New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-07
Legislative Circles Flurried at
Breaking of Precedent ES.
tabIiShed by Thomas
Jefferson.
FROM ROSTRUM OF HOUSE
If Senators Desire to Hear
Tariff Pronouncement They
Must Drop in Informally
Back to George Wash
ington's Custom.
IF-om Tie Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington. April G-For the i'tst
time in more than a hundred years a
President Of the United states will in
person present and read his message
To the Congress on Tuesday. President
Wilson has informed Representative
leaders that he will read his tariff
message in the House chamber. -hus
breaking a precedent established by The
founder of Democracy, Thomas Jeiter-
son. who initiated the plan Of sending
messages by messenger
George Washington and John Adams
were accustomed in the earlier days o.
the Republic to visit the halls of Con
gress and read their messages. When
Jefferson became President. in 1901, he
discontinued the practice. and from
that dav to this a White House ms
scngcr OF an assistant secretary 10 the
President has delivered certain ncs-
sagcs in writing"
NJ. Wilson's announcement that he
would personally visit the House aui
read his message from the Speakers
rostrum joltcd legislative circles here
tonight. Tho present plan Is that tie
President viii address himself only 10
the House. and incidentally TO such
Senators as informally visit the House
chamber upon the occasion. II .he
President 50 desires. however, a resO-
luton may be introduced IN both
houses calling for a joint session.
Senate May Hold Aloof.
Certain senators are not entirely en-
,husiastic over the smashing of Ia
other time honorod precedent, ana
thtre are grave misgivinss over ne
fate resolution Of this character
would meet in the upper body.
When the two houses arc called To OF
der at noon tomorrow notification
committees will be appointed TO inform
the President that the Congress has
convened ana is waiting 10 receive any
communication which the Executive
has To- offer President Wilson will tell
the senate and House notification COM
mittees that he will have "a message 10
transmit. but that he will bring such
message an person. instead Of sending it
by messenger
As soon as tie Senate and House
meet on Tuesday the committees viii
report in substance that we have
called upon the President OF the United
states and Informed him that the Con-
fress is ready To receive any message
he may have for IT, The President has
notified your committee that he will
have n certain message, which lac VIII
present in person
This ceremony over there viii be
furry in the Speakers lobby, and Pres
idcnt Wilson will appear in tho cham
Der and proceed to the rostrum. where
he will read his l2oO-word tariff mes
sage
II is not believed that the President
will suggest a formal joint session of
tho senate and House, although an at
tempt will bc made 10 carry out such "A
programme If the President insists
when the notification committee calls
tomorrow. Individual members of the
Senate viii be at liberty To visit the
House chamber during the novel cere-
monial. but the prospects are that since
tariff legislation originates in the House
that body alone ill bc selected as the
place for the appearance of the EXecu-