The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-07
Decides to Read Mes
sage Before Senate
and House.
OLD PRECEDENT
is DISREGARDED5
First Time Since John Adams
That Chief Executive Has
Appeared Officially Before
Either Branch of Congress.
Statesmen Gasp at Bold
ness of Wilson'S Move.
GBy Associated Press. ]


Washington, April G.-Setting
aside precedents of more than a CEN
tury, President Wilson will appear in
the halls of Congress on Tuesday to
deliver his first legislative message
In person. He announced to Demo-
cratic congressional leaders tonight
that he would go to the floor OF the
House when 1t convened Tuesday
and there give that body and the
Senate, in joint session, his views
on the tariff.
This decision of the President
evoked much comment among the
congressional leaders. He will be
the first President of the United
States to appear officially before
either branch of Congress in deliber>
ative session since John Adams, In
the first few years or the last CEN
tury. AN attempt was made exactly
100 years ago, i'm 1913, to revive
the custom, but President Madison
declined an Invitation to discuss
foreign relations with the Senate.
Since then no President has even
suggested joining in the delibera-
tions OF Congress.
President Wilson made his plans
known to Majority Leader Under
wood, of the House; Representative
A. Mitchell Palmer, OF Pennsylvania.
and the other House Democratic
leaders, that they might prepare for
the event
The President believes that he can
get In closer touch with the mem
bers Of both houses of Congress by
personally expressing his views to
them. In addition to his official
visits to the House, which will be-
come a matter of White House pol-
Icy, the President VIII take adyan-
tage OF these visits to hold confer
ences with the party leaders in Con-
gress.
Fraught With Embarrassment.
The President has been told by his
friends that such procedure is
fraught with EN- mbarrassments, unless
ne tactfully keeps to his purpose
merely OF giving advice as the leader
OF his party and Offering suggestions
to those with whom he confers.
Those who have discussed this with
him say he is convinced that Con-
gress will not misunderstood his in
tentions; that he will go to the Capt.
tol In spirit OF friendly co-opera-
ton, so that there may be at all
times n unanimity OF purpose be-
tween the executive and the legisla-
tive departments.
The President, 1t was learned to-
day. has read with considerable sur
prise reports that he had actually
written parts Of the tariff bill. or
that he had forced agreements with
committees of Congress. He de-
clared he simply had been asked to-
make suggestions, and had cheer
fully done so; that the bill is the
work of Congress. and that his part
in 1t has been that of counselor and
adviser 1t Is known, too, that the
President Is anxious 60 give equal
consideration to the leaders in both
houses OF Congress in seeing that
party pledges are carried out.
Both houses OF the Sixty-third
Congress will get down to business
in extraordinary session tomorrow
confronted by the task of revising
the tariff The Democratic tariff
bill completed by the Democrats of
the Ways and Means Committee
probably will be introduced In the
House shortly after it convenes at
noon.
The Senate has already organized
for the new Congress, and its ses-
Immediately afterward, however; q
Democratic caucus will be held,
when the fight to revise the Senate
rules to liberalize proceedings In
the upper body will begin. This
matter will occupy the Senate dur
ing a part of the time that the House
busies itself with weeks of tariff
debate.
Many New Members.
When the House convenes in It's
changed chamber. where benches
have taken the place of the old-time
desks and chairs, the members, in
cluding hundreds of new Represen-
tatives elected last fall. will be
sworn in. Clerk South Trimble will
be the presiding officer until the
seats have been filed and a Speaker
elected. The Democrats, following
lneir caucus decision, will renomi-
nate and re-elect Speaker Champ
Clark. The Republicans will nomi-
nate Representative Mann, OF Illi-
noi3, and the Progressives. the new
party organization. will nominate
Representative Murdoch, OF Kansas.
The Progressives may precipitatc
trouble at the first fall OF the gavel,
IL they carry out plan to demand
the seating of William j. Macdonald
In place OF Representative IL. Olin.
Young, of the Twelfth Michigan Dis
trict, when the roll of members-elect
is called. 1t Is considered unlikely,
however, that the Progressives viii
be recognized to open tho contest on I,
Mr.. Young at that time.
After the election OF the Speaker
and the organisation OF the House
x,rItY ~ - n AI.- IL.