Valdez daily prospector., 1915-02-27
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1915.
AN EXTRA SESSION NEEDLESS
 AND DANGEROUS.

Not even American fondness for record d-breaking will oct much satis- faction out of the fact of the Senate in giving a longer continuous per formance than it ever did before. Other records than those of long ses- sions are in danger of being broken that of party folly, for example. It is probably true, as Senator Hitch cock has asserted, that at least half of the Democratic senators either pri- vately dislike the Ship Purchase bill or are averse to making a last-ditch fight for it. Yet they are held in line-or stretched out on cots and sofas-by party pressure and the de- mand of the president that the bill be passed. It cannot be called a glorious struggle. Like Beranger's hero, the aged senators sleep well in the committee rooms, but they also do it sans gloire Yet the ultimatum is said to have gone forth from the White House: "Either the Ship Pur- chase bill or an extra session of con- gress."
 In the very terms of this, it is plainly implied that an extra session is an evil to be avoided if possible. That it would be needless this year, everybody would have agreed when congress met in December. Presi- dent Wilson as good as said that his legislative program had been com- pleted; and two or three minor bills, with the appropriations, would be all that congress need attend to. Over one of these bills has come the obstinate and senseless conflict in he Senate, which is as wearying to the country as it is to those engag- ed in it. Even now, an extra ses- sion is not necessary. If both houses would drop everything else. the money bills for the carrying on of the government could all be pass cd before March 4. And that course. we are convinced, would best meet the desires and unspoken mandate of the great majority of the people.
 The reasons why they do not like to think of an extra session, com- ing at this time, and even fear it, are not far to seek. It would be both an unnecessary public expense and needless source of disturbance. The president has not the power with congress, as some governors have with the legislature, to specify the subjects to be considered in an extra session, and to confine discussion and action to them. He may, Alad- idnwise, let the jim out of the bot tie, without being able tc' get it back again Congress, once in session, is free to do what it will. And the general business conditions and sen timent being what they now are in this country, it is certain that the calling of an extra session would be a signal for further disquietude and even apprehension. The probability is strong, to be sure, that con- gress summoned to enact appropri- ation bills that had failed would at tempt little else. Yet it might; and so long as the possibility existed of new congressional inquiries. or of added legislation, affecting commerce and industry, the wheels of the char. tot of both would continue to tarry
 A much graver danger remains to be noted. It is one closely affecting the conduct of our government, and the official attitude of the United States, in the face of the European war. Thus far, all this has been left, as it should be, in the hands of the president. He has had almost no in reference by congress. A few re- quests for information have been made, and now and then a mischief making resolution has been introduc- ed, only to be buried in committee; but in the main congress has perceiv- ed the propriety of letting the presi. dent manage the diplomatic relations of the war unhampered. MT. Wilson has signified his wish that the war be kept out of congressional debates, and it has been. almost entirely But it is obvious that the tension over certain aspects of the war is grow ing more acute in the minds of some congressman. Incidents like the Lu- si-ania's hoistins of the American flag, it is harder and harder to in duce congress to refrain from dis.