The Washington times., 1912-04-08
WORKING TO HAVE
CONGRESS ADJOURN
WITHIN SIXTY DAYS
Certain Factions Hope to
Prevent Important Meas
ures Being Considered.

Powerful elements in Congress are
trying to force an early adjournment
with the aim of preventing the enact
ment OF important legislation on the
tariff, the trusts, labor and other
matters.
II these elements have their way,
Congress will be wound up speedily.
That is It will adjourn in about two
months and before the conventions at
Chicago and Baltimore. In winding up
at this early time, highly momentous
proposed legislation will be blocked,
and blocked not merely for this ses-
sion, but for this Congress, because the
short session of next winter will fol-
low the usual rule of being do
nothing session.
The Old Guard Republicans in the
Senate, led by Senator Penrose, as
chairman of the Finance Committee,
are working to the end of an early ad-
journment. They are getting not lit
tie aid, comfort, and support from
Democratic directions. Chairman Un-
derwood, of the House Ways and
Means Committee, is working for an
early adjournment, and some of the
Democratic Senators, especially those
of the protective tariff stamp, are eager
Want Real Action.
on the other hand, there is a strong
body of progressive Republicans and
progressive Democrats in the Senate
who, while not anxious to prolong the
session, are anxious to have certain
matters disposed of before Congress
quits. Many Of these men would pre-
fer to see Congress remain here all
summer than to see the session end with
nothing accomplished.
Under these circumstances, 1t Is con-
jectural whether Congress will adjourn
before the national conventions or
,,hcthcr the statesmen are In Tor
another summers hard, hot, swelterinS
work.
1t all depends on whether Senator
Penrose and the old guard Republicans
plus certain Democrats who habituaHy
lean toward them. are able 10 muster
votes enough to bring about an ad-
journment early in June.
If an early adjournment is forced 1t
will be for the purpose Of blocking tar
If revision lust as far as possible; for
The purpose Of bloekinF ia any yo,rg progress os
trusts and corporations, for the pur-
rose of hrading off important labor leg
islation, ami for the purpose, in
word. of continuing the Legislation OF
this session as nearly as possible to
the passage of appropriation 'measures.
Lorimer Case Up.
The Lorimcr case is pending before
the Senate and is being permitted 20
drag along. Suspicion is harhored in
ynany senatorial bosoms that Lorinler's $
friends will throw the decision of this
case over until next winter If they can.
lIowever. it seems unlikely this will oe
accomplished for the reason the op-
moments OF Lcrimer are determined to
force q vote and in showdown 1t VIII
not be easy to prevent one. Notice
Of the determination TO have vote
was practically given in the Senate the
other day by Senator Bristow when lie
arose to inunire when the report Of
the Iorjmcr committee would be in,
and said he. for one, did not want to
remain in washington another summer.
The Inference from this was that Sena-
tor P,istow and other progre ssives were
going to have a vote on Lorimer II
they had to have an Gll-Sunmer seS-
sion to bring it about,
Progressive Senators. both on the Re-
publican and the Democratic side, would
like to have votes on the steel bill, the
excise bill. the sugar bill. and the wool
bill. at least, before adjournment. In
addition to votes on these revenue or
tariff matters they want to DISPOSE of
the Loripter case. to settle the Panama
canal legislation involving the question
Of permitting railroads to own cum
peting lines of steamships, to make
some reasonable progress, at least i'll
committee, toward solution of the
question of what to do with the trusts
ana corporations, to pass the eight-hour
bill, and the workmen's compensation
bill and dispose of some other matters
en- the whole. putting through a COM
prshensive program of legislation.
Senate Is Listless.
The Senate, however, Is remarkably
NDtiess just now. Many Senators fec
that with a campaign coming on Con,
gress ought to wind up just as quickly
and do Just as little as possible. Pro,
, gressive Republicans and Democrats are
, not showing much enthusiasm about al
alliance on tariff. and while Senator
Martin, Democratic leader, has tolC
Senator Cummins that the Democrats
will unite with the progressive Repub
licans in passing steel bill, such 4
union Is coming to be regarded as II
some degree uncertain. either as to stee
or other tariff schedules.
One need not be at all surprised j
some day early in June Congress sud
denly resolves to lay down the hoe anC
quit. With the Democratic leaders, Of
many of them, both in House and Sen
ate, the chief concern seems to be to ge
the record in the best shape for th'
campaign that is possible, and let i
go at that regardless of Legislation
actually put through. This, of course
is> the position of the old guard Repub
ncan leaders. who proceed on the theor!