The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-25
President-Elect Wilson
Fixes Date for Open
ing Of Congress.
GENERAL POLICY
NOW MAPPED OUT
Number of Tariff Bills Ready for
Consideration as Soon as Law
makers Assemble-Currency
Reform to Receive I'm
mediate Attcntion-Kern
Slated as Senate Leader.

Trenton, y. J.. February 2A-Prcsi-
dent-Elect Wilson announced to-day
that the extra session of Congress
| would be convened on Tuesday. April
!. The Governor declared he had ar
rived mt this decision as q result Of
Ativc Underwood.
Il have waited said Mr.. Wilson. Ito
learn just what state OF preparedness
Congress was in for the now session."
The Governor said he had corre-
spondcd with Mr.. Underwood in this
connection and had come to the con
clusion that April ] was the most
feasible date. lie intinatcd that the
intervals between March 4 and April
might be devoted to caucuses and con-
Two editors OF a Well street news
paper called on the President t-clcct to-
day and urged that financial questions
receive his earliest consideration. on
discussing his talk with them after
ward. Mr. Wilson said:
Everybody is agreed that there
should be currency reform as soon as
possible"
Bryan SnId tn Hnvc Accepted.
Especial To The Times Dispa tch.l
Trenton. y. j.. February 24.-Thc
news cmanating from President Elect
Wilson and his friends to-day may he
summed up aS follows:
William j. Bryan has accepted the
sccretaryship of state.
The extraordinary Hcssfon Will be
called 10 convene Tuesday. April ].
The President t-elect favors citizen
ship for Porto Ricsns.
lie also favors n workingmen's COM
pcnsation act
The President elect has no appoint
mcnt TO confer with Secretary of War
! Stimson on the Mexican situation.
The statement that Mr.. Bryan has
sent his official acceptance of the gee
retaryship of state to Mr.. Wilson comes
from the very highest authority. It
may be almost regarded Il semi
Official announcement. though it was
not given out as such et
1t Is believed that the statement is
made preuaturely for the purpose of
disposing OF the stories OF trouble be-
tween Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. Bryan which
recently have been persistent The
President elect some time ago barred
questions concerning the Cabinet, so
he was not asked to verify the state
ment.
Gomp.rs Urges Wilson.
Samuel Gonipers, president OF the
American Federation OF Labor, had
f-hour conference with Mr. Wilson.
at which Mr. Gompers submitted the
name of former Congressman William
-. Wilson, of Pennsylvania, for the
position OF secretary OF the depart
ment of labor. if such n department
is created. Mr. Gompers said he felt
that the bill now being considered by
Congress would become n law. II it
does. Congressman Wilson Is not
urged for any other position in the
Cabinet. Mr.. Gompers said lie also
discussed with the President-c cleo, the
status Of labor in Porto Rico. and that
MIR. Wilson expressed himself in favor
of workingmcn's compensation act
and Of citizenship for the Porto Ricans.
| The Prcsident-elect afterwards con-
firmcd this, saying:
II expressed myself in favor OF a
worktngmen's compensation act with
this reservation. that I had not read
the bill now before Congress, but that
am In favor OF the general principle
Inc same is true OF citizenship for
the Porto Ricans. ! am in favor OF
the general principle of that"
AT the dinner of the legislative cor
respondents here last week, the Pres
ident-ciect, In speech, made some
reference to the big things he was
considering. He was asked tonight
TO elucidate this remark He said:
II am thinking of a feasible method
OF currency reform. and or the exact
provisions that are TO go into tariff
reform. Then my thought of the per-
sonncl OF the administration is TO get
me best force. impetus and snap into
II so that 1t will be a group Of fellows 9
that will do team work"
The Presdcnt-elect characterized as
without foundation the report that
Secretary OF War Stimson Is to CON
fer with him on the Mexican situa-
tion. The report from Washington
said that Colonel Thomas IT Birch
OF Burlington. who is personal aide TO
Governor Wilson. had arranged the
conference and would convey Mr..
Stimson's acceptance here to-day.
Colonel Birch was here to-day"
said Mr.. Wilson, II did not see him be
cause he went right over 10 Prineeton
to hand tickets for the Inauguration
to Mrs. Wilson. But he has no such
message from Washington"
Date Generally Approved.
tro wash,hgton; aslsinn N; February rEebruary 2!..The ex
dent Elect Wilson to-day announced
would be called to meet April /. will
find number of tariff bills ready for
Its immediate consideration and other
general policies mapped out for the new
administration. The date received gem
eral approval in Congress-
The letter from Democratic Leader
Underwood. upon which Mr. Wilson
based his decision to convene the ses-
sion April L. was sent after members
OIL tne WHyS anu MedHS committee had
agreed that IT would be possible to
perfect several Of the tariff bills by
that time.
Members or the committee to-day
predicted that these measures would
consume less than month in pass
Ting the House, and that there would
be no marked division of opinion in
the committee over the preparation OF
any of the bills.
The caucus OF Democratic House
members March 5 Is expected to con-
firm, to serve again, all hold-over
Democrats bow on the Ways and
Means Committee and to flll Demo
cratic vacancies caused by retirement