Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-06
POW-WOW TOMORROW
Party Leaders Invited by the
President.
GOSSIP AT CAPITOL
SPECULATION AS TO SUBJECTS TO
BE DISCUSSED.
Rumors That Representatives Will
Show Determination to Cut
All Along the Line.
GOSSIP AT CAPITOL

lie SdpiloI WdS UuZAiIiS tOUdy Will SOSSip
and speculation over the pow-wow between
Congress leaders and the President, which
is set for tomorrow afternoon at 2:30
o'clock. The calling of this conference has
excited great interest among the legisla-
tors and started all kinds of conjectures as
to its object and the probable results.
Telephone messages from the White
House late yesterday afternoon to num-
ber of leaders in the House and Senate re-
quested them to attend at the White House,
If convenient, Saturday afternoon at 2:30
O'clock The recipients of these messages
did not know at first that they were to be
parties to large meeting, as the invitation
was wordeG to them individually. Com
parison of notes, however, in the evening by
several leaders showed that the invitation
was quite general among the influential
men of both houses of Congress, and then
it became apparent that the President had
in mind an important convocation.
Topics to Be Discussed.
The general impression among the House
and Senate leaders today was that the
President desires to discuss with the man
ayers general subjects of legislation rec
commended in his message and to ascer-
tain for himself the spirit and feeling which
prevail in Congress with reference to
this legislation. The republican managers
do not take the view that the President
is contemplating endeavoring to influence
legislation but they concede that as the
head of his party and of the administration
he has the right to go over with the men
who control legislation questions which
have party bearing.
It was rumored around the committee
rooms at the Capitol today, however that
some of the parties to this conference will
go to the White House with their jaws set
on one proposition namely, that If the
appropriations are to be kept down, as they
must be kept down. it will be a harmonious
reduction all along the line and not level
ed at any one particular item or schedule.
To be more explicit, there was talk ABOUT
the Capitol today in both ends of the
building, and in more than one committee
ROOM to the effect that there was prob
ability that the President would insist upon
Congress carrying out the naval program
of the administratio as conveyed in the
estimates and that he would not hear to
any reduction of naval estimates.
Reductions All Along the Line.
1t was openly said today by men in both
ends of the Capitol who are interested in
the estimates, and who have some influence
in making up the annual supply bills, that
there must be reductions this session in
appropriation bills, and that the spirit Of
Congress is to make the reductions general
and not confine them to special bills. The
river and harbor bill will be built upon very
meager lines if it is passed at all. There
will be no large expenditures for public
buildings or for any other purpose, and it
is contended that the navy will have to
take its share Of reduction along with the
others.
So, it was said today, If the President at
his conference with the leaders tomorrow
hopes to induce Congress to take the naval
estimates as they came from the depart
ment, he will have to induce the leaders to
change their minds. At present they are
very much opposed to passing the naval
estimates and chopping off appropriations
In other directions, and in that attitude
they claim to have substantial support
back of it from their colleagues.
An Extra Session May Be Discussed.
1t is also supposed that the President de-
sires to talk about railway Incorporation
message and Commissioner Garfields an
nual report. These are very interesting
subjects to members Of the House and Sem
ate, and he will be supplied with number
OF varying opinions to the wisdom, ne
cessity and practicability of legislation at
this session upon those subjects. 1t is pos
sible that the question of an extra session
of Congress will also come up at the con-
ference. The responsibility for calling an
extra session will have to be assumed to a
large extent by the President. All kinds of
views are expressed by congressman, and in
the end the President will probably have to
view Is entertained that If there is to be an
extra session 1t should be called this spring.
On the Senate side the opinion prevails to a
considerable extent that if an extra session
is necessary it would be better to postpone
1t until the early fall.