Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-27
Friends of President Wilson
Discredit Rumors of Call
for October.
FEAR EFFECTS OF TALK
ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
Defense Program May Be Ex.
pedited by summoning Leaders
to Washington.

President Wilson has no thought Of
calling Congress in extra session un-
less a serious exigency arises in the
foreign affairs of the country. accord
ing to close friends of the President
today. 1t has been known for a long
time that the President dreaded the
idea of an extra session, fearing that
1t would be utilized for political oratory
that would excite immense friction
throughout the country and possibly
embroil the United States with one or
more of the foreign countries now at
war.
The President and his cabinet Off
GERS have discussed the possibility on
several occasions, but each time have
veered away from the subject 1t is
easily understood that it would be
impossible to prevent radical talk in
Senate and House, designed for local
consumption, but all the time arousing
prejudices and sentiments that would
soon have the country in a highly
dynamic state, at the same time ac-
eomplishing no betterment of the re-
latlons of this government with foreign
countries.
Hope to Avert Break.
There is no question that in the event
Of bad break in the country's affairs
with Germany, with possible hostile ac-
tion on the part of the United states,
the President would call Congress in
extra session, his friends said today,
but administration leaders are hopeful
that Germany's present anger will not
lead her into disregarding the attitude
of the United States by pursuing a
submarine policy that will inevita bly,
III \ tr<,p1
at least, with the allies.
Conditions in Mexico. too. might
necessitate an extra session of Con-
gress. but this is deemed unlikely, and
the President will seek to put his plans
there into effect. without having Con-
gress brought to Washington ahead of
the regular December session.
The basis for the revival of the talk
of an extra session, to be called in
October is the announced purpose of
the administration to launch a new pol
icy of preparedness for war-that is,
bigger and more up-to-date navy and
a larger and better equipped army.
Must Increase Revenues.
The idea is that plans of this Kind
will entail SO much consideration and
discussion in Congress that it will be
impossible to procure the passage of
the desired legislation at the regular
that not only will the administration
be compelled to give much time to the
constructive features of the prepared
ness-for-war plans the President will
approve. but that it must also devise
means in Congress for raising the ex-
ira revenues that will be necessary to
put the proposed new laws into effect
The way must be found for additional
revenue to meet the deficiency that con-
fronts the government for operations dur
ing the past year and half and this will
be big task without the complications
OF finding money to finance a larger navy
and larger army. Secretary McAdoo
has been postponing the preparation of
1ect until he has more time to watch the
income of the Treasury during the next
few months for comparison with the same
months of the last fiscal year.
Free to Issue Bonds.
1t is his opinion that the Treasury will
be able to meet the drain upon it until
Congress determines the steps to be taken
for more revenues. He has authority to
issue bonds or short-term certificates
without further legislation and will re-
sort to this authority whenever he thinks
he should do SO. If at ALL
AS opposed to the reasons given for a
probable extra session it was todav v de-
clared that the President will be able
to point the way for democrats in the
House to start preliminary work for
preparedness legislation without hay-
ing to call Congress in the fall AL
though no Speaker of the next House
has been elected and ostensibly there
IS no head to announce committees TO
take UP the work of Congress early
In the fall. it Is known who will head
ana mainly compose the ways and
means and appropriations committees
that would handle the main portions
of the administration program 1t
would not be difficult to have commit
tees put to work early in the fall
through cooperation between the
President on one side and the pro-
spective Speaker and democratic floor
leader of the House on the other.
May Call Leaders Here.
There will be no surprise If the Pres
tdent sends for Speaker Clark and
other democratic leaders of the House
and Senate when his preparedness
program is ready for submission to
Congress. 1t is going to take MANY
months. though. to whip this program
into shape. All the forces of the War
and Navy departments are being called
into activity to make recommendations
and submit views, 1t was the opinion
today that it will be impossible to
agree upon program before the mid
die of October and possibly not at that
time.
There would be no reason to call
Congress together until the proposed
legislation is ready Presumably most
of the legislation will be appropria-
tions, with other legislation to raise
money to meet the Increased appropria-
| tions, but some general legislation will
be required. especially If National
Guard of real value is provided for as
a supplement to the enlarged army