Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-02
CONGRESS WORKING HARD
TO EXPEDITE LEGISLATION
Both Houses I'm Session Until Late
Hour at Night Considering I'M
POrtant Matters.
NAVAL PROGRAM COMPROMISED
Generally Agreed That Big Appro-
priation Measures Are as Far ADJ
vanced as They Usually Are in
Closing Days OF Session.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. March both
houses OF Congress worked until a
late hour tonight. administration
leaders straining every resource to eX-
pedite legislation that must be en-
acted before adjournment on Thurs
day noon.
Rural credit Legislation aS an amend
ment to the agricultural bin held the
Tho Senate, after devoting second
day to appropriation tanEl.s in the
$l1,0o0,001 Indian supply bill, laid the
bill aside this evening for an cNccu-
tive session, and to take mp general
calendar bills
a compromise on the naval build
ing program was one of the import
ant developments Of the day. Con-
ferecs agreed to two submarines Of
the sea-go!nG type, and sixteen coast
defense submarines. The liods" biz
had provided for but one sea going
submarine and eleven OF the coast
defense type. House conferecs yielded
TO the Senatr's demand for the SIX.
teen coast defense vessels. but would
not agree Ia i've of tire ocean going
type. The senate proposal for new
hospital ship and a new gunboat was
eliminated. The provision TOR two bat
tleships was unchanged.
Tomorrow the conference" commit
tee Will meet to further consider sec
lions OF the bill relating To abolition
OF the plucking board aud establish
nauticB.
Leaders OF both houses concentrated
their efforts on conference reports on
unfinished appropriation bills through
out the day. and evening. and II was
generally agreed the big supply meas
ures were AZ far advanced as they
usually arc In the closing Gays OF n
Congress. Army, naval. agricultural
and post-oicc measures still We're in
conference tonight. but II was expect
cd that all would he reported to-mor-
row and Wednesday.
UP to date the appropriation bills
ready for the President aggregate an
outlay OF s3l4.+ll.223. Thcse include
the. sundrv civil Qualifications, District
OF Columbi and military academy bills.
Nine other bills excluding the river and
harbor bill. as passed by the Senate ag-
greEate ssTt.029.l20. Added TO these. in
all probability Will be a Join; resoiu
ton appropriat.nG lump sum OF s25.-
100000 TO 100000 for river and har-
Dor Improvement. which would bring to
total appropriation for the next fiscal
year to more than $1,000. ooo,c 600.
a nlibuster by House Republicans to-
day against consideration Of the con
ference report on the ship purchase bill
prevented action on the measure. An
other effort to get the rcpor; approved
may be made tomorrow Republican
Senate leaders sim insist tho bill will
he talked to death. No matter In what
"
PRESIDENT STICKS TO
SItP-rIRCiiASE bill
Democratic leaders to-niGh; corsfl
cred aha ndorinG the fight for the shin.
purchase bill. but after a Serics OF
conferences It developed tht<fhe Pres
ident would not approve ~ plan Then
Representative Undcry6od announced
That the conference report would b..
called up In IN. House again to-mor-
row. ---'
?f.e' president thinks the hill ought
10 he put through the House." said Mr..
Underwood.
The Senate followed tho calendar for
two hours and "A half. and Mt midnight
had passed sevcnty-scvcn bills. most
OF them private measures or OF purely
local interest.
Consideration OF the Indian appro-
Driation bill then Was resumed under
an agreement that - recess should be
taken ~ l:3" y. NJ. unt.l II o'clock to-
morrow.
one bin passed was n measure for
extending the thanks OF Congress 10
I Colonel iocrhals ana other army and
navy officials who have participated
In the construction Of the Panama "a
nal The Senate amended the bill 10
provide Tor the advance Of these Of
icers one grade in rank.
Another bin passed provides for the
construction o. purchase of siN ucw
coast guard cutters.
an amendment To the Federal re-
cerHe act was passed to permit Tie re
serve board 10 Increase the limit OF
acceptance 10 100 per cent OF the can
ital and surplus OF amy bank