New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04
With Them at Noon To.
day Ends Two Years of
Wilson's Leadership.
UNITED DEMOCRACY
NOT ALL HARMONY
Presidents Absolute Control
Impaired and Treasury Left
with Huge Deficit.

Washington, March 4. At an early
hour this morning the members Of the
63d Congress. standing on the corpse
of the ship bill, are looking anxiously
at the clock and waiting for the hour of
noon. when the first two years of the
New Freedom" under the leadership
of President Wilson will end. Instead
OF the happy and joyous throng of
Democrats who greeted the birth of
the New Freedom two years ago,
there il crowd of sulky and rebell-
ious Democrats wondering what new
road the doctrine enuncated by the
President will next turn into
The ship purchase bill. after its
stormy and eventful career, was con-
signed to oblivion by the Senate yes
terday. The Republicans remained un-
compromisingIy hostile, and the ma
jority finally capitulated.
The House, having rejected the SEN
ate amendments and requested another
conference. Senator Fletche went
through the formula of moving that
the request be granted and that Sen
alto conferrees be appointed. Senator
Weeks then blandly informed the Sen
ate that he intended to speak several
hours on the question OF appointing
con ferroes. and that more than a score
Of Republicans. the list OF whom ne
road. were prepared to discuss inc
same subject.
In the face Of this ultimatum de-
cIarinc that the filibuster would De
continued until the 63d Congress had
passed into history if the Democrats
adhered to their purpose, Senator
Fletcher yielded.
wilson's Leadership Challenged
Tho Congress now ending has been
.onoarLabIc for many things. IL mas
aoon the advent OF President ~lIsoh
.he Leader OF united Democracy
a,d now sees that same Democracy
torn 10 pieces and tne ieHu' sup
the President challenged. -, "a
The SD Congress 70 aiSo
markablc for the record oreaAins
propriations it has made DESPITE IN u.
threatened deficit IN the lreaSuiS
Iii aIso 90 into history as the scene
Of the most famous illloustet' 49, ~,
for the first time AS leader o. Ihe
ocratic party, President "ilsGn 80 10
unable TO force through the snip pGl
chase bill the first big piece VI reg
lation in which he met deteal. ne ~
result OF this defeat Two thlngS VI M
portancc in legislation are !'heiy "
follow. One is the Wipihg out VI os =
Gus rule: the other the auopslon IL =
closure rule in the Senate u''uer "''>O
flibusters will be impossible.
Legislation by the o@d CCngless
touches nearly every phase OF ne anu
business in this country. me Cnuei.
wood tariff bills, the feueral he0e
act the Federal Trade commission
hill. the antitrust laws the "ai tL
rue act. the income tax al ~ " ,;to
yerv heart of American business ~, ~
II remains to be seen just no" VIC
rountrv will take this legislati9gii' hS'
uith the exception OF the taflh Ia"'
rome of it practically mas oeeh 'i'eu
cut. u,;Iso, called The
When President loV" =
SID Congress in special session ~,
Anril 7. 1918, his hold upon IT was re-
markable. His simplest wisn was car
ried out. lie was complete n'as!el %
all legislation and was aoie easi'y "
brush all opposition aside. hIIIle py
Iit.Ie his mastery began to slip away
He found Congress less ana iesS .to
anorsive TO his wishes, and when the
nresent session began, last december
his hold on the Senate, at least, nau 50
weakened that he has found II lmpos.
sible to get slngle Dig measure
he favored enacted
Presidents Programme flouted.
At the beginning of this session
President Wilson laid down pro-
aramme Of three bills which he insisted
must be passed conservation, Phlllp-
mines and ship purchase. Little oy
little the President gave way until ne
found himself insisting only on the
shin purchase bill. and even this was
doniod 70 him. Instead, the Senate
passed the immigration bill, which he
vetosd. and the seamen's bill, when IL
ia understood he will veto also.
The most serious thing of the ses-
sion now ending is the refusal OF the
Democratic leaders TO economic and
nrevent A threatened deficit in the pub
lie funds. Two years ago there was
snug surplus in the Treasury. To-day
there is a huge deficit, and despite this
the Democrats have passed appropIria-
tion bills in excess OF those of last
wear. The Underwood tariff law has
resulted in a big decrease in customs
receipts, which 1t was expected would
be made up by the war tax and the in
come tax. Both OF the latter have
fallen short of the estimates, but this
hns made no difference 20 the maiority