Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-10
SENATE SITUATION
VERY UNUSUAL
EXTRA SESSION APPEARS AT
PRESENT TO BE UN-
AvolDAsLE.
NEVER SUCH DELAY ON
APPROPRIATION BILLS
Fight Appear. Certain Over President
Wilson'S Appointments to Trade
Commission - Senate Republicans
Apparently Prepared to Fight Ship
Bill Until March 4 or Defeat It.
Especial Correspondence

|cally three weeks left before the short
session of congress ends and the life
Of this congress expires, there is piling
up ahead Of the lawmakers so much
work that many of the leaders look on
an extra session as almost unavoidable.
The volume of business ahead of the
senate is especially great
Senate leaders frankly say today
they think the calling of an extra ses-
sion will probably prove unavoidable,
altho they have not entirely lost hope
of obviating the need of one. Leaving
the ship purchase bill out of the ques-
ton, however, the senate has work
enough piled up ahead of it to keep II
busy every week day from now until
March 4.
Situation Unusual.
Not in years has such a situation
with respect to the appropriation bills
been presented. With the first week
|of February gone, not a single one of
the regular supply bills has passed the
senate, with the exception of the Dis
trict of Columbia appropriation bill and
it is in conference, altho no progress is
being made in getting it out of confer
ence.
The senate has ahead of 1t the dis
posal In some fashion Of the ship pur-
chase bill. the appropriation bills. the
confirmation of the new trade COM
mission, the consideration of the Nor
ris resolution for an investigation into
campaign expenditures in Pennsyl-
vania. Illinois and other states, and
many minor matters. This takes no
account of number of bills of major
Importance. such as the Philippine bill.
the conservation bills. the general dam
bill, rural credits, and the railway Sc
curities bill-measures which it is con-
coded can not be passed this session.
Trade Commission Fight.
The president has not yet appointed
the trade commission. This has been
dragging along all winter. despite the
fact there was a great rush to pass the
Law last session. When it Is appointed.
there Is little doubt that big fight
over confirmation will result over two
or three Of the names. II E. N. hurley.
Of Illinois. is appointed. there Is sure to
be strong opposition to his condrma-
ito. In the closing days of q short ses
sion, suck contest is likely to Inter-
fere seriously with the passage Of the
appropriation bills.
The senate can rush the appropria-
tons thru with little time and scant
consideration If it chooses to do so, but
1t has been showing an increasing
to give careful scrutiny of the
supply bills. This is the more true be-
cause the senate is now elected direct
ly. Senators feel they are more directly
responsible to the people than before.
the treasury is running low, and the
need for economy Is widely urged. The
rivers and harbors bill is sure to stir up
trouble and probably a filibuster. It's
friends know 1t, are aware that it is in
danger, and consequently some of them
would be more than willing to see an
extra session and have the bill go over
until the special session Is held. SEN
atcrs Burton, Kenyon and others are
loading up their ammunition wagons
for campaign against the bill. which
has been increased by the senate com
merce committee until it carries over
$4,000, 900.
Army and Navy Bills Too.
Then, there are the army and navy
bills These measures are demanding
unusual attention this winter. In spite
OF the efforts of pacific persons to
bring about disa armament, the fact Is
the feeling is growing in congress that
the countrys army and navy problems
have got to be tackled with more vigor
than heretofore and with clearer un-
Outstanding of the needs in the light OF
the worlds developments in military
and naval sense. So 1t is generally ex-
pected the army and navy bills will
cause protracted senate debate Senator
Chamberlain would like to push legis-
lation for the reorganization of the
army but this can not be done success
fully in the short session.
The ship purchase bill Is in such a
situation that II it is pressed by the
democrats the republicans will fill
buster against 1t for an indefinite pc
Tiod. That would obviously mean an
extra session. 1t could be dropped now,
or shortly, and doubtless a way could
be found. II the leaders of both sides
would cooperate. to get the appropria-
toin bills thru. confirm the trade COM
mission when 1t Is named, and avoid an
extra SESSION. But many of the demo
cratic leaders think 1t would be poor
politics to drop ship purchase now.