The Topeka state journal., 1913-03-17
CONGRESS APRIL 7
Formal Proclamation. Issued by
President Wilson.
PrOnOuncement Is Brief and
Closely Follows Form.
MEASURES WILL BE READY
Tariff Bills in Preparation by
Ways and Means Committee.
Thought Executive Will Take
Up Currency Legislation.

Washington, March 17-President
Wilson today issued the formal pro-
Fclamation convening congress in extra
session al noon on April Z. The presi-
dents pronouncement today was brief
and followed form closely. 1t stated
that whereas, public interests REQUIRE"
ctlgress would be convened in extra
session by order of the executive
originally Mr.. Wilson had fixed upon
aplIl as the date, Representative Un-
defWood, the Democratic majority
leader, having informed him the tariff
Oils to which it was agreed congress
Should give immediate attention would
De ready on that date. Mr.. Underwood
round, however. that the ways and
means committee would need another
week TO draft the tariff schedules, and
touays program is in the Difference to
the wishes of Leader Underwood and
the house leaders.
The absence of any specific reason
Tor the calling of the extra session is
explained by the fact that Mr.. Wilson's
statement Immediately after his cleo
ton declared that he would call an ex-
ira session to revise the tariff.
PRESIDENT Wilson plans to point out
specifically his wishes for the session
IN his first message. 1t is known from
talks the president has had with mem
berS of congress that he will outline the
administrations idea of how the tariff
should be revised and just what sched-
ules should be taken up. The belief is
general that the entire message will
be taken up with discussion of the
tariff, with the exception of the last
paragraph 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.
Tariff Plan to Caucus.
The tariff plan will be submitted first
to a caucus and then directly to the
house by the ways and means commit
tee.
a!"The committee will be ready to re-
port by that time,' said Democra tic
Leader Underwood today. I'VE have
made headway and there will be no
trouble about reporting the revised plan
when congress convenes."
The majority of the ways and means
committee today began taking up the
administrative features of the new
tariff. These provisions relate to the
variety of custom house routine and
the effort of the Democrats in changing
the terms and phraSeology of the ad-
| ministrative section Is to simplify and
facilitate the customs work, both in the
interest of the government and the i'm
porters A number of changes along
during the tariff hearings in January.
The tariff revision plan will be in
such condition that whatever form the
caucus determines upon can be re-
ported Immediately out of the COM
mittee and the whole tariff discussion
formally opened in the house without
delay.
There will be no attempt to name all
or even the bulk of the house commit
tees at the outset of the extra session,
hni11 he ont
plan until toward the close of the
extra session so as to obviate
any unnecessary legislation until the
regular session of congress convenes in
December The ways and means COM
mittee personnel already has been de-
terrnined upon in the Democratic eau
Gus of the Sixty-third congress and it
will be ratified by the house at the
opening of the extra session, when the
committee on rules, mileage and ac-
counts also will be named. Whether
any other committees will be created
for doing business at the extra session,
depends on developments between now
and April 7.
President Wilson does not expect to
announce any more appointments until
the extra session of congress convenes.
The president does not believe it neces-
sary to make recess appointments with
a session of congress only a few weeks
off Before April he is expected to
select men for most of the important
posts and their names will be put be-
fore the new senate then.
McCombs Will Accept.
The nomination of Chairman William
F. McCombs of the Democrat national
committee to be ambassador to France
was prepared at the White House to-
day and as it was about to be trans
mitted to the senate it was withheld at
Mr.. McCombs' request Mr. McCombs
has decided to accept the post and it
is said the delay does not mean a
change in his intentions.
Appoints Commission.
The president today appointed Sen
ators Fletcher, of Florida; Gore, of Ok
lahoma; Representative Moss, of In
DIANA; Colonel Harvey Jordan, of
Georgia.; Dr. John Lee Coulter, of
Minnesota; DR.. Kenyon L. Butterfield,
of Massachusetts,, and Clarence ].
Owen of Maryland, members of the
commission authorized in the last agri-
cultural appropriation bill to cooperate
with the American commission, as
semblef under the auspices of the south
ern commercial congress, to investigate
and study in European countries CO.
operative rural credit unions and sim
liar organization devoted to the pro-
motion of agriculture and the better
ment of rural conditions.
The same men also have been desig-
mated as delegates to the general as
sembly of the international institute of
agriculture in Rome next August.
Intimations were received at the
Chairman w. F. McCombs finally
might accede to the presidents request
i that he become ambassador to France.
1t was said Mr.. McCombs was making
such rapid progress with the organiza-