Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1916-03-10
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FIGHT
OVER SETTLEMENT OF BIG
PROBLEMS.
LEGISLATION is HAMPERED
Bill for Government Ownership of
Merchant Marine, Materially
Changed, May Be Passed-Plans for
Raising Revenue Still Undecided.
ey eEoReE CLINTON.

i the mans OF CONGRESS- stopping SNCAy
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 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 seamans 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
| lumbia.
The Colombian and Haitian treaties
Some OF these things, as it will be
seen, already are up for discussion.
OF course the matter of national de-
Tense is foremost and it 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 OPP
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 viii 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 ii is the sense
of the party that it would be an in
Justice to the Filipinos, and also a
cowardly act on the part of the United
States, to turn them loose to care 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 a merchant marine
/ will be debated at great length AL
ready some nurmurs and some APP
plause concerning it are being heard
In the two houses of congress. 1t will
be remembered that last year a mer
chant marine bill was passed by the
house of representatives. but met it's
fate in the senate. where it was talked
TO death. The measure this year is
in much changed form. 1t provides
an appropriation of about $5O,000,O00
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 it's terms
the government could and probably
intended to Eat least so it was charged)
purchase merchant vessels belonging
to a be1ligerent European power and
which then were and still are tied up
in American harbors, not being able to
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 unneutral act for the United
States to buy the vessels. Under the
provisions of the bin this year the
purchase of such ships still might be
possible, but it is understood to be the
governments intention, if the measure
goes through, to spend virtually all
the money in the building of merchant
vessels which can be used in time of
war as feet auxiliaries.
The ruling majority in the house of
representatives as yet does not know
what form of revenue raising meas
ures it will report for adoption. Even
while things are still in doubt as to
the extent of the preparedness pro-
gram which viii be adopted, it virtu-
ally is known tlat something will be
done and that the army and navy ex-
/ penses of the government largely will
be increased. Therefore it will be nee
essary to raise money to pay the biIis.
immigration Bill Again.
New immigration bills containing a
clause which, if enacted into law, will
prevent the landing on these shores
of foreigners who cannot read have
been introduced into house and SEN
ate. The senate measure is fathered
by Senator Ellison d, Smith of South
Carolina, and the house measure by
Representative John l.. Brunette of
| Alabama.
This bill unquestionably will pass
the senate and almost unquestionably
will pass the house of representatives.
The question therefore is whether or
not President Wilson again will veto
the measure. Last year the bill went
through both houses with big MAORI
| ties hack of If hut the housa affer n