The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-27
CONGRESS- FACES
 STRENUOUS WORK 'earful Congestion of Ap-
 propriation Bills IS ALMOST HOPELESS With Filibuster in Senate and Many Cnaachoc on nabafad SuhipcfS
IS ALMOST HOPELESS
With Filibuster in Senate and Many Speeches on Debated Subjects Congress Has But Five
 Days Remaining

Washington, February 26--Day and night sessions probably will be held in both branches of congress beginning tomorrow for only five and half days remain to conclude a formidable legis- lative programme. which is in unpre- cedented and almost hopeless condition.
 Without taking into considera ton the situation in the senate where there is fllibuster 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 mag azines through the mails, there Is a congestion of appropriation bills that to some seems irremediable. The urgent deficiency bill is the only one of the fourteen general supply measures that has become a law. The situation re- specting appropriation bills is as fol- lows:
 The Indian, legislative. army and District of Clumbia bills have passed both houses and are in conference. All of these bills contain items of dispute WiliCIl pItSeHl
 The pensions. postoffice. agriculture. naval, military academy, Qualifications, 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 committee on appropriations.
 line to b,r ha Senate the pensions, postoffice, agri- culture, naval. military academy, forti- flcations, diplomatic and consular sun dry civil and general deficiency bills. Not in the memory of any senator has there been such a congestion of supply measures nor so many complications by reason of other important business.
 If the Senate could devote the five and half days left of the present con gress to the calendar and if speech es could be curtailed senators would not worry about the legislative situation. Notices have already been given, how ever, of several speeches on the sub jects of direct election of senators, Canadian reciprocity and the Lorimer case There will be speeches also on the subjects of magazine rates, forti- fication of the Panama canal and num- erous other controversial questions which appear in appropriation bills Intense feeling 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 it. The faction which supports Senator Lorimer is determined a 1icpnxifion uh ha Ja of tLo during the present session, but it is evi- dent that the anti-Lorimer forces will resist to the utmost any attempt to take a vote before they have concluded argu- n.ents they have in mind
 The Mccall bill to carry out the prn- visions of the Canadian reciprocity agree ment Is on the calendar and Senator Hale and others opposed to the agreement have made 1t clear that they do not intend that any prior rights shall be given to it be- cause of the interest of President Taft in the subject or for any other reason. It is perfectly clear that vote can be pre- vented on the MeCall bill without resort to a filibuster. The only way a vote could be obtained on the measure would be the giving of assurance, by poll which could not be doubted. 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 Mccall bill. There are several democrats who oppose the measure and an effort was made yesterday to obtain promises from seven others of the mi nority to stand with the republican ma : jority against the measure This effort failed, 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 if will be convened on April l.