Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 304, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1910 — Taft’s Program of Action at Present Session of Congress. [ARTICLE]

Taft’s Program of Action at Present Session of Congress.

The "capital measures" of the closing session of the sixty-first congress are becoming clearly outlined through the maze of proposed legislation. The “capital measures" are the measures upon which the party now in control in congress will rely largely for an indorsement in the next campaign. It Is necessary for the republican party to formulate its capital measures, at this session, for republican control over the lawmaking branch will cease on March 4. From indications the republicans will not enter the next campaign without several shots in their locker. „ While there can not be a great deal tof general legislation enacted at this session, it is evident that a few measures will get through which will constitute colleqtively a good record upon which to go before the country in the coming national campaign. The “capital measures,” as now indicated, probat .y will be three, as follows: 1. A law establishing a permanent statutory tariff commission. 2. for a general increase in

the pensions of the soldiers of the civil was and the Mexican war. 3. A law fixing the unit of congressional apportionment. Of these the third is the least-cer-tain of passage and there are some very wise politicians who doubt that a .{law fixing the congressional unit would prove a very effective “capital measure.” . It is agreed among leaders at the capital who have a reputation for foresight, that if congress passes the appropriation bills and the first two of the "capital measures” indicated above it will make a very good record and it is already “in the cards” that these measures shall pass. Of the prospective “capital measures,” the one for the creation of a non-partisan permanent tariff commission is the most important. Senator Aldrich would like to smother this legislation, but the forces behind it are so strong that its passage is now confidently expected and very generally predicted. President Taft’s influence is being exerted to the utmost for the legislation. Representative Sereno E. Payne, who has been opposed to the tariff commission idea during his entire congressional career, is the latest converf , A 8 chairman of the ways and

means committee he can be of great assistance in getting the measure through the house. Members of congress have been surprised during the last few days to learn that Payne is now for a tariff commission, and is getting ready to co-operate with President Taft in lining up support for it in the lower branch of congress.