The Washington times., 1915-10-08
Expected to Remain Continuous
ly in Session for the Next
Two Years.
DECISION IS WITH WILSON
Mass Of Proposed Legislation to
Come Up for Consideration
will Be Great.

Many members Of Congress who
satjsfaction that special session
has not been called either of the Senate
or of the entire Cons, ress.
There has been some talk lately that
vember in order to get the war tax
measure re-enacted before 1t expires.
But the Administration has kept silent
on such a plan IL It has formulated It.
From the viewpoint most members of
Senate and House. there Is little scnti-
ment in favor Of a special session. One
reason for this is that members have
no notion how long Congress will re-
main in session once 1t assemblies.
Two-Year Session Seen.
Tho possibilities are recognized that
once Congress gets together this fall
or winter. It will remain In session al
most continuously for the next two
years. That is a potent reason why old
time members are not eager for the
session to start, excepting those who
have some special purpose in a special
session.
From early In the Taft Administration
until last March 4, Congress remained in
Washington with comparatively little
Interruption. Senators and House men,
bcrs who lived through all that period
were tired out and anxious to renew
old home ties with their districts and
States.
It Is considered here not unlikely that
there Is ahead another long period that
Senate and House will grind away on
conversation and legislation with little
interruption.
Depends Upon Wilson.
Whether Congress sits late into the
coming sumer and. perhaps. into the
fall. will depend on President Wilson.
whaA.ver he urges the Democratic
leaders are expected to do The person
mel of Of Congress. as a rule. would like
to end the regular session before the
national conventions. in order to take
part in the conventions and then 20
home and campaign. But II the leaders
about the President come to the conclu-
sion next winter or spring that it would
te better to keep Congress here until
close to election time. It viii! be done.
The mass ofproposed legislation which
will be laid before Congress for action
will be so great that II the bulk of It
Is seriously considered 1t will probably
be found impossible to adjourn the ses-
sion before the conventions. Such uues-
tions as Government purchase of mor-
chant marine, war taxes, sugar tariT,
the Philippines. rural credits. enlarge
ment of army and navy. Haiti. the Co
lombian treaty. the Nicaraguan treaty.
enlargement Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. national prohibition and
woman suffrage-not to mention a multi
tude Of others-are going to consume no
end Of time.
Divided On Cloturc.
II the Democrats, or part Of them.
try to force cloture rule on the Sem
ate. much time will be consumed In the
debate, as the opposition is vigorous
and determined and the Democrats are
divided on cloture.
The short session beginning little
over year hence will wind UP this
Congress. If there Is a Republican Ad-
ministration elected to succeed the Will
son Administration, an extra session
viii no doubt be called In the spring of
1917 And II Is possible that II Wilson
is reelected especially II the European
war is over by that time, he will want
a special session to make over some OF
the tarif schedules and otherwise legis-
late to meet conditions due to the war
An extra session In the spring Of 1917
would be followed by regular sessions
which would keep Congress here most
OF the time up to March 4. 1919.