Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 283, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 November 1910 — CONGRESS WILL CONVENE MONDAY, DECEMBER 5th. [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS WILL CONVENE MONDAY, DECEMBER 5th.

President Will Try to Secure Legislation at Short Session Before Democrats Take Power.

Congress will convene next Monday and for three months republicans will be in control of the legislative branches of the government. During that time President Taft desires to have passed legislation that he and leaders deem essential.

The situation is strewn with considerable confusion. The congress will be composed of a number of republicans who were defeated at the recent election and they will largely be of the class that believe that the tariff legislation of the recent extra session was just what the country needed, and they will also probably base their defeat as well as democratic success to the attacks made on the tariff by insurgent republicans. Thus, it is not improbable'that there will not be the greatest amount of harmony among republicans. President Taft, however, is very anxious to have the session pass some laws that he considers very important and it is probable that his message will set out in a clear and statesmanlike manner these things. President Taft has grown in national favor. He has kept steadfastly at work in an effort to make his administration a successful one and has not only maintained a position of harmony as between, republican factions but has given no room for attack from democratic sources. His message to congress is expected to contain a concise statement of the accumulation of his information about the needs of the country and it is possible that the esteem in which his opinions are held will contribute largely to the harmonizing of factionalism in the party and enable congress to pass some measures desired by the president. It is not thought probable that he will request for a revision of the tariff, although he is said to realize fully that there is a demand that the wool and woolen schedules be reduced, but it is not probable that he will precipitate a conflict between factions, when it is practically certain that a downward revision could not be made owing to the attitude of the same forces that established the present schedules. It is expected that he will let tariff recommedations go over until the next session and then make his appeal to a democratic house and a republican senate. This will give him an opportunity to receive the report of the tariff board which will acquire expert evidence on cost of production in this country and abroad.

The president is said to have determined in the main to go right ahead with his program just as though he was not to be confronted a year hence by democratic control of the house. Fourteen appropriation bills aggregating about a billion dollars will come up for passage and if not disposed of at a regular session there would have to be a special session, calling into power the newly elected congressmen. This is not desired by either republicans or democrats. The president will probably recommend the fortification of the Panama canal. Also the amendment of .the postal laws so as to provide for a parcels post along rural routes and for increased postage for the advertising sections of magazines. The granting of ship subsidies will be urged and here is where a big fight will be started that will not altogether be on party lines. It is not probable that this question can be disposed of at the coming session. Provisions for reapportionment to conform to the thirteenth census will be asked and sharp controversy is certain to attend this movement. There is not thought to be much chance for party advantage in the reapportionment, but the democrats will probably contend for a postponement so that it may have complete control in the matter. The session will be busy, although short, and President Taft will do all in his power to have legislation of importance to the country passed while republicans hold the reins.