The Washington times., 1913-03-24

The extra session of the Sixty-third
Congress meets two weeks from TO-DAY
aid il is apparent that il Will not be
cut-and-dried affair. Log-rolling over
the tariff bill is already under way,
there's a row brewing over committee
assignments two distinct party organi-
"a ations have developed on the minority
side of the House, and there are so
MANY factions demanding concessions in
the scheme of tariff revision that the
President himself is going to take
hand as harmonizer.
Indications are that the tariff bill,
when II is read from the clerks desk in
the House. will be an Administration
measure. President Wilson will renew
his conferences this week with leaders
of the Senate and House, and the Chief
Executive is committed to the plan of
threshing out differences beforehand
rather than after a tariff measure is
passed.
Wants Harmony In Advance.
The President fully realizes that his
Administration may be made or unmade
by the tariff-witness what the Payne
law did to Mr. Taft and the party-and
Mr.. Wilson is going so far as to do his
talking about the tariff bill before 1t is
made public instead of afterward.
In other words, while II is a little
unusual the President is scheduled to
stand behind the tariff bill reported
into the House just as he was behind
certain measures brought into the New
Jersey Legislature while WOODROW
Wi,nou was governor. II tne Woru rs
passed along that the tariff bill Is an
Administration measure, that the Pres,
ident has approved its essentials anu
is willing to stand or iall upon tEe
JTnde rwood bill, the announcement VIII
bring many of the recaic'trant Demo-
Gratis into line. :.
While II is not Officially admitted, It
is believed that the President VIII go
over all the controverted items IN the
ia riff measure and that WITHIN the next
day or so he will have in his possession
a copy of the rough drait Oh 'iie oii'
Expect Long Session.
Democrats on the whole expect
long session, even If nothing save the
tariff is considered, and the prospects
are that there will be a bit of general
legislation, despite the. general under
standing that IT is to be tariff ses-
sion. Majority Leader Underwood thinks
the tariff bill will be out of the way
July /, while Speaker Clark, recount
ing the history of extra sessions, pre-
diets an August adjournment.
While the tentative draft of the tarin
bill has been completed, loG-rolling In
the Ways and Means Committee ana
among the House factions is still in
progress. There is said to have been
a fancy bit of maneuvering. for in
stance, in the consideration of the agri-
cultural schedule dealing with the So
called farm products.
Will Placate Farmers.
Members from the agricultural States
of the West have been SO loud in their
protests regarding the proposed free
listing of all farm products that COM
promise is under way, and the farmer
will be given what amounts to protec-
ton on a few of his products.
On the other hand, meat is going on
the free list, but somehow the Ways
and Means Committee overlooked cattle.
The duty on cattle is to remain fairly
protective one, much to the delight Of
Congressman John Garner, the Texas
member of the. committee. who rehelled
against the idea that Texas pastures
should be overrun with foreign cattle
crossing the border duty free
There are also reliable reports that
lemons are to be free listed, at the in
sstence of Congressman Francis Bur-
ton Harrison of New York, while the
duty on oranges will be slashed about
SO per cent Democrats and Republ!-
cans from States growing citrus fruits
are much wrought up over this PROS
pect. and are rushing over to the SEN
ate to see II something may not be
done there
Free lemons and cheaper oranges are
depended upon to reduce the cost of liv-
ing, but the Californians and Floridians