The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-06
Congress Facing NJ any
Measures Of Inham-
snable Nature.
BOTH BRANCHES
IN DIFFICULT Y
Conditions SO Bad That Appro-
priation Bills Are in Danger,
and Extra Session May Be
Necessary-Lorimer Case
and Direct Vote Are
Chief Contentious.

Washington, u. c., February Con
gross worked under high tension dur
ing the last week, ana the prospects
tor the remainder Of the session do not
promise many days barren Of excite
aicnt. The congestion Is such that APP
preparation bills are in some danger,
but members OF experience recalled
conditions equally bad which were met
without the necessity OF extra scs-
aions a#
The real difficulty in both branches
seems TO be that there are numerous
matters CT q political or Of a partisan
nature being pressed FOR consideration
before the close or Congress on March
and II is realized that many OF these
must fail through lack Of time.
iiornh Determined.
Most Of the measures Of an intlan-
INA Bile character re pending in the
senate. and chief among them are the
l.ormcr case ana the resolution look
ing 10 the election or Senator'S by
direct vote Of the people The latter,
as the result OF persistent night
made by Senator Borah who reported
the resolution from, the Judiciary Com
nittce under circumstances which as
..ured a contest. was advanced last
week to the position OF the unfinished
business senator Borah Is determined
that there shall he vote on his reso-
luton III time TO obtain Considcra ton
by the House
The Indications arc that nc has sufii-
cicnt votes to carry out this prog ram
The situation is extremely interesting.
a large majority OF the Republicans
are opposed 10 the resolution, but TIC
Progressive Republicans and the Dem
ocrats control the situation by Two or
three votes. Several efforts were made
by Senator Borah 10 have a day fixed
ON which TO take vote. but unani-
nous consent thus far has been re-
fused.
One Senator could prevent i vote on
the resolution So long as nc had
strength TO occupy the lloor. and three
Senators could conduct a successful
ilihuster for a week. Half i dozen
determined rnembers probably could
hold tho for, for the balance Of tn.
session without, any difficulty what
eyer. II is unlikely. however. that
measures so extreme Viii be taken. II
the resolution passes Tic senate it is
not known what its tate Will be III
the House.
situation Changes.
u The situation has changed somcw what
in respect TO the Loriiner case. II now
looks as II there may be a vote during
the present session. senator Burrows,
chairman OF tho Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections has promised it,
4 ana tHcFe are >otNeFS VINO taNUr SEN
ator Lorimcr who deny that there is
any plan TO nlibustcI against such q
vote. As this matter is entirely IN
the hands OF the Senate and requires
no action by the House. any day before
March Will be sufficient for the re-
cording of the Senates decision as TO
whether Senator Lorimer is TO continue
AS a member OF the body.
Legislation TO put into force the
Canadian reciprocity agreement prob
ably VIII be greatly advanced during
the present week.
Many applications were received by
the Ways and Means Committee for
hearings but such hearings az are
granted probably will be disposed OF
by Thursday. The Mccall bill on the
subject may be reported out OF the
committee on the following day, and
a rule to permit consideration OF the
measure without amendment will be
brought in with little delay.
Many OF those who oppose the
reciprocity agreement In the House
conoede that II Will pass, but the Sit
nation In the Senate is not so favor
able. The upper house would not be
likely 70 permit the passage of a meas
IRE OF so much importance until after
opportunity was had for full debate
There Will be no chance for such de-
bate this session. Senate leaders, how
y q
snail be no extra session. Some OF
them fear that the calling of Congress
AFTER March 4 would arouse sentiment
throughout the country in favor Of
general revision of the tariff. These
Republican leaders say that the temper
OF the country at the present time is
such that a tariff revision session
might menace the principle OF protec-
tion Whether the influence Of the
President will weigh heavily enough
to cause the Senate 10 act upon the
reciprocity agreement is doubtful.
f'nUc,Is Is Called.
Some NJ the Democrats of the House
are believer TO be in favo.. of the
Canadian grcement. but to determine
this question absolutely a caucus ma
been called for Tomorrow night 20
frame pa.ty policy Win respect to
4 The question.
Ing in the Iolse. and as a result there
seems to he little chance for action
on the ship subsidy bill, Which passed
tile Senate Il few days ago
Colonel CioCthals, chairman Of the
Isthmian Canal Commission, arrived
here to-day, and will testify to-mor-
Tow befote the House Committee on
Appropriations as to the necessity OF
Certifying the Panama Canal. A ma
lortty OF the House is believer tc 90
n favor Of fortifcations, but 1t Is
likely that the question Will provoke
much debate.
Bringing Pressure Ia Bear ga
washington. ID. c.. February 6.-The
recently organized National Progress
Sive Republican League, thr ough Sena.