The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1913-03-20
CALLS CONGRESS
TO meet APRIL I
Wilson's Proclamation Names
Date of Extra Session.
WILL REVISE THE TARIFF
Presidents Message to Lanakers viii
Point Out Administrators Wishes
Regarding Legislation - May
Touch on Currency.

Washington, March 18.-President
Wilson issued the formal proclamation
converting congress in extra session at
noon on April Z.
The presidents announcement was
brief and followed form closely. 1t
stated merely that whereas. public in.
terests require" congress would con-
vene in extra session by order of the
executive. ~
Originally Mr.. Wilson had fixed
April / as the day, Representative I'm
derwood. the Democratic majority
leader having informed him that the
tariff bills, to which it was agreed con
gress 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 tarirf
schedules, and the proclamation is in
Difference to the wishes of Leader I'm
derwood and house leaders.
President Preparing Message.
The absence OF any specific reason
for 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
extra session to revise the tariff.
President Wilson plans to point out
specifically his wishes for the extra
session in his first message, in prepa-
ration. This, 1t is known from talks
the president has had with members
Of congress, will outline the admins
tration's idea Of how the tariff should
be revised and just what schedules
should be taken up.
The belief is general that the entire
message will be taken up with dis.
cussion OF the tariff, with the excep-
ton of the last paragraph or two.
which will draw attention to the need
of currency legislation at the earliest
possible moment and will indicate the
purpose Of the president to send later
a special message on that or other
subjects which he believes should be
taken up by the new congress.
Tariff Up to Caucus First.
The tariff plan will be submitted first
to a caucus and then directly to the
house by the ways and means commit
tee.
The committee will be ready to re
port by that time" said Democratic
Leader Underwood. I'VE have made
Roadway, and there will be no trouble
about reporting the revised plan when
the congress convenes."
The majority of the ways and means
committee began taking up the ad-
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 admin
Iistrative section is to simplify and ia
cilitate the customs work both in the
interest of the government and the
importers. A number of changes along
that line were suggested by witnesses
during the tariff hearing in January.
Expect No Delay In the House.
The tariff revision plan will be in
such condition that whatever form the
caucus determines on can be reported
Immediately out of the committee
and the whole tariff discussion for
mally opened up in the house without
delay.
There will be no attempt to mass al!
or even the bulk of the house COM
mittees at the outset Of the extra ses-
sion, that being preserved under the
present plan until toward the close OF
the extra session, so as to obviate any
unnecessary legislation until the regu
lar session of congress convenes In
December.
The ways and means committee per
sonnet already has been determined
on in Democratic caucus of the Sixty.
third congress, and 1t will be ratified
by the house at the opening OF the
extra session, when the committee on
rules. mileage and accounts also will
be named. ...