The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-14
Administration Has an Ambi-
tious Program Cut Out
for Legislators
NEXT SESSION WILL
BE BUSY ONE ALSO
House and Senate Are Very
Close Together on Tariff
Rates---Wilson Shout
der to the Wheel

WASHINGTON, July 13.--Like the
mower who rests upon his scythe
handle at the end of the swath and,
mopping the perspiration from his
brow. contemplates the uncut field be-
fore him, your congressman pauses
these days to look about him and view
the legislative landscape DER.
Here they've been in session since
the first Monday in last December,
barring the interval between March
4th and April 18th, and the prospect
Is they will be at 1t for couple of
months more. anyhow Whenever they
do adjourn they will hardly get set
tied down at home before they will
have to pack up to come back in
December for another long spell.
For there is an ambitious program
cut out for the new administration.
a large section of II devolvent upon
congressional action. Revising the
tariff Is but portion OF IL. There is
legislation upon various subjects to
be passed, in order that the admins
tration may fulfill the pledges of the
Democratic platform SO earnestly
registered year ago.
Bound to BE Busy Session.
Assuming that currency will he
acted upon at this session. there re-
main changes in the Interstate COM
merce law. In the antitrust law. in
labor laws. In immigration laws. in
judiciary questions. in relations with
oversee possessions and thousand
and one other matters. Then there
are public buildings, river and har-
Dor improvements and other pork
barrel items of legislation. The
regular session lis bound to be busy
one.
No one finds fault with the tariff
legislation 50 far an IL has pro-
creased. The nash-in- the pan pre-.
liminary work OF the last heuse--in
session with a Republican senate and
a Republican president--made the
tariff task easier. The house passed
II with record speed. Neither is there
unfavorabIe comment upon the action
of the senate. 1t is said that only
the elaboration consistent with the
dignity OF that body can be alleged
against the consideration OF the hill
by the committee on finance.
A lively and very practical incen-
tive to speedy conclusion of the tariff
IL said To he found In the action OF
the senate in not only refraining from
advancing the rates of the house bill,
but actually falling under them in
the average.
Is Novel Experience.
This is a novel experience in tariff
tinkering. Usually the delay has oc-
Cured by the senate advancing the
eeem. as II always hoists the appro-
priation bills. The differences be
tween the house and senate rates
have in the past led to long struggles
between the two bodies in conference,
delaying final action.
But now the house and senate are
go close together on the rates that
congressional experts think IT win he
possible to get together quickly In
conference. A very little compro-
mise. giving here and taking there.
would bring nine-tenths of the dis
puted items into concurrence. 1t Is
said
The bill is now in the senate and
there is nothing to do but talk about
It. although the tariff has almost been
talked threadbare. It is said, In the
past four years The debate on the
Payne-Aldrich bill in 1903 was ex-
haustive. Then followed the debate
In both houses on Canadian reciproc-
ity, which covered a wide range.
Then there was the debate In the
house in the last congress on the
full schedules.
Long Debate Expected.
II any one can find anything new
% be said about the tariff he will be
q wonder to the veterans about con-
Gress but. OF course, there are the
new senators who haven't had their
fling. AMI a full six-week debate Is
expected In the senate. The Republic
cans are not lining M for much of
struggle They realize the inevita-
Die. and. more than that. they want
the Democrats to hurry up and do
their worst. Al, that the expected re-
action may set m
There will he some mighty disap-
pointed Republicans In congress II
that reaction slips A cog and doesn't
set In. They are stalking their all
upon It. They've got to draw to NIL
and II they don't draw the right cards
they feel that they'd might as well
throw their hands in the discard and
cash in.
Both political participation, all
three political parties--are looking
forward for another tryaut In the next
congressional elections. Legislation
and execution administration for the
next twelve months will be the touch
stone Of success or failure for the
party in power, Il Is realized.
Republicans Only Hope.
Old politicians comment upon the
fact that the Republicans in the past
used to claim that the Democrats
never came into power except on the
heels OF calamity. while now the only
hope Of the Republicans, 1t IL claim
ed, Of getting back into power II
through calamity expected to follow
the Democratic regime.
Where the bull moosers hope to
come in il not yet made clear. and no.
body quite understands their program.
They cannot claim to benefit by possi~
Bile disaster for tarin reduction, i is
said. the Republicans being the
reaohuary legatee In that event
through their consistent adherence to