The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-05
CONGRESS FACES
SUMMER SESSION
Adjournment Likely Will Not Be
Possible Until Late in August
or September /.
LEGISLATIVE HOPPER FULL
Slow Progress Being Made on
Tolls Measure, Trust Bill and
Other Matters,
LEGISLATIVE HOPPER Full
Especial to The Times Dispatch ]

Especial to The Times Dispatch
Washington. April 5.-Congress
again faces the prospect ne spending
tho hot summer months In Washing
ton. declared by the majority OF those
on Capitol Inn. TO be the hottest place
under the sun In July and August Tho
fight to be made In the Senate against
the Panama Canal tolls repeal bill. and
the trust bills. has proved the straw
that Will break the carncis back" az
far RS adjournment by June / Is CON
cerncd. Most Of tho older members OF
Congress now freely predict that ad-
5ourment viii not be possible before
date between August J 3 and September
]. Tho majority OF the Senator'S nnd
congressman took with a grain %
salt from the beginning the belief OK
pressed In January by President VIII
son and Leader Oscar Underwood, that
the closing day would come about June
j or Is. They did hope. however that
adjournment could bo brought about
by July ] or 10 But the neht TO be
waged In the senate on tho tolls repeal
added TO tho slowness with which tho
trust bills are being prepared. and the
general slowncss of both bodies, makes
August Is now appear as The earliest
possible date for adjournment
Lnck of Dispatch Shown.
Another thing tending to POSTPONE
adjournment IL lack OF dispatch at
tending consideration of the annual
Appropriation bills These bills, ag-
gregatlnE about s12OO.OOO. 900. wiu
provide funds with which to maintain
the goVcrnmentsfor the fiscal year he
ginning July ]. The only one which
has become law !s tho post-o.iice an
preparation bin. Six Of them have not
been passed by tho House, and the
last or them may not pass until after
Juno /. unless tho House should show
more capacity for speed than II has
shown thus far
The House viii pass tho trust blls
aheat OF the Senate. according to pres
emf plans When that viii be. how
ever. nobody knows Administration
leaders have experienced great and
unexpected difficulties In putting these
bills into statutory form. and some OF
these difficulties are st,ll in evidence
One OF the leading members Of the
House expressed the belief that the
earlier than between June Is and
July !.
DimcuItics Not Forc.ecn
Some Of the administration leaders
did not forcsce the diricult!es that
would attend trust legislation. Presi-
dent Wilson had chosen his leaders.
IT was said. and az they were eminent
lawyers, no serious d!ficulty would be
met IN putting the trust bills Into
shape But not so. Measures have
been prepared several times, only TO
be abandoned. Tho eminent lawyers
have disagreed rs TO the effect OF SOW
eral proposed bills. and as Il result the
President Is not nearly as certain OF
his ground as he seemed TO be early
in the winter. In neither house has
tho trust debate opened When IT does
there Will be stirring times
The point in the trust program Is
to mako certain important additions 10
the Sherman law. without chan ging its
meaning The administration has
know for n long time what II wanted
IN the way OF additions. and since
the bills have been under consideration
In committee. II has been finding out
IN what respects those additions would
work the changes just mentioned. Tho
problem Is one OF the most difficult
Congress- has tried To answer for :.
number Of years These difficulties
VIII be greatly increased were there
any purpose In Congress TO crnbarrass
the administration. The singular thing
Is that they have come when all hands
were trying To help along the work of
enacting the legislation
Rural credits is also causing a great
deal OF study. Tho subject IS entirely
new on this side OF the Atlantic and
because OF its great Importance Con
gross feels that II ought TO move care
fully. There are ideal laws in Den
mark. Germany and France, but thcy
nave been suited to the peculiar con
ditions existing IN those countries.
The question hero is how 10 adapt the
European laws to 1T the peculiar CON
ditions existing in the United States
II tho administration should press FOR
rural credits Legislation. there is a be-
lief among we'll posted men that the
session may run pretty we'll through
the autumn.
How the Bills stand.
The legislative status OF the large
Rpproprtat ion bills. generally known as
The supply bill, Is as follows:
AGr!cultural-Passcd House and NOW
In Senate committee.
Rivers and Iiarbors--Passed House
and now In Senate committee
Post Oficc-Passed both houses and
Higned by the President
Fortifications-Pas both houses
and In conference TO adjust Items Of
difference between Senate and House
Indian-Passed House, before Seno.,
Indian Committee
Army-Passed House and Senate ma
waiting to be sent to conference.
Military Acadcmy-Passed uou.c
and Senate. and waiting 70 be sent IN
conference.
Military Academy-Passed House and
Senate. and waiting TO be sent to CON
ference.
Naval-Feported to the House from
committee. Debate on the bill In the
House, will probably last several