The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1913-07-18
CONGRESS TO SIT
AN ENTIRE YEAR?
Continuous Session Feared Be-
cause Of Currency Bill
HOPE LIES IN PRESIDENT.
Belief Expressed That Capitals Dog
Days Will Drive Wilson Away-Cur-
rency Bill to Pass House Easily, and
Fight Will Come In Senate.


Observation-Disclosures in congress
and the administration fear that the
present session of congress will run
into the late fall and possibly merge
with the session that will begin the
first Monday in December.
There are a few optimists, like Rep
resentative Hull of Tennessee, who see
no reason why congress should not
conclude it's labors by the middle of
October.
Representative Henry of Texas ex
pressed the opinion that congress prob
ably would remain in session cOntinu-
Ously until late in the summer of next
year. In the course of the debate in
the house of representatives Mann of
Illinois, the Republican leader, made
the remark that this session would con-
tinue until December.
Prophecies as to the duration of the
session are based on the theory that
congress will follow the recommends
ton of President Wilson and enact
banking and currency reform law.
Democratic leaders are in position
to force the passage of such measure
in the house, but in the senate, where
no clOture rule obtains, there is not any
way to cut off debate as long as sena-
tors want to talk. Senators have bro
ken long talking records in the past
currency debates, and fear is expressed
that not even the tOrrid atmosphere Of
the dog days or the humidity of the
early fall months will drive them away
from the job.
Many representatives and senators
have died as the result of exposure to
the extreme heat that attends Wash
ington summers. The weather here is
particularly severe on the elderly, and
there are many men Of advanced years
in both the house and the senate. This
is one of the causes Of concern on the
part Of the responsible leaders.
The currency bill is pending in the
house committee. Just how long it
will remain in committee "only the
Lord knows" to quote Chairman
GLASS;
Despite the restoration to the bill of
the provisions retiring the present ma
tional bank note circulation and re-
funding the per cent bonds, upon
which such circulation is based, there
are other questions that are bound to
take time in committee and on the floor
of the house.
1t is virtually certain that the bill
will no hU hn
early in August. Troubles unlocked
for are likely to arise that may delay
the passage of the bill until the middle
of August. Then will come the long
grind in the senate.
There is one contingency on which
members of congress are hanging their
hopes for an adjournment Immediately
after the passage of the tariff bill.
President Wilson has never spent a
summer in Washington. He has heard
all about the rigorS of the midsummer
weather of the capital, but the men,
bers declare that he will not appreciate
it fully until he has had actual expert
ence.
They are hopeful that when the tariff
bill is passed, probably about Sept. 1.
the president will consent to adjourn
ment and call congress in special ses-
sion in October to complete work on
the banking and currency bill before
the regular session begins.
1t is altogether likely that at the ap-
propriate time such a suggestion will
be made to the president