The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-10
WILSON WILL TAKE
/ HAND IN FRAMING
NEWLEG|SLAT|ON
Proposes to Work Over I'M
p0rtant Measures With
Party Leaders
TO DISCOURAGE
INDIVIDUAL BILLS
Will Endeavor by Conference With
Leaders to Direct Efforts of Con-
gress Toward Keeping the
Party's Pledges

Washington. March 9-President Will
son will take hand himself in framing
legislation with the new Congress. With
the cooperation of party leaders in the
House and Senate he proposes to worl,
over tariff, currency and other important
measures even before they are introduced
and to lend the weight'o the administra-
ton to the support of the bills.
This information and the fact that the
President will endeavor in forwarding his
policies to use personal persuasion not
only with members OF his own party but
with progressive republicans who are
irclined to be friendly, came today from
those who have talked with him since
Ills inauguration.
The President does not plan to draft
legislation, but expects by suggestion and
conference to come to an agreement upon
specific measures with the party leaders.
1t has not been determined whether cur
rency will be taken up at the special ses-
sion. 1t was learned today that when
the President believes the time is ripe
for such legislation he will call into con-
ference such men as Representative Glass
of Virginia, head of the subcommittee
that has been Investigating currency
questions. to agree upon the outline of
bill that would have administration
backing.
Discourage Individual Bills
Such process the President believes
would discourage the flood of Individual
bills usually offered when reform legisla-
tion is undertaken and would concentrate
the efforts of party leaders toward some
nf In faf
discussion This method, it is also be-
lieVed in some quarters, would have the
effect of steadying the nervous system OF
the business world when subjects 50 vital
as the tariff and currency are being re-
vised
Congressional leaders practically are
agreed upon the suggestion that no sub
5ect but the tariff should be taken M in
the special session. A1anv House Leaders
even 6oubt the advlsahility Of Minsirg
| in currency bill near the end of the OK
tra session. as has been suggested 10 tao
| President by the advocates of immediate
currency reform The Presidents idea
was that a currency bill might be evolved
by that time and submitted to the fIouse
without detraeting from the attention then
lcentering on the tariff. He has been OF
the belief that in the interval between the
extra session and the December session
| of Congress, a campaign of discussion
could be carried on to crystalize public
opinion. Leaders Of Congress agree that
such a campaign of education must pre-
cede the actual process of currency re-
vision.
President Wilson'S plan as to legislation
liz not necessarily to insist on the strict
acceptance of administration measures as
such. But he will endeavor to secure the
accomplishments OF legislation with the
aid Of the democratic leaders that will
express fully the fixed purposes of the
administration
Has Support of Leaders
4 part of the Presidents plan. and IA
this he has the support of many House
leaders, is to keen the eyes OF the nation
on one particular measure at a tine
This was his line of procedure as COVER
nor OF New JERSEY in pushing through the
seven antitrust bills.
The President is expected to consult
with House leaders this week over the
form of some of the tariff revision bills.
The newly designated members of tie
ways and means committee have been at
work for two days and will continue
throughout next week on the proposition
of these measures
President Wilson already has made a
study of some Of the tariff bills Of the
last two sessions and Secretaries Red
field and Bryan are also thoroughly IA
miiiar with recent democratic work on
the tariff. Before any of the measures
are ready for presentation TO the House
they will have received the studious ex-
animation of the President and his cabi-
net. The ways and means committee is
now giving attention 10 the possible ef-
feet of the tariff reductions ON business
prosperity The Presidents desire TO
have currency reform undertaken as ear
ly as possible springs from the belief that
a flexible currency system is necessary to
meet the physical changes in business
resulting from changes in tariff rates
Anticipates Little Difficulty
While the President anticipates but
little difficulty on the prompt movement
of tariff measures through the House. no
is somewhat solctous over the situation
in the Senate where the democratic ma
jority is small preliminary canvass in
the Senate has developed the fact that
many democrats of that body viii favor
more radical cuts in some of the tariff
duties than they did in the last Con-
gress. The extent to which the House
bills viii receive. united democratic SUR
port is not yet certain however.
The early acquisition of democratic sem
ators from New Hampshire aud Illinois.
where deadlocks are In progress is being
counted upon by the President. The
President and his close friends in the
Senate are confident. too. that IL pro-
gressive legislation is drafted progressiFe
republican assistance can he secured suf-
ficient to make up any possible losses in
the democratic column.
When conferences with congressional
leaders begin at the White House this
week II Is anticipated that the advice OF
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