Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-30
WILSON IN CONFERENCES
ON LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Believes Action Can BE Secured Oh
Every Important Measure i'm
Which lie Is Interested.
SEES MEMBERS or CONGRESS
Favors Change Which Would Extend
CIVIL Service Requirements To All
Enthusiastically Intlorse Com.
promise Railroad Bill.

WASHI NGTON, January oa-Aftor
series Of conferences at the ,'unitnl
on practically all features OF his lce
islativc program, President Wilson told
his advisers to-day that he believed
action could he secured at this session
on every important measure in which
nc is interested. With different mem
oefs OF the Senate and House he dis
cussed means OF preventing railroad
strikes. vocational cduc;ltion revenue
food control. the general land-IcasinE
biil. the Porto Rico bill. IL measure to
allow American exporters 20 form com =
mon selling agencies abroad. iucrcns c.l
pay for Federal employees and the
placing Of postmastcrs under civil SER
vice
The PrcsidNn, told Senator ruin-
dexter. author Nuf an amendment TO the
executive. judicial and Legislative ap-
preparation bill adopted by the senate.
which would extend the civil service
requirements TO all postmuStcrS. that
he favored the change. At present
only poStmaStcrs in small towns in the
fourth class are selected by examine
ton. and the remainder arc appointed
10y the President and confirmed by The
Senate.
Representative Sims. Of Tennessee. a
member of the House Interstate Com
mcrce Committee. cunSiderin. TIN, rail-
road program. told the President tina,
he did not believe the House would
approve the part OF the adminiStra ton :
plan prohibiting strikes or l"ci>"Uts
pending an investigation.
NO PARTICULAR FORM
TO HE INSISTED ON
The President said he would not IN
sist on any particular form of lcSisla-
ton. and administration leaders now
are working on II compromise measure
which the President probably will in
dorse. II provides for an investigating
board made up Of representatives Of
both sides. as suggested by the rail-
road brotherhoods. hut adds n repre-
sentative Of the public.
The webb bill for common selling
agencies abroad for American OK
portcrs. already passed by tho House
was gone over in detail with tho prcsi-
dent by Senator Pomcrenc. who told
of amendments he expected 10 offer in
committee. These amendments arc de-
signed to prevent exporters from using
tho combinations for foreign trade to
increase prices in tho United States. and
would authorize tho Federal Trade
Commission to investigate wrong prac-
ticcs, and report To the Department Of
Justice.
In discussing increased pay FOR Fed
cral employees with a committee from
the Federal Employees Union, pre-
scnting a petition signed with 10000
names. the President Indicated that ne
favored Increases il pussibicS
81 have been on salary all my life"
he said. and therefore. can sympathiae
with others in the same fix
In tho midst Of his legislative con-
ference. the President was interrupted
bt twenty Indians. who wanted TO
shake hands. lie listened with a
puzzled expression while ono OF them
addressed him in an Indian dialect. as
sisted by the sign language. An inter-
prefer told him tho Indians wanted no
favors but merely desired IL greet tho
Great White Father.