The Washington herald., 1914-04-11
HEAT OF SUMNER
MENACES SOLONS
Congressional Calendars Au-
CUR III for Adjournment
m june
ELECTIONS ARE DANGER
Denekrals Know They Must Start
Work 7.st Home" to Hold
s Present Leadership. E
ELECTIONS ARE DANGER

--YAtN~NAt --@NSisttFs
Congress- viii have TO 20 into high
gear, If the plans of the leaders for ad-
jourumsnt early in June are to be real
iEed. oldtimers who have heard this
sort Of ppngnostication heretofore, are
, inclined 70 doubt the ability of the leg
islsters to get away so early. Crowded
calendars today are not encouraging to
the YnsHber who Is anxious to shake the
dust Of Washington from his feet be-
fore midsummer.
The individual member has. an extra
ordinary interest this, year In the ad-
tournament date. The Democratic party.
as . whole. likewise 10 interested for the
lenser Congress remains in session the
more danger there VIII be that the Re-
publicans or Progressivss will make in
roads upon Deocratic strength, especial
" In the House. The situation presented
10 . peculiar one and its several angles
are not overlooked by the astute cam
paiSn managers.
It is now well understood that the
President and the leaders in both the
Senate and the House want an early ad-
jeurnmsnt Democratic leaders say IL Is
necessary that the candidate should get
out among the boys at home at the
earliest possible moment. II Congress
time for campaigning and the Demo
cratic party may lose strength, and for
this reason;
Congress has been in session for prac-
ticaIly 4 year, the new members coming
In on April last. Dozens OF new Demo-
Gratis were swept into the House on the
party tidal wave OF the preceding No
vsniber Some Of them were comparative
''unknoWns" but they rode in on the
NJ
Repablicans Are safe.
II these new legislators are not given
q little time to go back home and &C.
tusIly become acquainted with the voters.
q wsIl-known Republican or Bull Mooser.
sticking out q flaw here and there in the
record Of his Democratic opponent, may
defeat him. An astute Republican poll
tioian Of the House sums up the situation
like this:
Ne wonder the Democrats want to
adjourn as soon as they can. Any Re-
publican who weathered the storm at the
last national election can weather IL any
old time, and We don't have to worry
about him. But there are a bunch OF
these Democrats who got in her "by
accident" They don't know their con-
stitueRts well, and, IL We can hold them
In Washington all the time, they'll have
little opportunity to do handshaking and
.osir political fences. The prospects
a. that some Of the recruits will be
sf 51Itnd next fall simply because they
.~'5- n&s time to 90 around and drum
'-@ vc'rs'
Ir.- 5 80 ass Neen q lean session for
-sv 's.sSssg. DurinE the extra session.
,@e ssz<ls g. OF al private bills, and
tbs E":se7 vas devoted to tariff cur
reHcy sHG tGgtslstiye topliners. The in
clyiousl IErrber makes a reputation,
generally, on the private bills he puts
thnough-a pension for John Jones; al
bridge across Big Muddy River; a post
once for SmithviIle. But this session,
the new member has been required to
sit on the sidelines and watch the old
timers" perform on matters of general
legislation.
The new member is going to have a |
lot Of explaining to do when he goes
back empty-hsnded this summer.
Prospect Is Dark.
During the present session, a few bills |
OF q private nature will get through, but |
with the jam Of appropriation bills and
national measures the outlook is gloomy
for the member who must return home |
this summer and give an account Of his
stewardship. The sooner adjournment is |
taken, the more time the member will 4
have for explanations and the better his |
opportunity Of returning to Congress, 1
But Q cursory review Of the calendars
and the present legislative conditions. !
does not hold out hope, at least, at this |
time, for an early getaway. When March |
rolled around-the date upon which it was |
predicted several months ago all appro-
prfatien bills would be out of the House.
the lever body had passed but half of the |
teuPteen annual budgets and the Senate |
had put through only one annual appro- |
priation bill
There are controyerted items in an SUD-
ply bills and it requires time to get them
through both Houses, send them to con- |
terence, reach compromise agreements, |
and then get the conference reports
adopted II the appropriation bills all il
have been signed by May Is, the record |
VIII not be a bad one.
Then there's the big question of repeal
ing the free tolls section of the Panama |
Canal act: This means days of long dry
debate. especially in the Senate when |
ever the Senate approaches a question |
dealing with the diplomacy and treaty /
rights its profound orators begin to get |
toEethsr long speeches and when every
body has had a say the subject is pretty |
well talked TO death.
FaRers Demand Act.
There also is to be a "taIkfest" on the
mates are that it will take two months
to put these measures through, and they
are not even reported
Rural credits legislation is another
stumbling block In the way of early ad-
teurnmsnt. 1t was declared by many
that the currency bill did not provide /
sufneiently for the farmer and that the
rural credits bill would atone for any
oversight. 1t is almost imperative, there
tore, that the Congress should pass
rural credits bin before members return
70 rural constituencies and ask for votes.
With fourteen appropriation bills, hve
ant-trust bills, the Panama tolls con-
troversy and rural credits to dispose Of
to say nothing Of conservation and pos
sibly other administration measures-the II
chances are not good for June adjourn.
mtnt. II adjournment comes by July l, H
beth Senate and House probably will
have to 80 into night sessions before
many more weeks. II
ECONOMY FOR PoSTMASTERS.
Uncle Sam needs considerable once ma
terial In The course Of a year to run his
49, 4.