Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-02
LAWMAKERS C)M|NG
FOR SHORT SESSION
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS REACH
ING WASHINGTON IN LARGE
NUMBERS.
MUCH WORK AHEAD AND
DEMOCRATS ARE WORRIED
Fear Expressed That Congress Will
Nos &c Aols to Dispose Of Necessary
Business by March Next-Leaders
to Bend Energies Toward Expeditins
Work of Both Houses.
Especial Correspondence

Washington, Dec. 2.-MemDers of the
house and senate have begun to arrive
in Washington in large numbers In
preparation for the opening OF the
short session of congress Monday next.
This week will be marked by the al
most continuous incoming OF members
and their families and when the house
and senate are called to order at noon
next Monday there will he approx
mately a full attendance in both
houses.
In addition to the old members, many
of the newly elected members are
dropping in on Washington They are
coming to watch congress in operation
and get their bearings. Newly elected
democratic members. also, are gong 10
be in a good deal of evidence around
the capital this winter because OF the
patronage problems which they expect
to solve or to help in solving.
Much Work Ahead.
Democratic leaders recognize that
they have less than three months time
in which to do an enormous amount
Of work, and they will lose no time IN
getting down to business. This appheS
especially to appropriation bills. 1t VIII
be the policy to force .hcse thru the
house as rapidly as possible. send them
to the senate. get them acted on by the
appropria tons committees and hasten
them &c enactment.
1t is clear at this time that the adj
ministration is opposed to an extra
session next spring. One thing that
would certainly bring on an extra ses-
sion would be failure to get some of
NV Tor
4. May members are already predict
ing that when March 4 arrives. several
of the big supply bills will still be far
from enactment. They say there will
be so much discussion of the appro-
priation measures that it viii be found
Impossible to get these measures out
of the way in less than three months
time.
Realizing the difficulties Of the stu
alton the democratic leaders in both
houses and the administration will lend
their energies toward expediting the
appropriations to the utmost.
Night Sessions Probable.
Many night sessions no doubt will be
held. Both houses will sit six days a
week Indications are the holiday va
cation will be made brief. Some talk
is heard Of cutting it out entirely but
this will probably be found impractical
bic.
The absolute need of getting the APP
preparations put thru to avoid an extra
session next spring will have its effect
on the general legislative program.
This will have TO be pared down as
closely as possible.
The Philippine bill. the ship purchase
! bill, and conservation legislation are
specially desired by the administration.
But it is difficult to forecast in advance
what will happen to these measures
on account of the appropriations stu
alton. tangle over the appropria-
( tons is possible which will shut out
practically all other important legisla-
! ton from enactment. The insistence
! OF members from the south on cotton
! Legislation will be factor and some
! of them will not be tractable toward
other bills If no relief for the cotton
interests is permitted. The prohibition
amendment. the problem of military
preparedness, rural credits, labor legis-
lation. immigration and numerous 9TH
er questions will press for considera-
! ton but efforts will be made to shunt
! them aside.
Early caucuses of house and senate
democrats to shape the legislative pro-
gram are anticipated.
Kern Outlines Program.
Senator John Worth Kern, democra-
tic leader of the senate, yesterday an
nounced the senate legislative program
for the short session of congress begin
ming next Monday.
It provides enactment OF:
The appropriation bills.
The Philippine enlarged government
bill.
Government purchase Of merchant
marine.
4 Conservation legislation to protect
national resources.
The senate steering committee, COM
posed Of democrats, is to be called by
Senator Kern to meet at the opening
of congress to ratify this program. In
the positive manner in which Senator
Kern announced the program there is
every indication that President Wilson
is behind 1t and there will be grand
rally of democrats to it's support.
Expects No Extra Session.
Senator Kern is fnsistent there will
be no extra session of congress and
that all legisla ton desired by the ad-
ministration is to be forced thru be-
lore MdICh UcAI. III dQIIllCS CQeIe
may be difficulties, but he is confiden,
the program to be determined will be
carried thru.
There will be trouble over the APP
lpropriations for the army and navy
he admitted. "As an outgrowth Of tbs
European war we may look for pres
sure for heavy appropriations for en-
largement Of the military arms Of the
i government service. I 10 not think
that congress will be carried away b;
this appeal and l think that the ap.
propriations will be held down Il
about their figures of last year
1T is certain that considerable at
+ tention will be given to the building
.. of submarines, enlargement of tn,
stock OF powders and arms, the build
ing Of armored trucks and sucl
things, but there will not be the en-
!, largement OF the general establish
ments that is to be demanded. Thi
!. country will understand that with tn
close -of the present war in Europ
even the victor will not be in condi
2 ton for some time to wage wa
lagainst the United States. We wi
] have the breathing spell a. least t
1 s!snfeha re,s