New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-11
Wilson Said Not to Fear
Threat Against Legisla-
tive Programme.
TALK NOW OF NIGHT
SESSIONS IN SENATE
Republican Leaders Concen-
trating Forces to Defeat Ship
Purchase Measure.

Washington, Jan. l0.-With Senate
and House in agreement on its proyi-
sions. the Burnett immigration bill,
with the literacy test included, will be
"put up" to President Wilson this
week. Indications are that he will fol-
low the course Of President Taft and
veto the bill, although considerable
pressure from the Southern States ana
the labor unions has been exercised 10
get him 20 sign IT,.
In several instances a quiet threat
AS been made that unless he does so
any chance of getting MS legislative
programme through at TINS seSslo"
will come TO naught.
This attitude on the part Of the Ke-
publican Senators and also on the part
Of some Of the Democratic Senators
has the administration leaders wor-
ried. and they are now on the point OIL
considering cocrcive measures that the
legislation demanded by the President
may be jammed through. Longer daily
sessions, extending into the night. are
threatened and various steps TO Keep
the Senate mill grinding without cessa-
ton are under contemplation.
Only forty-siX working days remain
and the task which the President has
set for the Senate is little nearer com
pletion than il was weeks ago. Inc
Jam is tightening. The second Of the
appropriation bills is still unpassed
and the opposition TO the administTa-
ton ship purchase bill is even more de-
termincd. Republicans resent the
Pres dents criticism Of the minority
for its attitude toward the measure
Al. rrf prfI ~
rise &C. debate. which viii consume val
liable hours Of time. but tend 20 COM
rlicate the situation by making Sen
stors lighting mad" Some Demo
Gratis also who do not like the Presl-
dents allusion to his captaincy OF the
Democratic team also show signs OF
q rebelliouS mood.
Conditions are now such IN the Sen
ate that the question whether the
Presidents legislative programme VIII
be put through has given way TO the
question whether he viii call an extra
session. II is generally admitted that
some Of the administration bills az
least will fail. and there are many VINO
arc willing 10 wager that all OF them
Will fail. IN the light of the situation
the threat of Senator Stone that 1T Is
n long time until Chris mas sounds
ominous 20 those legislators who have
been counting on summer at home.
The Republicans have concentrated
their forces on the ship purchase bill,
which. they insist, should not be passed
at all, and they have promised that
discussion Of it will be prolonged as
much as possible. The bill had a stormy
time last week, and although II is un-
finished business, barring appropria-
ton bills, the Republicans already have
succeeded in consuming three days IN
debate on the District of Columbia APP
preparation bill, consideration OF which
will be resumed tomorrow.
Democratic leaders believe a vote on
the district measure can be forced to-
morrow. however. and that the ship
purchase bill can then be pressed for
general debate throughout most Of the
week. Senator Fletcher, acting chair
man of the commerce committee, IN
charge Of the bill will call it up the
moment the district bill is passed. Pre-
pared to continue their attack on the
measure are Senators Root, Gallnger,
Lodge. Burton and others, who IN re-
cent conferences agreed that plenty OF
other subjects could be found to talk
about from time TO time.
Although the Republicans deny It,,
Democratic chieftains openly charged
that their tactics have assumed the
form Of a hlibuster, and thus the
threat to demand the night sessions
arose. In the event of such devel-
opment, some Republican leaders state
that il will be casv to break a quorum
and thus add to the delays of legisla-
ton.
Determination on the part Of the
Democrats TO force the fight is notice
ably lacking. In the quiet of the cloak
rooms many of them are approving the
course Of the Republicans and giving
silent assent TO the plan to pass only
the appropriation bills and 90 home.