The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-04-10
CONGRESS HAS
MUCH WORK
N SIGHT
Presidents Task Not Lightened
with Approach Of Summer =.
Mckeynoids Slow to Act on
Appointments - Prugressives
United in Opposition to Repeal
OF Canal Tolls Clause.

WASHINGTON, March 23.-The
nreblem Of the moment TO official Wash
:sgten Is speed attainment. Business
lags. There has been industry. Presi.
Dent Wilson Is having his way. His
policies are being put into operation,
surely and steadily. The legislation he
wants Is coming and that is true in a
dozen particulars. But the important
factor Of time causes worriment. The
winter is now far spent. The period
when things are done in this ennerva.
ding climate with snap and expedition,
is drawing to close.
The President yet wishes much OF
congress. Nearly all the departments
Also want something. The demands
Of q great and growing governmental
establishment are larger annually and
seem larger just OF present than ever
before in normal peace times. But the
machinery ON Capitol Hill, we'll organ.
lied as 1t " for getting things done, rs
cumbersome and unwieldy. Time a.
required for its operation.
Congress is working long hours, on
A. six days n week schedule. Debate
has been literally allowed, although
with exceptions now and then, discus
sions have been fairly expeditions. They
have not always been enlightening, but
generally have been, from all points OF
view worth while. For II is legitimate
that debate may proceed which does not
help the house OF the senate, as the case
may be, but which may help in the
education Of Constituencies. ~" ;. Y
summer session in Sight. q
However, the fact, is striking home
that. congress has q great deal more
work to do yet at this session than 1t
can reasonably be expected to do.
There are many things the President,
wants done, which, but for the loyalty
OF congress TO him, would have to be
left nndone, Audit Is becoming. plain
ef every day that the President may
have TO sacrifice some Of his Legislative
prortam ar insist upon congress staying
~ Washington again till long into the
summer, lrksome as another prolonged
session win be, it is doubtful whether
the President will hesitate what to do;
General legislation which is not attend.
ed to at this session must go over into
another; congress- and can not be credit
ed TO the first half Of the President's
administration. There will remain only
the so-called short session, beginning
next December. The three months OF
its existence permits only Of urgent
routine business.
Therefore the problem to the Presi.
dent. He and those interested with
him are cfcwding every possible ounce
Of steam under the boilers. They are
raehing their brains how to prevent
exasperating delays. Every week that
passes now means additional difficulties
Ii getting things done. The most eff
Gent season. of the Washington year is
now rapidly passing, If congress stays
too long into the summer, the protests
about il win be many times louder than
were heard last autumn from Republic.
cans, who wanted 10 90 home as soon MS
the tariff bill had been enacted.
The atmosphere will clear somewhat
when the Canal tolls exemption repeal
has been enacted. The delays over that
hill have been peculiarly exasperatinR
even though II was not TO be expeeted
that congress would vote as soon as the
President spoke. Opponents virtually
Compelled him to deliver his special
message. That would give Democrats
an excuse for changing front. But
there Is a considerable number of Irish
men,in, the SENATE and the house. Most
OF these, either because of their own
convictions or because of their Irish
constituents at home, have Unanswered
TO the President s embarrassment. And
with the delay, interests more or less
selfish, have been encouraging and build
ing up hostile sentiment.
A group Of house Republicans, chiefly
from the Pacific Coast, have jumped
into great political activity because Of
this tells issue. They have conducted
their campaign without particular re-
gard to political amenities, introducing
into the house proceedings rough and
tumble character Of opposition which
hitherto. has been absent. All this has
been annoying to the administration for
has TO do with the control of the next
house Of representatives. The Demo
cratic MA iority Is now two TO one and
seemingly could not be overturned. As
a matter OF fact Democrats are prob
ably more in danger of losing the house
next November, with its great majority,
than they are Of losing the senate, with
jts small majority. 1t has been thought
the repeal bill could give Republicans
little advantage but efforts TO arouse
hatred against the British might put the
case in different aspect.
ProCessives oppose Tolls Repeal.
Progressives have lined up quite sol
Idly IN the house against the canal
fePsal bill, That shows a willingness
TO take advantage politically Of the
Presidents necessities as the official
responsible for our foreign relations.
Perhaps much is being made of this par
ticular business, because Republicans
and Progressiyes have had difficulty in
getting issues against the administra-
tiOn. However, as all the country