The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-07
President Will Set Aside
Precedents Which Have
Stood Over a Century
In So Doing
DECISION EYOKES
MUCH COMMENT
AMONG LEADERS
First Time That President Has
Appeared Officially Before Either
Branch of Congress Since
the Administration of
John Adams

Washington. April 6.--settlng aside
Iprecedents of more than a century.
President Wilson will appear in the
halls of Congress on Tuesday to de-
liver his first legislative message in
person. He announced to democratie
congressional leaders tonight that he
would so to the floor of the House,
when it convened Tuesday. and there
give that body his views on the tariff.
This decision of the President evoked
much comment among the congression-
al leaders. He will be the first Press
ident of the United States to appear
Officially before either branch of Con-
gress in deliberatiye session since John
Adams, in the first few years of the
last century. An attempt was made
exactly 100 years ago. in 1913, to re-
vive the custom but President Mad
ison declined an invitation TO discuss
foreign relations with the Senate Since
then no President has even suggested
Joining in the deliberations of Con-
gress.
Prepare for Event
President Wilson made his plan.
known TO Majority Leader Underwood
of the House. Representative 4. Mitch
ell Palmer OF Pennsylvania and the
other House democratic leaders that
they might prepare for the event
The President believes that lie can
get in closer touch with the members
OF both houses of Congress BY per-
sonally expressing his views to them
IN his addition TO his official visits
10 tIe House which will became a mat
ter of White House policy, the Presi-
dent VIII take advantage of these
visits to hold conferences with tho
party leaders in Congress.
! The President has been told by his
! friends that such procedure is fraught
with embarrassments unless he tact
fully keeps to his purpose merely OF
giving advice as the leader of his
party and Offering suggestions to those
with whom he confers. Those who
have discussed this with him say he
is convinced that Congress will not
misunderstood his intentions. that he
will go to the capitol In a spirit If
friendly cooperation, so that there
may be at all times a unanirnity of
purpose between the executive and he
legislative departments of the govern
ment
Simply Made Suggestions
The President, IL was learned today.
has read with considerable surprise re-
ports that he had actually written parts
of the tariff bill or that he had forced
agreements with committees Of Con-
gress. lie declared he simply had been
asked to make suggestions and had
cheerfully done so, that the bill is the
work of Congress and that his part
in 1t has been that of counsellor AMI
adviser It is known. too. that tho
President is anxious to give eaual con-
sideration to the leaders in both houses
of Congress in seeing that party
pledges are carried out.
Both houses of the Sixty third Con-
gress viii get down to business in ex-
traordinary session tomorrow con-
fronted by the task of revising the tar
iff. The democratic tariff bill. COM
pleted by the democrats of the ways
and means committee. probably Will be
introduced in the House shortly aftef
u convenes at noon.
The Senate has alr -ady organized for
the new Congress and It's session will be
a mere routine meeting. Immediately aft
erward, however, a democratic caucus VIII
be held when the fight 10 revise the Senate
rules to liberalize proceedings In the upper
body will begin. This matter will occupy
tne senate during a part OF the time that
the House busies itself with its weeks
of tariff debate
To Re-elect Clark
When the House eonvenes i'll its
changed chambers, where benches have
taken the place of the old time desks
and chairs, the members. intending hum
dreds of new representatives elected last
fall, viii be sworn in Clerk South Trim
bell will be the presiding officer until
the seats have been iilled and speaker
elected. The democrats. following their
caucus decision, will renominate and re-
elect Speaker Champ Clark The repub-
leans will nominate Representative Mann
OF Illinois and the progressives the new L
party organization IN tho House, will
nominate Representative Murdoch OF
Kansas.
The progreSsives may precipitate troubie
al tho first fall of the sayel, If they carry
ont a plan to demand the seating of Will
liam J. Macdonald IN place of Represen-
tative H. Olin Smith OF The Twelfth Mich
igan district when The roll of members
elect is called 1t Is considered unlikely.
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