Evening star., 1914-12-29
LEGISLATIVE CLOUDS
HANG OVER CAPITOL
Much Opposition to Admins
tration Bills Pending
in Congress.
PATRONAGE FIGHT ADDS
TO PRESIDENTS WORRIES
Ship Purchase, immigration, Philip
pine Independence and Conserva-
tion Measures Under Fire.

Legislative as we'll as atmospheric
clouds lowered over Congress today as
1t reassembled to enter on the last lap
OF the session. 1t was slippery going
outside the Capitol, with promise of
much rough shedding for the future in
side.
According to Leader Kern in the SEN
ate and Leader Underwood in the
House, however, the genial sun of ex-
ecutiye suasion will dispel the mist and
fog and chill, and that an early spring
is certain.
Looking over the situation today the
administration leaders found much to
give them concern for the present. Their
main cause for anxiety is found in the
Senate. where several measures of leg
islation are being opposed and where
there is considera BILE unrest
The most harassing problems to be
ironed out are these:
The friction between several senator's
ana the President over patronage.
Opposition" to the Nicaraguan treaty,
which Secretary Bryan is urging.
Opposition to the ship purchase bill,
whose passage is demanded by the
President.
Dissatisfaction with one feature of the
| immigration bill with which, however.
the President himself is said to SYM
pathize.
Difference of opinion over the land leas-
ing, water power and radium bills, the
so-calied conservation measure.
Serious opposition to the Philippine in
dependence bill. upon whose passage the
President insists
Opponents of Bills.
The Nicaraguan treaty is being opposed
by Senators Smith and Borah, members
OF the foreign relations committee, who
threaten to use every legislative tactic
at their disposal to prevent this rati-
fication.
The ship purchase bill finds opponents
in both House and Senate, and among
both democrats and republicans. Leader
Underwood has looked into the situation
carefully. and believes that the differences
in the House may be composed, while
Senator Simmons. who has charge of it
in the Senate, is reasonably hopeful of
favorable action by that body. although
ne does not minimize the opposition to
the measure.
The clause In the immigration bill i'm
posing literacy test is a stumbling block
to that measure New England repub-
licans and southern democrats favor the
literacy test, but it is hinted that Presi-
dent Wilson is opposed to it. A fllibuster
u.
There is said to be no doubt that the
threatened uprising in the Philippines
has added to the embarrassment of the
pending Philippines independence bill
and encouraged it's opponents to resist
its passage at this time.
The conservation measures are said
to be SO intricate and containing fea-
lures Objectionable to so many legis-
lators as to give rise to question
whether they can be passed in the
short session after the appropriation
bills get into the customary log Jam.
Wilson Is Optimistic.
President Wilson. however, is heart
ening his friends in Congress and to-
day gave to the newspaper men who
called upon him his optimistic view of
the outlook.
The Presidents remarks were soon
known at the Capitol, and caused an
immediate stiffening of the admins
tration's lines of battle in House and
Senate.