Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-29
WILSON'S PROGRAM
FACING FAILURE
ATTEMPT TO PUT THRU CERTAIN
LEGISLATION CERTAIN TO
BE BLOCKED.
LITTLE At SHORT SESSION
EXCEPT APPROPRIATION BILLS
Filibuster Already in Operation in
Senate Against immigration Measure
Quarrel Over Patronage Adds to
General Disposition to Prevent En-
actment of Bills President Desires.
Isnecial correspondence.]

Washington, Dec. 29.-Congress mas
practically two months left before the
end of the session, before it will ex-
pire by limitation March 4. Altho the
Christmas recess will be short one
and will end Dec. 90. as matter OF
fact little will be done in either house
until after the new year opens. Thus
work is ahead of this congress.
The developments since the first
Monday in December have been such
as to indicate that there will be little
if any general legislation OF import
ance enacted at this session. The tiS
task at any short session always is to
pass the appropriation bills. This ses-
sion has that task before it Not much
has been done thus far to get rid Of it
and it is a serious question whether 1T
can be accomplished by the time March
arrives.
Presidents Program to Fail.
The opinion about the capitol by this
time has become general that legisla-
ton at the present session apart from
appropriation bills will amount TO little
IL
gram of lawmaking which the presi-
dent laid down for the house and sem
ate in his annual message. The things
the president has urged especially are
THE Philippines bill, the government
/ ship purchase bill and the water power
and leasing bills as well as the general
| dam Dill. The symptoms now are un-
favorable to the enactment OF any one
| of these bills.
| Not only is the program laid down
| by the president likely to fail OF enact
m ent but the fate of the immigration
! bill is In doubt and the friends of the
seamen's bill are becoming concerned
whether II Will pass. Neither OF these
measures was advocated by the presi-
| dent in his message. In fact, the adj
minis.ration is known to be opposed to
the immigration bill with the literacy
test and ii is not regarded as friendly
to the seamen's bill But the friends OF
both measures have been counting with
confidence on getting them passed at
the present session.
Filibuster in Senate.
A strong filibuster has already devel-
oped in the senate against the immi-
grafton bill 1t is pretty well UNDER
stood that it has the sympathy, If not
the actual backing, of the White House
Senator Smith Of South Carolina says
he will force the immigration bill to
passage but II Is clear there are OBJ
stacles In the way which can not cas-
lily be overcome. No doubt the imTni-
grafton bill would pass II 1t were forced
TO vote but this Is not easy with
| number of senators fighting against q
vote. playing for time. and trying to
hold ii back until late in the session in
the hopes that it will be caught in the
Legislative jam which always comes In
the short session as March draws
near.
| Senator Lewis with the Concurrence
Of the administration and aided by a
group of strong senators is fighting to
prevent the immigration measure COM
ling TO q test Should it pass with the
tiitcracy test, President Wilson will be
faced with the embarrassing question
this the White House wants to
avoid.
Senator Townsend is trying to press
the volunteer officers retirement bill
to passage but filibuster Is on in the
lsenate against it. Pretty soon, appro-
priation bills will have to be taken up
by the senate and then the opponents
of the immigration bill will do their
utmost to sidetrack 1t.
4 Patronage Row Factor.
The legislative situation this winter
would in any event have been unfa-
vorable for the enactment OF general
Legislation apart from the supply bills
IL has been made more unfavorable by
the collision between the president and
some of the insurgent democratic sen
ators over patronage and the con-
firmation of appointments. The White
|, House says there is no row and viii
, be none over appointments. But they
do not talk that way at the capitol. I'm
!, less the president changes his atti'
tude and unless he backs down from
the position his friends have all salt
he would assume, that OF standing by
,appointees even if they are rejected b.
the senate, there will he trouble Owe
, it. Plenty of i'll feeling exists nov
> against the White House on the par
of large body of the democrats il
congress and it is getting more pro
lnounced.