The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-18
TARIFF TO HAVE
RIGHT OF WAY IN
EXTRA SESSION
Other Subjects Must
Wait Until It Has
Been Settled.
LAWMAKERS WILL
ASSEMBLE APRIL z
Wilson Chooses That Date in
Difference to Wishes of Under
wood and Other House
Leaders-His Ideas as to
Legislation Will Be Out
lined in First Message.

Washington, March 17.-The extra
session OF Congress, called by Presi-
dent Wilson to-day TO assemble April
.. VIII begin with nothing but the
tariff revision bills before IL. THIS fact
was made clear in statement to-day
by Representative Underwood chair
man Of the House Committee on Ways
and Means. Until tariff Legislation is
we'll under way in the House. no gen-
erai committees viii be named and no
other Legislative subjects will be taken
up.
The President specified no subject
Tor the extra session In his proclama-
tion. but il is fully understood that
his message TO Congress at its opening
VIII dwell upon the need OF tariff re-
vision. If currency, Philippine indes
pendence, Alaskan affairs woman suf-
rage or other pressing questions are
hnall> forced upon the attention of
Congress. it Will be only after the
Democratic leaders of the two houses
and the President are convinced tina,
the success OF tariff revision is as
surcd
Date Is satisfactory
The date fixed for the tarim session
was accepted by congressional leaders
with satisfaction. Senate committees
are ORGANIZED Tor work and Will take
up the preliminary stages OF much gen
eral legislation early in April gen
eral agreement exists, however. to keep
general subjects out of active discus
sion while tariff legislation is under
way.
House leaders will be ready to so
ahead with tariff revision as soon as the
session convenes.
The date fixed by President Wilson
{ Go
tativa Undcrw ood to-day. ",rhe tariff
legislation will be ready for presen,a
ton to the House by that time and
we should be at work upon 1t in the
House within three or four days after
tho House convenes.
or course, before work is begun II
Will be necessary to organize tho
House. Tho Ways and Means Com
nittce, acting as the committee on
committees, will prepare slate of
committee appointments to be pre-
sented TO the caucus. The plan Is to
organize only the committees ncces-
sary to conduct the orga nization bust
ness OF the House: Rules, Accounts,
Mileage and Enrolled Bills.
II will confer later with Chairman
Fitzgerald, of the Appropriations Com
mittee. as to the necessity of reor-
ganizing his committee to handle tho
appropriation bills which failed at the
last session. These will be tho ONLY
committees organized prior to the be-
ginning Of the tariff work. The others
viii so over until later in thc session
The tariff legislation now being com
pleted by the Ways and Means Com
mittec VIII be submitted to th, Demo-
cratic caucus before the session opens
Follows Form Closely.
The Presidents announcement to-
day was brief and followed form
closely. II stated ncrely that "where-
as. public interests require" Congress
would he convened In extra session by
order OF the executive
Originally, Mr.. Wilson had hxed
April / as the date. Representative
Underw ood, Democratic majority lead
er, having informed him that the tariff
bills, to which It was agreed Congress
should give immediate attention. would
be ready on that date. Mr.. Underwood
found, however, that the Ways and
Means Committee would need another
week to draft the tariff schedules. and
to-day's proclamation is in Difference to
the wishes of Leader Underwood and
House leaders
The absence OF any specific reason
for the calling of the extra session is
explained by tho fact that Mr. Wilson's
statement Immediately after his cleo
ton declared that he would call an
extra session to revise the tariff
President Wilson plans to point out
specifically his wishes for the extra
session In his first message. now in
preparation. This. it is known from
talks the President has had with
members of Congress, will outline the
administrators idea of how tho tar
iff should be revised and just what
schedules should be taken up. The be-
lief is general that the entire message
VIII be taken UP with n discussion of
the tariff with the exception of the
last paragraph or two, which will draw
attention TO the need OF currency
legislation at the earliest possible mo-
ment. and will indicate the purpose of
the President to send later q special
message on that or other subjects
which he believes should be taken up
by the new Congress-
Goes to Caucus First.
The tariff plan will be submitted
hrst to caucus and then directly
to the House by the Ways and Means
Committee. The Ways and Means
Committee personnel already has been
determined upon in Democratic caucus
of the Sixty-third Congress, and it
Will he 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 ses-
sion depends on developments between
now and April c.
Senate Adtourns.
The special session. OF the. Senate,
which began Immediately after the in
auguration OF Vice President Marshall,
March 4. came to an end carly this af-
ternoon. Democratic Senators had not
completed their plans for dividing Sem
ate patronage and arranging commit
tee quarters, and the party caucus that
has run through two weeks was con-
tinued until Tonight.
Completion OF arrangements will be