The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1917-01-31
WILSON EXPECTS ACTION
On All Important BiIls-President
Holds Series Of Conferences at
Capitol on All Features Of
Legislative Program
Postmasters' Civil Ser.
vice IL Favored.

Washington, January 29-After a
series of conferences at the capitol on
practically all features Of his legisla-
tive program, President Wilson told
his advisers today that he believed ac-
ton could be secured at this session
on every important measure in which
he Is interested. With different men,
bers of the Senate and House he had
discussed means Of preventing rail-
road strikes, vocational education,
revenue, food control, the general
land leasing bill, the Porto Rico bill,
a measure to allow Americon export
ers to form common selling agencies
abroad, increased pay for federal en-
ployes, and the placing of postmasters
under civil service.
The President told Senator Poindex-
Ter, author Of an amendment to the
legislative, judicial and executive ap-
preparations bill, adopted by the Sen
ate, which would extend the civil SER
vice requirements to all postmasters,
that he favored the change. At present
only postmasters In small towns in
the fourth class, are selected by ex-
animation and the remainder are APP
pointed by the President and confirm
ed by the Senate. Mr.. Wilson said
he would be gratifled to have the
amendment agreed to in conference.
He has previously urged proposal of
this kind, and Postmaster General
Burleson has endorsed 1t in his annual
report. 1t is expected to meet with
some Democratic opposition.
Representative Sims, of Tennessee,
a member Of the House Interstate
Commerce Committee, considering the
railroad program, told the President
that he did not believe that the House
would approve the part Of the admin
istration recommendation prohibiting
strikes or lockouts pending an inves-
tigation.
The President said he would not
insist on any particular form of leg
islation, but that it was absolutely
necessary to decide on some means of
preventing strikes on the railroads of
the country. Administration leaders
now are working on a compromise
measure which the President will en-
dorse. 1t provides for an investigation
board made up Of representatives of
both sides as suggested by the rail-
road brotherhoods but adds a repre-
sentative of the public.
Discussing vocational education leg
lslation with Senator Hoke Smith, the
President said he favored the bill
posed by the Senate over that adopt
ed by the House. Senator Ransdell,
of Louisiana, told Mr. Wilson that
when the rivers and harbors bill is
brought up In the Senate an effort
will be made to attach to 1t the ad-
ministration's proposal eliminated in
the House, creating board to inves-
tigate and coordinate all improve
ments having to do with food con-
troll, river improvements, and irriga-
ton. The President was also inform
ed that an early effort would be made
TO secure action on the Porto Rico
bill.
The Webb bill for common selling
agencies abroad for American export
ers, already passed by the House, was
gone over In detail with the Presi-
dent by Senator Pomerene, who told
Of amendments he expected to offer
In committee.
In discussing increased pay for fed
eral employees with a committee from
the federal employees union, present.
ing petition signed with $4,000
names, the President indicated that
he favored increases II possible.
81 have been on a salary all my
life," he said, "and therefore can
sympathize with others In the same
fix"
In the midst Of his legislative con-
ferences, the President was interrupt
ed by twenty Indians who wanted to
shake hands. He listened with a puz-
zled expression while one Of them ad-
dressed him in an Indian dialect, as
sisted by the sign language. Then he
smiled when an interpreter told him
that the Indians wanted no favors
but merely desired to greet "the
great white father"