The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-12-07

sentees were of the lame duck"
variety.
Today's proceedings were OF a rou-
tine character Tomorrow President
Wilson will address a joint session
and will deliver his annual message.
Great interest is taken in that decla-
ration because of the influence that
has been brought to bear on the pres
ident to have him recommend the
sidetracking OF all program legisla-
ton TO get the appropriation bills out
OF the way. The leaders OF the house
had cleared the decks for action and
planned to rush through those OF the
appropriation bills which usually
meet with the least oppositiosp before
the holidays.
The sessions which began today ex-
pire by constitutional limitation on
March 4. Every effort is to be made
by the Democratic leaders to COM
plete the program OF appropriation
bills so that an extra session OF the
sixty-fourth congress may be avoided.
II Is already certain, however, that
bitter debate will mark consideration
OF the army and navy appropriation
bills and the rivers and harbors bill.
Many OF the Democratic representa-
tives who were defeated for re-elec-
ton blame this fact on their failure
to get through pork barrel appro-
priation covering their district in the
bill passed at the last session.
The question of national prohibit
ton amendment to the federal con-
stitution may be precipitated In the
house. Next Saturday the rules COM
mittee will vote on whether the Hob
son amendment Is to be taken up.
Hobson and his friends insist that the
members will have to go on record.
He believes that In view of the in
creasing national sentiment for pro-
hibition throughout the country, there
is a good chance OF the house adopt
ing his amendment II a record vote
can be had.
This short session will be the last
one OF the sixty-third, q congress that
will go down In history as one which
worked almost the entire two years
of its existence (only one six-weeks'
recess except the Christmas vaca-
tions) and as one which put through
a number OF bills which will ahect
the country. In all probability, for
generations.
The program that must be carried
out is the passage OF the appropriation
bills. These must be passed, and
every short session OF congress In
the past has found difficulty In pass
ing them. But no congress In the
past which has gotten them through
successfully has had so many perplex-
ing complications which threatened to
kill weeks OF time and prevent the
passage OF the appropriation bills.
The most dangerous OF the immedi-
ately imminent complications is the
cotton legislation. While there Is no
chance Of any very radical legislation
being passed, thi stemper being clear
ly shown by both house and senate
just prior TO the adjournment, Demo
cratic leaders feared today that the
southerners who have been making
the most noise about the cotton prob
lem will not regard their work as
completed to the satisfaction OF their
constituents unless they make large
number OF speeches.
The difficulty OF choking these OF
lies In the fact that this can only be
done by bringing In a rule insuring a
vote without more than a certain
number OF hours debate. And the
chairman OF the rules committee Is
Rep. Robert Henry, OF Texas, ac-
knowledgedly the leader OF the pro-
lection legislation group.
There are several bills for the re-
lief of the cotton growers, however.
One OF these Is the bill providing for
the licensing of cotton warehouses.
and their inspection. This bill pass
ed the senate with number OF
amendments, so that IL included not
only cotton, but grain, tobacco, naval
stores. canned salmon. and several
other products.
The other piece OF cotton leglsla-
ton which apparently Will be passed
without trouble consists OF emend.
ment TO the federal reserve act. Ons
OF these permits member banks to
keep all OF their reserves in the re-
gional reserve banks. and the other
permits the issuance of the equivalent
OF 100 per cent OF the unimpaired cap
ital and surplus Of the bank In emer-