Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-23

third session. Much of the time ha.
been allotted for things that must be
done if an extra session is avoided.
There is plain sailing ahead this week.
it would seem. Controversial subjects.
apart from those on appropriation hill
will be avoided in the Senate. Re
publicans will probably be careful not
10 allow all appropriation bills to De
completed by Saturday night. Other
wise there would be opportunity to
make another drive on the ship bill
which is~to come OUT Of conference
Saturday The gentieman's agree
ment precludes a session OF the Senate
Sunday.
Senates have been traasacting i'm
portant public business in this fashion
for very many years but il does not
detract from the undesirability %
such programs as the enactment u
s. 900 600, 900 of appropriation bills ii
ten days. y month at least should
have been given to these bills in the
Senate. Two months Of discussion
and inquiry would not have been ex-
cessive. But the Senate passes from
one extreme 10 another, either talking
AdL lCo u 4Cl lco
is nearly as much reason for com.
planning about improper consideration
Of public business in the Senate as Of
too prolonged consideration.
If Presidents had the power TO veto
separate paragraphs OF appropriation
bills. much evil legislation would be
avoided. Amendments 10 the ConS,.
tuition TO that end have been proposed
at the recent session. as often before
but Congress does not take At all
kindly to such suggestions. AT the
present session appropriation bills are
loaded with objectionable riders less
than usual The appropria lions lea :
ers are swinging the AKA on expend!-
lures. They are sincerity trying TO eff
! feet economies.
Packing up IS already under way, 50
confident are most Washington Of
ficials that the bugaboo Of an extra
session has passed. The prospect Of
an extra session Oh account CT inter-
national complications is, ot course.
very remote. Only alar7nists talk Of
it at all seriously Under the spur 81
an early get away and the LIKELIHOOD
of nine months OF salary without par
ticuiar service, the average Congress
is working himself into happy franz
OF mind, Here ard there one finds a
sroucfy individual VINO says the tasks
can not lie completed by THURSDAY j.,
March 1, but the chances are very de-
ciCed now that, with much haste and
! confusion. what must be done by Con-
gross to keep the government runnina
/ viii ho enacted somehow ard the
Presidents signature attached thereto
within the two years period. tha-
marks the first half OF Mr.. Wilson's
; administration.
The State Department fs in the throos
! o important diplomatic activities. Just
now tine questions G: int irrational con-
tro'ersy are u9 with Germany and with
Great britain President Wilson and
Secretary Bryan started off well with
Germany, voicing the natiora. protest
against the establishment C n war
zone. into which our ships might not
enter II ;.le North Sea ana the English
channel, except at the peril OF German
, submarines. But Germany came back
| in very positive fashion ana the interest
comes in how the President and His
Secretary OF State viii make out during
the later stages. o. this combat. The
sitalrion with regard 70 Germany is 81
much more acute and has SO nany more
Possibilities q international cor,pli-
| Britain are wel nigh lost sight OF
Nevertheless tie State Department IS
still .deeo IL study over The differences
with Great Britain. There axe more
notes TO be dispa5e.le! % TIC Forei9n
Minister, Earl Grey, al 9c:tish rights
70 sieze cargoes of food ANA o1.-. art
cies not ordinarily regarded as contra
tand Of war are not conceded. The Lon
don authorities have been very concil-
iatory toward the United States ana in
so many cases have purchased the car
goes they would not permit to proceed
to destination that shippers have small
cause for grievance.
If Congress departs, President Wilson
has planned to go TO California early
next month. Presumably he will not
leave Washington for long unless these
difficulties OF transatlantic transpor-
tation clear away. But San Francisco
Is now only four days away from Wash
ington and while travelling the President
can be kept as we'll informed about what
is going on in Europe as though he were
in his private office The opportunity to
deliver addresses ON the return trip, at
least, is said to be attractive to the
President, who welcomes a chance to
tell the American people his version OF
the trend Of affairs during the last year
Or two and also to make en- appeal in
behalf Of Tie policies he proposes for the
| next two years.
Nominally this journey 10 the Pacific
Coast will not De political but it is likely
to have important political bearing
The President knows how active his
political enemies are and how they are
trying to bear him and his party
down. This is jdst the period in an ad-
ministration when a Presidents popu-
larity is at low cbb and his critics are
very aggressive. Something's Presidents
regain popularity during the last two
years OF their first terni in office; some
times it is otherwise. The Democrats
have a real battle on between now and
November Ge1s. President Wilson will
sead then, without any faltering.