The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-03-18
PRESIDENT WILSON'S PRocLA-
NATION ORDERS LAWMAKERS
TO CONVENE APRIL z.
TARIFF TO COME FIRST
Nothing Else Will Be Considered Un
til Success Of Tariff Revision Is As
sured-Executive Is Promised the
Support Of Party Leaders in Both
Houses Of Congress-Discus. Plans

Washington, March 17.-The extra
session of congress called by President
WILSON today to assemble April 7. will
oegln with nothing but the tariff re-
VISION bills before it, This fact vas
made clear in a statement today by
Representative Oscar w. Underwood.
chairman of the house committee on
ways and means. Until tariff legisla-
tion Is we'll under way in the house
no general committees will be named
and no other legislative subjects will
be taken up. The president has men,
toned no special subject in his procla-
nation, but 1t is understood that his
message to congress at it's opening will
dwell upon the need of tariff revision
II the currency, Philippine indepen-
uence, Alaskan affairs, woman suf-
1rage or other pressing questions fin
ally are forced upon the attention of
congress it will be only after the demo-
cratic leaders of the two houses and
the president are convinced that the
success of the tariff revision is as
sured.
The senate committees are organized
for work and win take up the prelimi-
nary stages of much general legislation
early in April. A general effort will be
made to keep general subjects out of
active discussion while tariff legisla-
tion is under way.
The date fixed by President Wilson
IS satisfactory to u.s." said Represen-
fat1ve Underwood. ''The tariff legfs-
lation will be ready for presentation to
the house by that time, and we should
be at work upon it in the house within
thEee of four days after the house
convenes.
of course, before work is begun it
will be necessary to organize the house,
The ways and means committee, acting
as the committee on committees, will
prepare a slate of committee appoint
ments to be presented to the caucus.
The plan is to organize only the COM
mlttees necessary to conduct the or
ganization of the house, rules, ac-
counts, mileage and enrolled bills.
7 will confer later with Chairman
Fitzgerald of the appropriations COM
mittee as to the necessity of reor-
ganizing his committee to handle the
appropriation bills which failed at the
last session. These will be the only
committees organized prior to Begin
ming tariff work. The others will go
over until later in the session."
The tariff legislation now being COM
pleted by the ways and means COM
mittee will be submitted to the demo-
cratic caucus before the session opens.
PROCLAIM alton Brief.
The presidents announcement, to-
day was brief and followed form close
ly. 1t stated merely that, Whereas,
Public interests require congress
would be convened in extra session by
order of the executive.
Originally Mr.. Wilson had fixed on
April as the date, Representative I'm
derWood, the majority leader, having
informed him that the tariff bills, to
which it was agreed congress should
give immediate attention, would he
ready on that date. Mr. Underwood
found, however, that the ways and
means committee would need another
week to draft the tariff schedules, and
today's proclamation is in Difference to
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