The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-02-19
EXTRA SESSION EXCUSE
IS GIVEN PRESIDENT
Executive Has Been Hoping for
Chance to Blame it on Republicans

1t is learned from sources close to
the White House that President Viii
son has long been convinced that an
extra session of congress must be
called soon after the 4th Of March,
but because Of the unpopularity of
extra sessions and because of the stig-
ma that attaches to the party in power
when an extra session is rendered
necessary by the incompetency of the
majoritieS in senate and house the
president has been maneuvering to
bring about a situation which will JUS
tify him in laying the blame for the
extra session on the Republicans
The fight that developed on the
hip-purchase bill and the subsequent
defeat of that measure as the result
of an unprecedented filisbuster in the
senate, has given the president his
excuse, and it now expected that the
call for an extra session will not be
long delayed. And the session when
called, will probably be blamed on
the shipping bill aRd the pecessity
for that legislation will be put for
ward as the prime reason for the
extra session. But from inside
sources comes the intimation that
the most important work of congress,
during the special session, will be the
consideration of revenue legislation,
and not the ship-purchase bill.
Finances in Bad Shape. 50
Conferences between the president
and Secretary McAdoo, and some of
the leaders in congress have satisfied
the president that the financial con-
dition of the government is critical
and cannot go unnoticed, nor can it
be neglected. With a deficit today
of $70,000000, and prospect of an in
creasing deficit, some steps must be
taken to replenish the treasury.
Whether the war tax must be re-en-
acted and expended, or whether the
Underwood tariff act must be revised
in certain particulars; whether the in
come tax shall be broadened out or
whether some other means shall be
devised for raising additional rev.
enue, will be for the new congress to
determine. But it is said the admins
tration is now convinced, though re-
luctant TO admit, that something must
be done, and done soon, for the stric-
test economy in the conduct of the
government will not wipe out the de-
felt, which has grown to alarming
proportions.
Rural Credit Bill.
If congress is called in extra SEES
sion, the senate and house of their
own initiative and in spite of the CO.
vert opposition of the president. will
probably pass rural credits bills, a
measure which would have been given
right of-way this session but for
the demand of the president that the
Ship-purchaSe bill he showed through.
But while the house is laughing over
the shipping bill, or while the two
houses are considering the rural ere
dts bill or some other legislation, the
administration and its leaders in con-
gress will work out some program OF
financial legislation and that will be
brought to the front, after time,
and if possible III way to indicate
that it is incidental to the main bust
ness of the special session.
At the present moment the admin
istration is sitting up nightS-worry-
ing over the condition of the'treaS-
ury; the president and the secretary
of the treasury have been studying
means of increasing the federal reve,
nues, but all the time the impression
is thrown out that the treasury is moi
in bad shape. Unfortunately, under
the law. the secretary of the treasury
is compelled to make public state
ment each day showing the state o
the national finances and these dali,
statements show steadily increasing
: deficit, which cannot be coVeredovcT
and which cannot much longer be ig
$ nored. however much the presiden
, would like to make the country be
lieve the government is in prosperou
condition.
1t is this condition which must b
met and dealt with when congress
: meets in special session.