The Washington times., 1915-12-05
STAGE IS SET FOR
OPENING OF SESSION
Defense to Be Big Issue Before
Congress Which win As.
semble Tomorrow.
CONTINUED from Flrst Pace. ]

lContinued from First PaBe)
attached to the forthcoming message
both for legislative and political res-
sons.
Among the problems which the BE :.
sion beginning tomorrow will be
called on to face will be that of the
Government construction and owner
ship of a merchant marine The Ad
ministtation will back this proposed
Legislation as strongly as ever.
The taltn question Will be con-
sidered with special reference to eX-
tension OF the sugar tariff and anti
dumping" Legislation.
Other Important Issues.
Other questions to be faced include
rural credits. the Philippine inde-
pendence bill, national prohibition
woman Suffrage. prohibition for the
District OF Columbia, conservation
amendment OF the seamen's law. moi
iication of the Federal reserve act,
child labor and other labor legislR-
tion, and important treaties.
The treaties include those proposed "a
be ratified with Colombia, Nicaragua,
and Haiti. It is expected there viii be
sharp contests in the Senate over their
ratification. Much opposition will de-
Velop.
Growing out Of the internatio sit
uation, with the greatest war the world
many problems, Proposed legislation
to make 1t the more difficult for spies
and plotters of foreign powers to make
this country base OF operations will
come up for action.
Early in the session, there will be a
storm or oratory in both houses on the
subject OF the rights of neutrals, The
British orders in council and the block
ade maintained by the allies will be ar
raigned. Senator Hoke Smith is plan
ming one of the first speeches on this
subject. and It will be a noteworthy eff
Tort from the standpoint of those who
oppose the British policy. and who be-
lieVe this country must act more Wig
orously. The Administration foreign
policy Will come in for many attacis
throughout the session.
Long Session FOreseen.
For a time. there was strong pros.
pect that the war over cloture in the
Senate would interfere with the routine
OF the opening day. But the Senate
Democratic caucus has decided that
cloture shall be considered in aon-par-
tisan way. through the medium of the
Rules Committee. AS a result. the
routine Of procedure will obtain in both
houses with little variation.
That the session will extend far into
next summer is the general opinion. Not
= ie" neHAYS tnet Congress WILL be IN
virtually continuous session from now
until March 4. 1917. It is certain that Il
Congress solves half of all the mornen.
tous domestic and International cues.
tons before 1t. it will not stop workins
until this Administration ends.
On the record made by the present
session. Democratic leaders realize much
depends with respect to whether. they
retain control OF the Government
through another. four-year period. They
face situati6n,-especially in the House
where the Republican minority II much
larger than that of the last Congress-
and much more united and vigorous
which will be in many respects much
third Congress.
President Wilson has a much harder
problem on his hands to control Con.
gress than he had at the outset OF his
Administration. and the question oi
how he will meet the test is all-import.
ant from the political standpoint.