New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-20
Members of Congress Fear
Hidden Boomerang in Their
Legislative Machinery.
FORESEE OVERTHROW
More than 5000 Measures Un-
acted Upon Jeopardize Re-
turn of Men Who Fail to
Appease Districts.
fFrom The Tribune Bureau. !

an eleventh hour fear that there Is a
boomerang hidden somewhere about the
legislative machinery that will jeopardize
party success In the campaigns next sum
mer. In brief. there is a prospect that
the Democratic performance OF tariff re-
vision will be overshadowed by what Con-
gress failed to do in its months Of oppor-
tunity.
The situation as 1t appears at both ends
Of the Capitol to-day is ludicrous, II not
dangerous The Senate presents the spec
tacle OF listless body, with no one on
guar1 to prevent the consideration OF Ill
advised legislation. In the House the
hands OF its members are tied by eau
Gus mandate which prevents the consider
alton of meritorious bills which will have
little chance in the next session because
OF the pressure Of supply bills and anti
trust legislation.
In consequence, the average Democratic
member of the House. sent to Washing
ton TO accomplish something for his dis
trict. will return empty-handed when the
| campaigns are launched next year. This
thought has just begun to trouble Demo-
Gratis who have sat supinely by while
the weeks have been frttered away.
In the Senate unanimous consent agree
ments to vote on such important meas
ures as the seamens bill have been made
with fewer than a dozen Senators in at
tendance. In the House pet measures Of
more than four hundred members are
buried in committee rooms and the party
caucus even prohibits the placing OF any
bill on the calendar.
Discomfort Growing.
The insistence of the President that
Congress shall remain In session has re-
| suited In growing discomfort in both
bodies. The insistence Of the House cau-
Gus that members must stay here and yet
perform no work. now that the tariff and
currency bills have left the lower cham
Der, not only adds to that discomfort. but
threatens disaster TO scores OF members.
"hen the extra session convened l5i
ne" members entered the House. Most
OF them were Democrats, who were elect
ed on glowing promises OF accomplishing
something for their districts. Arriving
here. the Democrats were called into n
party caucus. where the leaders put
through resolution that nothing EXCEPT
the tariff. currency and emergency ap-
preparation measures should be consid-
cred at this session. The new members
, were told that their bills would receive
consideration at the regular session.
| More than eight thousand bills and
| resolutions have been introduced since
the extra session convened. Only a few,
OF minor Importance. and considered by
unanimous consent. have had attention.
The House committees are forbidden 10
report any legislation whatever.
! New Democrats seeking action on their
bills next session will strike snag.
Fourteen annual appropriation bills must
| be passed the President has mapped out
plan OF antitrust legislation. and the
| Interstate Commerce Commission ex-
poets to monopolize considerable time
| with amendments to the Interstate COM
merce laws. II will be imperative that
| Congress adjourn not later than June or
July. so that members. kept I'm Washing
ton almost the year round. may repair
| their political fences
! II is apparent that next session can
mean little to the new member in the
way Of legislation, ana he is just waking
up to that fact. The extra session, in
! stead OF bringing about continued party
| success because OF its performances, may
bring party disaster because OF It's sins
Of omission.
| Dangers in the Situation.
The dangers that might result from the
situation in which Congress finds itself
III faJ In no MI
sent agreement by which the Senate is
bound TO vote on the seamen's bill. The
United States. soon after the Titanic dis
aster, suggested an international confer
ence to formulate regulations to safe
guard passengers at sea. The foreign
governments readily accepted the invita-
! ton The date for the conference was
| fixed, and the delegates from the Unite1
States were named. In view Of the forth
coming conference. which will be held al
| London. the Senate committee reported
the seamens bill. with the recommends
ton that action on II be deferred until
the conference had been held.
| Senator La Toilette, the chief advocate
OF a bill drafted in response to the de-
mands Of the International Seamens
| Union, saw his opportunity III tIe iuli
which followed the passage of the tariff
bill. While fewer than a dozen Senator's
were in their seats. he obtained a unani-
nous consent agreement 10 take UP the
seamen's bill at once and vote on 1t this
week. Despite the lack OF quorum. the
agreement is practically binding on the
Senate, although there is no rule to that
effect
! Many Senators feel that whatever the
| merits or dement's OF the seamens bill. II
is a measure OF such importance and such
complexity that tired and depleted Sen
ate can hardly give It full consideration
They say that the facts that several for
eign governments have protested formally
against It. that II might run counter to
treaty stipulations and that the confer
ence on safety at sea called by this gov
eminent may adopt rules which will con-
fict with its provisions warrants mature
deliberation.
The Democratic leaders were caught
mapping Other unanimous consents were
obtained I'm much the same manner. II
was not until Senator Ashurst asked for
an agreement to vote on the suffrage
amendment 10 the Constitution that the
leaders began to see the danger. and then
only as IL confronted the administration s
currency programme. Notice was given
that no more unanimous consent agree