Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-02-28
CONGRESS ApJoURNs SATURDAY
Congestion Of Business at This Time
Is UNPARALLELED.


held in both branches Of congress be-
ginning yesterday, for only four and
half days remain to conclude for
midable legislative programme which
is in an unprecedented and almost
hopeless condition.
Without taking into consideration
the situation in the senate where there
is a 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 car
rying the advertising sections OF
magazines through the mails, there Is
a congestion of appropriation bills
that to some seem irremediable. The
urgent deficiency bill Is the only one
Of the fourteen general supply meas
ures that has become a law. The
situation respecting appropriation bills
Is as follows:
The Indian, legislative, army, the
District of Columbia bills have pass
ed both houses and are in confer
ence. All of these bills contain Items
Of dispute which present difficulties
The pensions, postoffice, agricul-
tural, naval, military academy, for
|tifcations, diplomatic and consular
and sundry civil bills have passed
the house but not the senate.
The general deficiency bill has no,
even come out Of the house com.
mittee on appropriations.
There remain to be passed by the
senate, therefore, the pensions, post
office, agriculture, naval, militar!
academy, fortifcations, diplomatic
and consular sundry civil and gener-
al deficiency bills. Not in the mem
ory Of any senator has there beer
such a congestion Of supply meas
ures, nor so many complications by
reason of other important business.
If the senate could devote the five
and a half days left Of the present
congress to the calendar, and II
speeches could be curtailed, senators
would not worry about the legislative
situation. Notices already have beer
given, however, of several speeches
on the subjects Of direct election OF
senators, Canadian reciprocity and
the Lorimer case. There Will De
speeches also on the subjects OF
magazine rates, fortifcations Of the
Panama canal and numerous other
controversial questions, which appear
in appropriation bills. Intense feel
ing was displayed during the last
week between the opposing factions IN
the Lorimer case and that Is certain
to create a deal of bitterness before
a vote Is taken upon 1t. The factlor
which supports Senator Lorlmer Is
determined that disposition shall be
made Of the case during the preseh'
session, but it Is evident that the an
ti-Lorimer forces will resist to the ut
most any attempt to take vote be-
fore they have concluded their argu-
ments.
The Mccall bill to carry out the
provisions of the Canadian reciproc-
ity agreement is on the calendar, ana
Senator Hale and others opposed 10
the agreement have made 1t clear
that they do not intend that any prior
rights shall be given to 1t because OF
the interest of President Taft In the
subject or for any other reason. IL
Is perfectly clear that a vote can De
prevented on the Mccall bill without
resort to filibuster. The only way
a vote could be obtained on the meas
ure would be the giving of assur-
ance, by a poll which could not De
doubted, that there were votes
enough to defeat 1t. The informal
polls tnal nave ueeii taheLi ,i''O . .
closed that the majority Of the senate
would vote to enact the Mccall DILL
There are several democrats who op-
pose the measure and an effort was
made to obtain promises from seven
others of the minority to stand with
the republican majority against the
measure. This effort failed but 1t
NAV be renewed at any time.
The Canadian bill has no champion
in the senate and this fact seems TO
preclude any possibility Of bringing II
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 1t Will De
convened April 4.