Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-04
Bills Must Take
Precedence, GeneralLeg-
iSldtion Being Considered
When Time Permits.

SiXty-i'ourth Congress will rcconvcnc
at noon tomorrow for lis second Sos
sion which viii end with tho life of
the present Congress on March 4. The
administration, although assured of
control for four years more in All
branches, excepting possibly the IIous.
Of Representatives. has an ambitious
Legislative program all Of which can
not be crowded into the next three
months.
Where tn" ministration is to draw
the line OH general Legislation has
not been determined. Party confer
cnccs will outline tho program to
be attempted in addition 20 the ap-
Precipitation bills which must he passed
20 meet expenditures OF government
FOR tho fiscal year l9l1-IolS.
When Congress adjourned last Sep
tcmbcr. the Democratic Senate caucus
agreed that the Immigration bill. with
its oft-vatocd literary test. would bc
taken up and passed bcfor" considera-
tion Of any other Legislation. II also
had agreed to act on the owen cor
rupt practices bill, measure TO limit
expenditures in national polotical cam
ptigns and to provide new penalties
Tor election frauds. Both measures
HAD been pressed at the end OF the scs-
sion. to the embarrassment of both
parties, and were abandoned by mu-
tual consent, despit" the urgent de-
mands Of Il few mcrrbcrs.
Besides those two measures the
memorable railroad cight-hour day
fight. which marked the last days of
the last session, had ended with lcgis-
lation suggested by President Wilson
unconsidered. 1t will be urged upon
the Congress by the administration
above al! other subjects. In fact the
joint committee created by Congress to
investigate the whole subject of rail-
road problems. has been In session two
weeks preparing recommendations, and
IL is apparent that this will be the
dominating feature of the session.
In Wow OF the probability that the
administration is to face a divided
SiXty-tifth Congress or at best nom
dependable plurality in the lower
house. IL is the hope of Democratic
leaders TO complete before the March
Adjournment what remains of con-
Structive program q! reform legisla-
ton long ago conceived. All are con-
vinced however. of the paramount i'm =
portance of supply bills and these
must take precedence. general IeCis-
lati"n To he considered whenever time
will permit.
UNUSUAL IMPORTA NCE
O| NAVAL MONEY BILL.
OF the supply measures there is
again more than usual Importance at
tached to the naval appropriation bill
Hearings already have begun before
the HouSa cn,nnitt.n b;lI ,,,,.,
provide for the second years con-
struction in the elaborate tlrc.-year
building program authorized AT the
last session as part of the adminis-
tration's plan to strengthen the ma
tional defense There also remain to
pc acted upon important conservation
measures which the President and
many members of both legislative
branches have been advocating.
Beside those measures President
Wilson wants Congress to enact the
Webb bill to make it legal for Ameri-
can corporations to maintain collec-
tive selling agencies for foreign coun-
tries. Under terms of the CLAYTON
antitrust law such agencies would he
unlawful The President was disap-
pointed over failure of the Senate TO
pass the bill in the closing days OF the
last session ANA expressed his regrets
III formal statement
With regard 10 the national defense
there are, beside the regular army
navy and coast defense supply bills.
several measures bearing on the mill
tary efficiency of the country. Among
tlIrm is the Chamberlain bill for u
modified form of universal military
training modelled after. the Swiss sys-
tcin. Hearings are TO be held hy the
senate military committee but action
before Adjournment seems Improbable.
Estimates on the naval bill call for
an expenditure next year of approXi-
matcly $S01.0O0,0oo and authorization
for construction of three Dreadnoughts
and at least one battle cruiser to add
to the four Drcadnoughts and four bat
tie cruisers ordered constructed ~ soon
AS possible in the big naval bill of the
last session TO keep up with the
three year building program, provision
also should be made for additional
scout cruisers dcstroyers. fleet and
coast submarines and auxiliary ships.
Conservation Legislation will he de-
mandcd by its champions. but whether
time will permit is dubious mat
ter. Water power bills which failed
at the last session will he revived.
They include the public lands water
power bill and the measure to provide
FOR development of watcr-powcr sites
in navigable streams by private capt.
tai. There also is pending the New
lands S6O,000.000 bill for general de-
vclopmcnt and CO. -ordinatcd control OF
the countrTs waterways. Measures
are pending also for conservation OF
mineral resources and improved con-
troll OF food waters. Other measures
left over for which attention will he
asked arc the Shafroth bill to provide
civil government for Porto Rico and
the Hokc Smith bill, to create sys-
tenn OF vocational education with Fed
cral Eid throughout the States.
TheS Senate will have three now
members to inaugurate when the ga
vel falls Tomorrow. II also must elect
new president pro tcmpore. owing
to the death of Senator James p
fft,, IDas