The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-04
Congressional Exodus Has
Already Started-Hardly
a Quorum Left
REVENUE BILL WILL
FINISH PROGRAMME
The Corrupt Practices Act Has No
Chance of Being Passed,
as the Republicans OBJ
ject to 1t

Washington. September 3.-The con-
gressional exodus. after nine eventful
months of legislation, has begun. With
adjournment practically assured by
"Wednesday or Thursday scores of
members packed their campaign
speeches last night Immediately after
they had saved the nation from a rail-
road strike and rushed for unthreat-
ened trains bound for political battle
fields.
BY midnight there had vanished the
quorum of the House, which had been
held to guard against any possible slip
betwixt the Senate and the White
House in the progress of the eight
hour day bill Many senators also sat-
listed that the emergency revenue bill
will, when passed. conclude important
business of the Senate, departed for
their homes or on campaign itineraries.
Some go to Maine to aid in the whirl-
wind finish by both parties in the state
and senatorial elections there that will
serve as a curtain raiser for the ma
tional campaign,
All that remains on the administra-
ton legislative programme in the SEN
ate is the revenue bill and the Webb
bill to permit American exporters to
establish combination selling agencies
abroad Senate leaders plan to incor-
porate the Webb bill into the revenue
bill as an amendment in order to assure
quick action it. Senator Simmons
chairman of the finance comaittee, be-
1ieves the revenue measure will be
ready for conference by Tuesday night
ha oh ad
Thuznday night at the latest.
BY THURSDAY AT LATEST
Informal conferences on Senate
amendments to the revenue bill are al
ready in progress and a report of the
conference committee will not require
much time, the leaders say. The House
is practically done with everything ex
cept the revenue conference report and
can adjourn whenever Senate leaders
give the word.
There are a few odds and ends of
legislation for the Senate to deal with
and few obstacles still threaten to
prolong the session bur administration
heads say that nothing could hold a
quorum longer than this week 1t is
probable that the Senate will take an
hour or two to pass the Porto Rico
citizenship and election bill, but no
other measures are on the programme.
There are the corrupt practices and
immigration bills, however, still on
the ca1endar with Senators Owen and
Smith of South Carolina ready to call
them up If possible. Senator Owen in
sists that he will demand a vote a
motion to take up the corrupt practices
bill. Republican senators will not have
it, however, and administration leaders
are content to let the bill go over.
Should Senator Owen attempt fill
buster they insist that adjournment
resolution could be Unanswered to take
him off his feet There is a chance that
the immigration bill, which President
Wilson has already declared he would
veto, may be taken up. Should this be
done the bill would be forced to con-
ference and there it probably would
remain when the adjournment gavcl
fell.
AN ACUTE STRAIN
The passage of the eight-hour day
bill relieved members generally of an
acute strain Circumstances attending
Its legislative career were unusual and
the week just passed which was given
over almost completely to the settle |
ment of the strike left leaders of both
sides tired out. Although the Presi- |
dents legislative suggestions for meet |
ing the emergency were complied with
in small part only, there will be no at
tempt made to complete the programme
now.
That railroad legislation of per-
manent character must follow the
eight-hour bill and temporary ADJUST
ment of the threatened labor crisis, !
however. is conceded. Already it looms
UP as the dominant subject for consid-
Grafton of the next Congress, and dur
ing recess of Congress thorough study
of the situation will be undertaken by
the Joint subcommittee of the inter-
state commerce committees created for
the purpose. Senator Newlands, the
chairman, has called a meeting of the
subcommittee to be held some day this
week to consider plans for the ad in
term work.