The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-08
Leaders in Congress I'M
patient at Senate's
Inaction.
LITTLE HEADWAY
H AS BE EN- MADE
c IN Fl d ence Expressed That
Decks Can Be Cleared and Ad-
jonrnment Had Before Ma
tional Conventions in June.
Plans Being Laid to
Push Tariff Bills.

Washington, April 7.-Senators and
Representatives are becoming i'm
patient over the Scnatcs delay on the
tarlff appropriation and other import
ant legislation. but the leaders, fgur-
Ing that the way can be cleared quick
ly on emergency. express confidence
that Congress can adjourn before the
national conventions In June.
Republican Leader Pcnrose has
steel bill shall be called up week aft
ter next, made the unfinished busi-
ness. and prompt action taken on all
pending bills in order to facilitate ad
tournment. The Finance Committees
adverse report on the steel bill al
ready is before the Senate, and the
minority report, standing for the
Democratic House measure, Will be-
framed at meeting OF Democratic
leaders in day or two.
The progressive Republican iron and
steel revision bill, which Senator
cummlns Is drafting. will make wha,
he calls quite reduction" from the
present tariff. but not enough to COM
mapd the first vote Of the Democratic
Senator'S, who later. however, may
Join the progressive Republicans on
the Cummins proposition.
The Appropriation BILE.
While the House has passed nine ap-
preparation bills. with SIX yet to como
In from committees. the Senate has
acted on but one-thc urgent deficiency
OIL, which became a law in December.
The workmen's compensation bill,
framed by the Federal Employers
Liability Commission, Will be brought
Up in the Senate to-morrow. when SEN
ator Chamberlain. of Oregon, will
speak on 1t. Following his speech
Senator Owen. OF oklahoma. will urge
Federal CO. operation In building roads.
me post-officc appropriation bill,
which the House will dispose of this
week, will precipitate Il spirited and
prolonged debate because of radical
DISAGREEMENT over It's provision for cs-
tahlishing parcels post system. Most
of the Democrats, however favor the
parcels post. The Democratic leaders
are planning to pass the bill with that
provision retained and the Rules COM
mittec IS prepared to bring in spc-
cial rule to meet the expected objection
that the parcels post provision is new
legislation and therefore. not ger
name to regular appropriation bill.
The advocates OF antitrust legsln-
ton during the present session of Con-
gress arc determined to press the ques-
ton. The immediate difficulty lies in
getting q bill out of sh5 Senate Com
mittee on Interstate Commerce. where
several measures are pending, AL
though Senator Clapp, n progressive
Republican, is chairman of the com
mIttee. a majority of its members are
opposed to further legislation ut this
time. and they have contrived to pre-
vent action upon any of the bills
Members Fall to Attend.
The committee is composed of six
teen members. making nine necessary
to transact business The committee
has been holding almost constant meet
ings since the middle OF last Novem-
Der, but most of them have been for
conducting hearings, and it Is claim
ed that at mono of them has there been
quorum in attendance. The effect
of this nonattendance has been toI
prevent action.
To meet that difficulty Senator Cum
Minis, also a Republican progressive
procured tho adoption OF a resolution
at the last meeting constituting scvenl
mombers as a quorum, but after that
action had been taken question was
raised as TO the legality OF so small n |
quorum and II has become necessary to |
determine this point before proceed |
ing to the consideration of the bills |
before the committee. Seven members |,
of the committee are known To favor /
Legislation, and if the Cummins reso- |
luton stands they Will be able to forceI
action.
II the supporters OF this legislation
succeed In getting bill out OF the
committee, even with an adverse re- |
port. they Will insist upon thorough
consideration by the Senate, with the
possibility of prolonging the session.