The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-05-11
CONGRESS- i.
IS FACING
BUSY WEEK

Panama canal tolls exemption debate
running strong in the senate, and the
house facing a record vote on the pro-
posed constitutional amendment for
nationwide prohibition, congress
promises to be kept busy during the
present week, though there may be no
Developments in the Mexican situation
to revive talk of war.
House democrats will hold a party
caucus Tuesday night to determine a
program for the remainder of the ses-
sion, with adjournment early in July
in view. Present plans contemplate
passage CT the necessary appropriation
bills, enactment of several antitrust
measures, the rural credits bill and a
vote On the prohibition bill.
All these bills, with the exception Of
the amendment, will come up In the
caucus and an effort may be made to
discover party sentiment on prohibit
ton at that time,
Senate majority leaders have not yet
formed plans for a party conference
but there is q strong sentiment for the
enactment of legislation such as the
house is expected to approve, without.
however, a vote On prohibition.
The senate interstate commerce
committee will conclude it's hearings
on the trade commissions antitrust,
bill early in the week, and a report
may be made shortly.
There IS a feeling by some demo-
cratic senators that this legislation
should not be taken up at the present.
session on their side of the capitol and
that action by the house will be sufi
cient until next winter. Many senator's
are said to believe that debate on leg.
~islation OF this Importance cannot be
completed for six weeks or two
months, and to incline to the belief
that the country would be better
pleased if congress adjourned in July
than if it stayed in session two months
longer and put through this legislation.
The senate banking and currency
committee expects to receive a report
during the week from it's sub-commit-
tee which is drafting a rural credits
bill. The bill has reached the stage
where it seems practically certain to
be confined to land mortgages and the
full committee may decide upon a re-
port within The e two weeks. =
The tolls exemption debate probably
will not be concluded during the week.
Many senator's already have spoken
but others are known to be preparing
addresses n while there is q desire
on both sides of the question not to
delay a vote. there is no disposition to
end the talk until every senator who
desires has bad his say.
The senate probably will pass the
agricultural appropriation bill before
Saturday, the appropriations commit
tee probably will report the legislative,
executive and judicial appropriation
bill and the Indian affairs committee
the Indian appropriation bill. Work
On these bills will be delayed to some
extent by the fact that the senate did
not meet. today, adjournment having
been taken Saturday until Tuesday, as
a mark of respect to the American
sailors and marines killed at Vera
ICru2. "
There is still great interest in the
house in Mexican developments. Rep
resentatives, generally, including some
administration sponsors, would not be
surprised If the week would be mark
ed by some decisive move by the adj
ministration, based mainly on the logic
of the situation, rather than. on any
confided plan. If the situation should
lead up to a call for volunteers, the
Hay national volunteer act would give
ample authority for a volunteer army,
but congress would have to pass a
supplemental bill to provide for the
pay of the volunteers.
Congress isprepared for any war
emergency. Lying on Speaker Clark'A
desk, is a resolution from the military
affairs committee, the passage OF
(which would make Immediately avail.
able the $500, 000, 900 of the annual
army appropriation bill. The appro-
lpriations committee is holding back
Its big general deficiency bill on a
possibility of a call for any emergency
'lwar appropriation.
The Tuesday caucus will be a sort
iof a free-for-all affair and some i'm
lsistent members threaten to bring up
'lboth the prohibition resolution and the
woman suffrage resolution. the lat
liter issue having been declared to be a
local and not a national issue. by a
III nrpYyios,s 6aT0ocratic spalIclIS .sa tG&
Today is District of Columbia day
lin the house. The senate bill to pro-
wide for temporary machinery for
popular election of United states sem
lators, a program which some of the
states already have met. will be acted
,lupon under an agreement tomorrow
and the consideration of the diplo-
Imatic and consular appropriation bill
Twill follow tomorrow and Thursday.
meantime, it will be determined when
Ito bring UP the antitrust bills and
lother measures.