The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-03-03
IMPORTANT BILLS
HAVE LITTLE HOPE
With But Four And Half Days to Go,
Both Houses Are in Hopeless
Wrangle.

Washington, D. c., Feb. 27.-Day
and night sessions probably win be
held in both branches of congress be-
ginning today, for only four and half
days remain to conclude a formidable
legislative programme in an unpre-
eedented and almost hopeless condi-
ton.
Without taking into consideration
the situation in the senate, where there
is filibuster against taking votes on
the Canadian reciprocity agreement,
the permanent tariff board bill and the
Lorimer case to say nothing of the
proposition to raise the rates for carry
ing the advertising of magazines
through the mails, there is a conges-
ton of appropriation bills that seems
irremedial. The urgent deficiency bill
is the only one of the fourteen general
supply measures that has become a
law.
The situation respecting appropria-
tion bills is as follows;
The Indian, legislative, army and
District of Columbia bills have passed
both houses and are in conference. All
of these bills contain items of dispute
which present difficulties.
The pensions, postoffices, agriculture
naval, military academy, Notifications,
diplomatic and consular and sundry
civil bills have passed the house, but
not the senate
The general deficiency bill has not
even come out of the house commit
tee on appropriations.
There remain to be passed by the
senate. therefore, the pension, post
Office, agriculture, naval, Military acad-
envy, Notifications, diplomatic and con-
|sular, sundry civil and general de.
ficiency bills.
If the senate could devote the five
and half days left of the present
congress to the calendar, and if
speeches could be curtailed, senator's
would not worry about the legislative
situation. Notices already have been
given of several speeches on the sub
1ects of direct election of senators,
Canadian reciprocity and the Lorimer
case. There also will be speeches on
magazine rates, Notifications of the
Panama canal and numerous other con
troversial questions.
Intense feeling was displayed last
week between the opposing factions in
the Lorimer case and that is certain
to create bitterness before vote is
taken. The faction which supports
Senator Lorimer is determined that
disposition shall be made of the case
at this session, but it is evident the
anti-Lorimer forces will resist any
attempt to take vote before they
have concluded their arguments.
The Mccall bill, to carry out the pro
visions of the Canadian reciprocity
agreement, is on the calendar and Sen
ator Hale and others opposed to the
agreement have made it clear that they
do not intend that any prior rights
shall be given to it because of the
interest of President Taft or for any
other reason. It is perfectly clear that
a vote can be prevented on the Mccall
bill without resort to a filibuster
The only way a vote could be OBJ
tanned on the measure would be the
giving of assurance by a poll which
could not be counted, that there were
votes enough to defeat it.
The informal polls that have been
taken have disclosed that a majority
of the senate would vote to enact the
bill There are several democrats who
oppose the measure and an effort was
made yesterday to obtain promises
from seven others of the minority to
stand with the republican majority
against the measure This effort fail
ed, but it may be renewed at any time.
The Canadian bill has no champion
in the senate, and this fact seems to
preclude any possibility of bringing it
to a vote. Senate and house leaders
have become reconciled to the idea of
an extraordinary session and there is
little doubt that one will be called by
President Taft and that it viii be con-
vened on April 4.