Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-18
EXTRA SESSION
CALLED APRIL I
BY PRESIDE nj
Wilson Fixes First Monday
Of Next Month for Gath
ering Of Congress to Take
up Tariff Revision.

Washington, D. c., March 17.-Presi
dent Wilson today issued the formal
proclamation convening congress in
extra session at noon on April Z.
The presidents pronouncement to-
day was brief and followed from close
ly. It stated merely that whereas,
public interests request" congress
will be convened in extra session by
order of the executive.
Originally, Mr.. Wilson had fixd on
Tuesday, April !, Representative I'm
iderwood, the democratic majority lead
er, having informed him that the
tariff bills to which it was agreed con-
gress should give immediate attention
would be ready on that date. Mr.. I'm
derwood found, however, that the ways
and means committee would need an
other week to draft the tariff sched-
ules and today's proclamation is in
Difference to the wishes of Mr.. Under
wood and house leaders.
Will Deal With Tariff.
The absence Of any specific reason
explained by the fact that Mr.. Wilson'S
statement Immediately after his cleo
tion declared that he would call an
extra session to revise the tariff.
President Wilson plans to point out
specifically his wishes for the extra
session in his first message, in pre-
paration. This, it is known from talks
the president had had with members
of congress, will outline the admins
tration's idea of how the tariff should
be revised and just what schedules
should be taken up. The belief Is gen.
eral that the entire message Will be
taken up with discussion of the
tariff, with the exception of the last
or two, which will draw at
tention to the need of currency legis-
lation at the earliest possible moment
and will indicate the purpose of the
president to send later a special mes
sage on that or other subjects which
he believes should be taken up by the
new congress. The tariff plan will be
submitted first to caucus and then
directly to the house by the ways and
means committee. "The committee
will be ready to report by that time"
said Democratic Leader Underwood to-
day. "We have made headway and
there will be no trouble about report
ing the revised plan when the con-
gress convenes."
The majority of the ways and means
committee are taking up the admins
trative features of the new tariff.
These provisions relate to the variety
Of house routine and the efforts of the
democrats in changing the terms and
phraseology of the new administrative
section is to simplify and facilitate
the customs work both in the interest
Of the government and the importers.
A number of changes along that line
we're suggested by witnesses during
the tariff hearings in January.
There Will Be No Delay.
The tariff revision plan will be in
such condition that whatever form
the caucus determines upon can be re-
ported Immediately out of the commit
tee and the whole tariff discussion
opened up in the house with
out delay. There will be no attempt to
name all or even the bulk Of the house !
at the outset of the extra |
session, that being reserved under the !
present plan until toward the close of
he extra session so as to obviate any |
legislation until the regu-
ar session Of congress convenes in !
December. The ways and means COM
nittee personnel already has been de-
,ermined on in democratic caucus Of
he sixty-third congress and 1t will be
.atified by the house at the opening of
he extra session, when the commit
zee on rules, mileage and accounts
also will be named. Whether any other
committee will be created for doing
business at the extra session depends
IN developments between now and
April Z.