The Colorado statesman., 1917-01-13
WILL PASS SEVERAL MEASURES
OF PRIME IMPORTANCE AND
QUIT WITH THAT.
EXTRA SESSION NOT WANTED
Number of Bills introduced This Win
ter Is Much Smaller Than Usual
Many of Them Deal With Cost of
Living.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

resolution is said to be to put through
the two or three measures of prime i'm
portance and with them the equally
primely important appropriation bills,
and to be content with that, and thus,
so far as human foresight can COM
pass it, make it certain that the pres
ident will not be compelled to call an
extra session of congress In the spring,
q session which would begin probably
with a terrific fight between Republic
ans and Democrats for the control and
organization of the house of repre-
sentatives.
Recent records have been broken in
congress lately. The number of bills
which have been introduced since the
session opened the first Monday in
ing any like period in the last 20
years. 1t is true that some lawmakers
have introduced measures for which
they have no hope of passage at pres
ent, but about which they hope pub
lie opinion will crystalline later. The
number of these bills, however, is
small, and so, barring the ordinary pen
sion bills, comparatively few things of
national moment have been presented
to either house for present or future
consideration.
OF course this does not take account
of the railroad legislation in its varied
forms which the president made the
main feature of his message to con-
gress, nor does 1t take account of some
other highly important things which
sooner or later must be given consid-
Grafton by the national legislators. The
simple fact is that the number of bills
Is much, very much smaller than is
usually the case.
May Vote on Big Questions.
1t is probable that before congress
dies on March the question of sub
mitting to the states the federal con-
sttutional amendment establishing
prohibition will be voted on by con-
gress. There is struggle on already
between the opposing forces interested
in this measure. The federal suf-
frage amendment also will be given
consideration.
Senator William Fl. Thompson of
Kansas is only one of a number of
bills for the election of president and
vice president by direct vote of the
people. Senator John f. Shafroth of
Colorado has introduced a bill to the
same general effect which, however.
would work a complete change in the
method of selecting the president and
the vice president. His bill stipu-
lates that the two officials shall be
chosen without the Intervention in any
way of the electoral college, and it pro-
vides for a term of six years for the
president and for his ineligibility for
reelection forever thereafter.
Other Bills of Interest.
Congress has in it's keeping a bill,
which pressure of time may or
may not prevent from receiving
consideration, to admit free of import
charges all wheat which is brought in
to the United States for seed purposes.
The word which has gone to the legis-
lators with this measure is that the
farmers particularly, and the public
generally to considerable extent, will
be deeply interested in the fate of the
measure. 1t was offered by Represen-
tative Halvor Steenerson of Mime
sofa.
1t is said that this bill was intro
duced as the result of a suggestion
made by single farmer of the great
Northwest who received seed from
South American and European coun-
tries. 1t was sent him in part simply
for experimental purposes, but in an
other part, it is said, for use under
well-based belief that the growth re-
suits would be most satisfactory.
Rural mail carriers will be interest
ed in a bill introduced by Senator ].
Gronna of North Dakota who has
asked congress to legislate so that the
rural route men shall in no case re-
ceive less than 81 200 year. and that
any reduction of this pay shall be
made impossible. There are some
members of congress who do not see
how legislation can bind future con-
crosses not to re-legislate on the same
subject. 1t is history, however that
congress virtually never, reduces sal
aries, and so If minimum once is
fixed, 1t probably will remain fixed.
Madden's Bill for Postal Employees.
Representative Martin B. Madden
of Illinois also has put in bill which
looks to the qualification of post office
clerks and carriers in first and second
class post offices. He wishes TO have
these clerks and carriers divided into
six classes with salaries ranging from
$1,000 to S1,500 The understanding
is now that the highest pay that clerk
can get is $1,000, while the minimum
pay is said to be considerably below
the first sum named in Mr.. Madden's
measure.
Representative Frank Park of
Georgia has proposed plan by which
C1,I, fodoIn to Snldiers Inny he non ION ed