Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-05-31
ANXIOUS TO ADJOURN.
Republican Congressman Want
to Close Session.
NATIONAL CONVENTION AT HAND.

Most of the Lawmakers Are Dele
gates to philadelphia plan For
work on Wnr Revenue Law-Con-
Grcss Preferred to n Judgeship.
WAsmNGToN, May &c Special l.
AS the time approaches for holding tho
national convention of the Republican
party the leaders in congress who de-
sire to attend, and many of whom have
been elected as delegates. are making
every effort to secure an adjournment
80 that they may be free when the time
comes. OF course it makes little differ
ence whether congress is in session or
not These mon will with few excep-
tons, 90 over to Philadelphia but
some who want to go will feel con
strained to remain in Washington to
| look after congressional affairs. While
! it has been suggested that the con
/ grossmcn will have plenty Of time to
attend the convention if adjournment
| takes place as early as the 10Th, vet
| efforts are being made to secure an
| adjournment at least two weeks car
/ licr. This is for the purpose of giving
{ IL
/ opportunity to clear up much of the
accumulated business before the de-
/ partmcnts and the correspondence be-
fore they 60 to the convention.
For Political Effect.
Most of these congressman have got
to 90 into the campaign Immediately
and for the political effect which it
will have they would like to 90 home
with their state delegations and plunge
into the canvass with all the cnthu-
siasm which the great national convcn-
ton will leave with them. If congress
does not adjourn earlier, they will be
compelled to come back to Washing
ton. not only to attend to their con
EreSsional business. but also to make
/ the arrangements necessary for the
campaign literature which they want
and also for all other business in
Washington. There does not seem to
hr any objection on the part of the
Democrats to an early adjournment,
providing no legislation to which they
are opposed is pushed forward. and
there seems to bc a definite under
standing by the Republicans that they
will net insist upon any measures to
which there is particular objection.
This is the usual course unless some
great measure like a tariff bill is pend
ing. The Democrats who will also at
tend their national convention Will
utilize the time after adjournment in
closing UP their business and in pre-
pairing for the congressional campaign.
4, Of = an i,t al
campaign committees are always in
Washington. and generally these com
mittces organize for business soon aft
er adjournment
Wnr Nevcnuc BIZ.
1t is quite likely that during the sum-
mcr members of the house committee
on ways and means and perhaps mem
bers Of the senate finance committee
will assemble at some convenient place
and prepare a bill to amend the war
revenue law. This action will be taken
in order to have Il measure satisfactory
to both house and senate as far as pos
siblc ready to be put through in the
early days of the short session when
congress reaSSemblCs in December.
, This project is only in the preliminary
stages ut present. but the suggestion
has been made that a nonpartisan bill
can be prepared and that Republicans
and Democrats upon both committees
can take part in its preparation. The
men who have the matter under con
: sidcration believe that if such meas
e IRE is prepared the bill can pass both
, houses before the holiday adjournment
, of the short session. Usually legiSla-
ton of this kind requires partisan ac-
} ton, and it may be that the ma jOritY
party will find that it must frame the
- legislation modifying the war revenue
tax unless some basis of agreement
can be reached with the minority and
the conferences will be directed to that
end.
y Why They Prefer Congress.
I overheard a member of the house
$ telling one of his constituents why n
j man preferred a seat in the house of
70 representatives. rather than a position
as judge of court at home. although
= the salaries were the same, and often
y times the judges receive more than is
paid congressman. More than that
>, these judges are usually elected for q
@ long period of years-from : to ~ al
i least. They do not have to 90 through
h biennial scramble in the political
d campaign for both nomination and cleo
G ton. Yet it is a well known fact thai
= many men will leave the bench tC
i come TO congress. OF course it is easy
to understand how n man will leave &
. iudgeshp to come to the senate, which
y. Is the most desirable place. And Otter
a men leave the supreme bench of {
|. state, where they are almost sure Of
70 life positions, TO take seats i'm tn,
II senate. But to return to this mem
l. Der who was explaining the matter t.
t his constituent. He said his pOlitica
" life is more pleasant than "A judicia
- life. I'VE have scenes of great excite
p. ment in the house at times he said
V respectfully in political debates. Thel
It the fur flies, so to speak. But mor
r than that, there is the national charac
IL ter which we assume when we become
10 representatives. The life in Washing
..;.,lI 81.