The Washington times., 1911-02-24
EXTRA SESSION NOW
THOUGHT INEVITABLE
Most Congressman Calculat-
ing on Resuming Work
Middle of March.
FILIBUSTERS ARE
BEGUN IN SENATE
Upper Branch Seems Disposed to
Postpone Action on Important
Measures.

An extra session OF congress IS
certainty, according to all the ipdica-
tions about the Capitol today. With
few exceptions, Senator's have given up
hope of getting a vote on the canadian
reciprocity agreement, and if this vote
is not reached, President Taft will un-
doubtedly call an extra session.
Most Senators and Representatives are
beginning now calmly to figure on an
extra session and expect 1t to begin
about the middle of March. While it
cannot be said that either Republicans
or Democrats want an extra session, it
has come to be pretty generally accept
ed that one is inevitable.
President Very Emphatic.
The talk that was for a time prevalent
that President Taft was blufting and
would not call an extra session if no
vote was reached on reciprocity, is but
little heard now. The President has
been 50 emphatic in the matter that
he can hardly be expected to retreat,
even in the face of the strong pressure
which some of the Republican leaders
have said would be brought upon him
to induce him not to call Congress to-
gether.
Perhaps never in the memory of any
man in Congress has national legisla-
tiOn been in a mere chaotic condition
than today, particularly in the Senate.
The House, by the adoption of "A gag
rule, is rushing through the appropria
ton bills and will doubtless get these
out of the way. But the Senate has
an enormous mass of business piled up
before it and yet with this congestion
of important business it is showing no
tendency to dispose of it.
Filibusters in Evidence.
On the contrary, it is clear that fill
busters are on to prevent votes on Ger
tain important matters and to throw
them over to the next session. These in
Clude:
The Lorimer case.
The Canadian reciprocity agreement.
The direct election OF Senators.
The Sulloway pension bill.
The tariff commission bill.
And to this there should probably be
added the Japanese treaty, which has
stirred up unexpected opposition. More
over, unless the amendment to the post
office appropriation bill. providing for
Increased postage for the magazines, is
Withdrawn, there is not much doubt it
sion of Congress.
1t frequently happens as a short ses-
sion of Congress nears the end that a
flibusteT should be on to prevent a vote
on some important measure, but il is sell
dom that 80 many important measures
are being blocked by Senators who are
willing to make a last ditch fight to
prevent them coming to a vote.
Lorimer Case See-Saw.
The situation in the Lorimcr case is
peculiar. For weeks, Senator Burrows
blocked a vote because it was apparent
that if vote we're had Lorimcr would
be ouSted. Now that the Lorimcr sup
portcrs in the Senate think they have
the votes to win and able him 10 keen
his seat, the anti-LorimCr Senators are
showing disposition to hold back. Sen
ator B.veridge occupied the floor most
Of yesterday afternoon and, at the close
OF his remarks for the day, Senator Bur
rows tried to get day fixed for a vote,
but WAS unsuccessful.
Senator Beveridge announced he would
resume today. lie expects to conclude
by 3 O'clock
The situation as to reciprocity has
been further complicated by the passage
in the Senate OF the Cummins resulH-
tion, calling on the President for the in |
formation the tariff board has on |
various schedules. Much comment has
been aroused because Senator Hale ap- |
proved the course of Senator Cummins |
in calling for this information Senator |
Hale is opposed to the reciprocity ar |
rangement, and he is welcoming any as
sistanCe in the effort TO stave off a I
vote. In the prospect that Cummins /
will SrcSent various amendments. ScDa- |
tor I Ile sees a method whereby a we !
Can easily be prevented through pro- |
longatiOn of discussion.