparedness.
The bill giving definite promise OF
independence to the Philippine islands
at certain date already has been dis
cussed at considerable length in the
senate and to some extent In the
house. 1t will cause more discussion
and many hours Of debate heated by
friction before 1t finally Is disposed Of.
The pronouncement OF the Republi-
cans in New York that it is the sense
Of the party that It would be an In
Justice to the Filiplnos. and also a
cowardly act on the part OF the United
States. to turn them loose to caro- for
themselves at too early a date. has
made the island question figure more
largely In the public eye than other
wise would have been the case.
Shipping Bill Much Changed.
The bill providing for the govern
ment ownership OF merchant marine
will be debated at great length. AL.
ready some murmurs and some ap-
plause concerning It are being heard
in the two houses OF congress. II will
be remembered that last year a mer.
chant marine bill was passed by the
house OF representatives. but met Its
fate In the senate. where 1t was talked
to death. The measure this year ia
In a much changed form II provides
an appropriation OF about 10000. 900
for the building or purchase OF ships
to be owned. of course. by the govern.
ment. but to be leased to private par.
ties
One OF the chief objections entered
by the opponents Of the shipping bill
Of last year was that under its terms
the government could and probably
| intended to lat least so It was chargcd)
| purchase merchant vessels belonging
to belligerent European power and
which then were and still are tied up
In American harbors, not being able 10
put to sea for fear of capture.
Last year there was denial from
government quarters that there was
any intention OF purchasing these
ships. Many men hold that It would
be an unncutral act for the United
States to buy the vessels. Under the
provisions OF the bill this year the
purchase OF such ships still might be
possible, but II is understood to be the
governments intention. II the measure
goes through to spend virtually all
the money III the building OF merchant
vessels when can be used In time OF
war AZ meet auNiiiarics'
inc rulins majority In the house Of
representatives ns yet does not know
what 'ofm OF revenue raising meas
ures IL VIII report Tor adoption Even
Nh''' ,h'hsS are sun IN doubt as to
'"e extent 81 the preparedness pro
s,A"' WHEN VIII DC ADOPTED II slrtu.
a'S N known mat something VIII b"
''"' ""d mat 'he hrmy ana navy eh.