The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-02-07
CLOG IN CONGRESS.
DOubtif appropriation
ureS Get Through.
MORE EXTRA SESSION TALK
President Might Find Party Advan-
tage in Forcing Democrats to
Pass in Spring Upon His
Reciprocity Program.

Washington, Feb. 6.-The impress.
sion is growing deeper and deeper
about the capitol that an extra session
OF congress Is likely.
Moreover. while there has been a
quite pronounced feeling that Presi-
dent Taft would, II he called an ex-
ira session. hold OF until fall, the
view that he will call one in the spring
is finding stronger and stronger sup
port.
How firm a hold the belief that an
extra session is impending has gained
may be judged from the fact that a
leading house member said recently
he had given up an important bust
ness matter to which he had expected
to give attention the coming spring.
Expects Early Session.
He dill this In the belief that an
extra session would be called and
called early. RE came to his conclu-
sion that an extra session was to be
expected after talking with various
members Of the house, particularly
the men who are closest In the conf
dence Of the president.
The extra session probabilities pro-
coed from two sources, the White
House and the capitol On the one
hand. there has been much talk pro
ceeding from quarters close to the
president that he will not hesitate to-
call an extra session on Canadian re-
ciprocity.
On the other hand. business in both
the house and senate Is badly clogged
up, and It is beyond dispute that the
leaders in congress are at sea as to-
Whether they will be able to break the
jam and get the appropriation meas
ures through.
II the appropriation measures fail,
of course an extra session will be in
eyitable.
The house situation. with such i'm
portant appropriation measures as the
naval bill and the sundry civil bill
ahead, IS such that the rules commit
tee Is considering the reporting OF a
rule for the consideration of the ap-
preparation measures. This step is
seldom taken.
In view OF Senator Browns threat
to hold back the appropriation bills
unless votes are allowed-on the tariff
commission measure, on the Lorimer
case, on direct election OF senators
and on the service pension bill, there
is a good deal OF nervousness at the
senate end OF the capitol.
The leaders on the Republican side
say Senator Brown is bluliing. Sena /.
tor Brown SAYS he is in earnest. Any. /
how. the mere threat OF a filibuster
on the appropriation bills is so out
Of the ordinary that It has caused a
lot OF talk and has at least served to !
center attention more clearly than
ever on the way legislation in the ser
ate Is jammed up.
one reason why the belief Is grow
ing about the capitol that there is to
be an extra session and an early one
at that IS that Il looks like a chance
TO play big politics. and politics at
that which Is right in line with the
things he Is in earnest to accomplish
on Canadian reciprocity and the tarih.
The Democratic leaders do not want
an extra session called. least Of all
in the spring.
CLARK Against Session.
Champ Clark is opposed to an ex.
ira session in the spring, and has sc
advised the president. Mr. Clark's
idea Is that the ways and means com
mlttee ought to have time to look into
the tariff and see what ought TO be
done. President Taft is not anxious
to keep business stirred up through
the summer. On the other hand, there
is good reason to believe the presi
dent Is now on the popular side on the
tariff question.
His Canadian reciprocity agreement
is exciting widespread approval. And
he will presently turn over to con.
gress the report of the tariff board on
the wooden schedule. which. there Is
good reason to believe, will show that
reductions should be made.
1t is pointed out that the president
will have a popular tariff program to
put squarely up to the Democrats. II
they fail to pass it. the Democrats
will get the discredt and he will get
the credit
Moreover, from a political stand.
point, the president would have some
thing to gain for the Republicans be
getting the Democrats together early |
If they make blunders, these will have
time to soak into the public mand
and have their effect before the com.
ing presidential campaign and cleo
ton. If they do the things the admin
Istratlon wants on tariff, then 1t can.
not do the administration harm, but
only benefit.