The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-15
Congress May Not Adj
journ Until Late in
Summer.
MEMBERS FESTIVE,
BUT 20 w ERLESS
Senator Swanson Serves Notice
That He Will Fight for Two
Battleships, and This May
Hold Lawmakers in
Washington Indch-
nitely.
ISnecinl 70 The Timcs- DIsnatch 1

Especial to The Times DispatCh.j
Washington. April twill Con-
gross finish its work and close up shop
before the presidential nominating
conventions. or will recess DO taken
before the time for the Republicans 60
meet In Chicago arrives sufficient to
give those who Wish to go to IL"
Windy City an opportunity to TO so,
and the same with regard TO the Dem
ocrats in Baltimore?
Up TO a short time ago there WAS
every indication that By the Tiudlc Of
Juno all work would i,avn been Jone,
the books and states OF this great
practical school of politics laid asf7e,
and the nothing doing" sign nung
conspicuously in Capitol rotunda and
committee rooms. The session has
changed considerably during the last
day or go. and now thera iz not a
man on Capitol Hill who will even
hazard a guess when Congress WILL
adjourn
In the HOUSE. where the Democrats
control, and where the political mi
crobc is probably working more dill
gently than in the Senate. there is
disposition to cut off legislation Just
soon as possible. Tho majority In
the House Is satisfied that so far as
practical legislation is concerned with
the exception OF a few appropriation
bills. everything has been done that
is necessary at this time. In the SEN
ate IL is different.
Senate sc-rcs Notice.
When the Senate smashed the Hay
military appropriation bill into bits
and repudated II. in effect declaring
that an appropriation measure was TO
vehicle upon which to hang rcor-
Ganization Of the great army OF the
United States. 1t unmistakahly gave
notice that the same thing would be
done with other bills which did not
meet Its ideas Of legislative procc-
.dnre. --s4-4--..s. sss3.4 --,.. !,
That the Hay bill got Its lambasang
IN the Senate Is no fault of the var
Ginia Representatives. He worked tong
ana faithfully to produce MEASURE
which he believed would be satis:ic-
tory. The question now Is what the
confcrccs Will do.
Senator Swanson has already noti-
fed his colleagues and other Interested
persons that he will not stand for me
work of the House caucus in de-
clarinE for no hattleships this yaar.
mo Democratic party Is pledged to
the maintenance of an adequate naval
program said Senator Swanson to-
day. "and to say that after being con-
sidered the third greatest fighting
force N the world we shall drop into
hfth place, Is simply ridiculous n my
HhNt expressed my
opposition to the position the House
has assumed on this question. 1t will
soon be UP to the Senate and snail
fight with all my power for two
ships"
MHy Hold Congress Indchnttciy.
This is another matter which irdl-
Gates that an carly adjournment is not
In sight. Senator Swanson, with
enough members of the Senate behind
him to force action, may be able TO
hold Congress acre almost indefinitely
unless a compromise is agreed upon.
The House members who took mart In
the caucus declare they will nor re-
verse their positions
There is not a NirEinian in Congress
hut who is putting his shoulder to the
wheel to get a good roads bill passed.
IL possible. ut t.is session. As mat
ter OF fact. Democrats and Republicans
alike, almost without exception and
from all parts OF tn country arr
clamoring for such legislation. and
tharA is a feeling that if anything is
to be done with such proposition
now is the time.
Congressman Lamb. chairman of the
House Committee on Agriculture.
which has been considering the sew
eral good roads bills presented 10 IT
for adoption, has prepared an exhaus-
tive report tho kind of bill which
he thinks Congress should pass.
There has always been a f,k,r OF
Federal cncroachment by passing such
bill as would give thc government
authority over the stats highways,
CONTINUED On Ninth Pagc)