Evening star., 1915-01-05
WILSON GIVES HINT
Of EXTRA SESSION
Possible Result of Failure by
Congress to Pass Ship
Purchase Measure.
is CONFIDENT, However,
BILL WILL GO THROUGH
President Declines to Discuss Pend
ing immigration Legislation-Gos-
sip Regarding Coming Speech.

President Wilson came close today
to a statement that if Congress fails
to pass the ship subsidy bill at this
session he will call an extra session.
lie had been answering inquiries by
Washington newspaper men on various
legislative matters and had stated that
he did not consider an extra session as
at all likely. In fact, he said. nobody
was thinking of an extra. session and
everybody was working toward finish
ing the program by March 4. When
asked the question whether failure to
pass the ship purchase bill would alter
the outlook for an extra session he
admitted that it might make consid-
cradle difference. Later, however, he
said that nobody expected anything of
that kind.
The President reiterated that a ship
purchase bill is an absolute necessity
for this country. and it is evident that
he places this legislation at the top
of the program agreed upon with the
democratic leaders. While he did not
directly s. SO today. the opinion grows
that if Cn'.gress wants an extra session
it will get it on failure to put through
such bill.
Silent on immigration Bill.
The President did not care today to
discuss his probable veto Of the immi-
grafton bill. which is now in conference.
Before he acts on the measure President
Wilson was today asked for hearing
by Louis N. Hammerling, president of
the American Association of Foreign
Language Newspapers The request will
many days remained much doubt as to
the Presidents purpose to veto the Dill.
At the same time it looks to be the
fbe of Veto on ss to the
Whether the President will use his
influence with Congress to prevent
passage of the bill over a veto Is not
known. The opinion prevails that, .hav-
ing made known to the country his own
views on the subject, by means of
veto, the President will go no further.
If he wished to make a personal appeal
to the leaders in Congress the bill could
has paid little attention to this par
ticular legislation; has made no direct
efforts to prevent its passage, and has
simply let his friends know of his per-
sonal opposition to the literacy test in
the bill He may be content with ex-
planning his attitude to the country and
not interfering with Congress If it
wants to rush the measure through
over his veto. action which he probably
would not consider as a personal
affront and which Congress would not
intend as one.
Discusses Rural Credits.
Regarding the pressure for rural
credits legislation. the President point
ed out that much of the relief which
had been intended to convey to the
agricultural elements of the country
In distinct rural credits bill had been
afforded in amendments to the federal
reserve bill at the last moment. He
would like to see this bill given suff1-
necessary relief to farmers would be
afforded. His intimations were that
rural credits legislation would prob
ably go over until the next session of
The Presidents Indianapolis speech
next Friday. to be devoted to political
subjects. will not be prepared in ad-
vance. To his newspaper friends to-
day the President said that he had
never had the capacity to prepare a
satisfactory speech in advance. 1t
never sounded good to him. 1t was
believed today that the President will
set forth his support of a ship pur-
chase BILL a Philippine independence
strong terms and say some things that
will be little more direct than any
thing he has uttered in some time. The |
intimations are that he will put some
call upon his party associates to meet
the partisan opposition that is making
it's appearance quite freely each day |
1t is expected he will predict a quick
return to prosperity and have no
glowing words for such of the oppo-
sition leaders as are doleful about good
times under the present democratic
tariff
Stories Without Foundation.
The President abruptly ended talk
about his sending a representative of
this country to the Vatican in Rome to
aid in efforts for peace by saying that
the stories published are without the
slightest foundation. He is, it is
known. taking no steps to try to Sc
cure peace in Europe. He does not re-
gard the time ripe, and it may be
months yet before he will proceed in
that direction.
The President is standing by the
Philippine bill with the preamble in
cluded. He thinks the preamble neces-
sary only as showing the straightfor-
ward purposes of the United States
The bill might work all right without
the preamble. but that part is a clean
cut announcement of a policy. He could
not believe, he indicated, that it would