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Show PRESIDENT TAFT MINniPPOBT Has Clever Way of Manipulating Manipulat-ing Things So as to Strengthen Strength-en His Position.' COMMITTEES WQRK EARLV OX IMPORTANT MEASURES Railroad and Federal Incorporation Incorpo-ration Bills Exciie Intense ln: terest Among Statesmen. WASHINGTON. Jan. 23. Activity, such as seldom has been displayed by committees so early In the first regular session of a congress, fs rw in evidence evi-dence in both wings of the capitol. Although Al-though there arc practical:. thrco parties, par-ties, "regular" republicans, "insurgent." Republicans and Democrat'?, there ;,ro signs on every lianJ that President Taft is daily gaining supporters for his legislative legis-lative programme. The skill shown by the president in avoiding clashes with either Republican faction, and the Imujk he. has exhibited in compelling the aid of both in his light for the redemption of party pledges, h:;s! noticeably impressed the Democratic majority. ma-jority. (In the house there are indications that threatened fusion or Democrats and "In-surgent" "In-surgent" Republicans on several legislative legis-lative questions, is now leared by tho majority. The Democratic View. "Taft is trying to beat the Democrats out of any prospect of controlling the next house." remarked a prominent Democratic Dem-ocratic leader of the senate yesterday. "If It were not for the way he is knocking knock-ing Republican heads together and making mak-ing them fall Into lino for advanced legislationDemocratic leg-islationDemocratic legislation, if vou please wo would get you fellows sure." predicted this minority leader, addressing address-ing the Republicans present. The senator was talking to men who had Just agreed upon the .principle- of a piece of western legislation that, admittedly ad-mittedly few of them favored. The incident in-cident furnished a good illustration of tho present concresslonal situation. Committees are now considering subjects sub-jects usually postponed until after tho appropriation bills arc passed by the house. Tho senate committee, under pressure from the White house, havo laid plans to take up the administration measures, while the house has supply bills under consideration. Indications are that by the time the house calendar has been cleared of budget bills, the senate sen-ate will have ready for the attention of that body a number of most Important Taft bills. Senators Toe tho Mark. Sonnto leaders who have gone .lo the White House have beerr told that it is not necessary to wait for action by the house on matters designed to carry out Republican pledges. Those inclined lo stay away from the White Houso have been sent for. or the warning lias been delivered to tliem by "their" colleagues. Not content with such notice, Mr. Taft has taken the further precaution of getting get-ting "service by publication." In other words, he has made the newspapers bis confidantes and perhaps, incidentally, his supporters, on most of the advanced legislation legis-lation proposed by him. It Is regarded probablo that the president's presi-dent's railroad bill will be enacted at the present session, regardless of Hie fact that bills on tho same subject, and somewhat opposed to the Taft bill, havo been introduced in the nenat? by Mr. Cummins and in the house by Mr. Mann of Illinois- There may be some Democratic opposition opposi-tion lo certain features of the administration administra-tion bill. Mr. Tillman Is studying It and has reached the conclusion that the proposition prop-osition to allow railroads under certain conditions to make joint rates amounts lo pooling. Tho Republicans say he is mistaken, and an interesting session of the senate committee on Interstate commerce com-merce is predicted for Friday Railroad bills will be taken up by the. house committee com-mittee on Thursday. Federal Incorporation Bill. The president's federal incorporation bill is expected to have rhc hardest sledding sled-ding of any measure In his program. Land bills ami conservation measures will receive re-ceive careful attention at the present session, ses-sion, regardless of the Balllnger-Plncliot investigation. The urgent deficiency bill is before the house and probably will be pa sped within two days. The agricultural bill, carrying approximately 5iT.noo.noo. and the Indian bill are ready for attention, and other supply bills are well under way. In Hip senate the fortifications bill will he reported tomorrow and . (he army bill Is in committee. The Mann canal bill, passed bv tho house, will be reported on Monday, "and the Alaskan legislative council bill also will go on the senate calendar. cal-endar. The Arizona ami Now Mexico statehood state-hood bill can be brought, out of committee com-mittee whencxer the senate is ready to receive It. Postal savings bank bills arc expected to be taken up In the senate committee on Wednesday, and it is probable that a favorable report will be made within a week. |