The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-12-08
SHORT SESSION BUSY
ONE FOR CONGRESS
Appropriation Bills, Measures Left Over
Railroad and Eight Hour Law and
Probably Embargo Question

The present session of Congress,
the "short session., which expires
by limitation on the Bird of March,
will be an unusually busy one, if the
work which confronts it is carried out.
Speaker Clark has suggested that the
Christmas holidays be utilized in or
der to add a little more working time
to the session, but this would doubt
less be hard to arrange.
Aside from the 10 supply or ap-
preparation bills, which must be pass
ed to defray the expenses of the Gov
eminent during the coming fiscal
year, many measures are hanging ov-
err from last session.
With full realization that speedy
gait will have to be maintained if the
remaining party pledges are lived up
to, President Wilson summoned to the
White House the first of the week
Speaker Clark and Majority Leader
Claude Kitchen for a conference on
the legislative program.
Last Session of Present Congress
The President indicated desire to
have the legislative slate cleaned with
the dissolution of the present Con-
gress, which will mark the end of his
first term. With the beginning of his
second term, March A, next, a new
Congress will come into being.
The new Congress, elected Novem-
Der 7, will not be assembled, however,
until December, 1917, unless events
now unforeseen force an extra session.
Ia - ls,,o,,,,, ~ h. +ho Drae;Jant,c 1.r; cl,
to avoid, if possible, an extraordinary
meeting of the new Congress.
President Urges Speed.
The President asked Mr.. Kitchin to
push to early passage the appropria-
ton bills, and also requested both the
Speaker and the majority leader to
dispose of the pending railroad leg
islation with all possible expedition.
Speaker Clark told the President he
did not think the administration
should countenance the usual long
Christmas holiday and asked the
President to aid him in keeping the
lawmakers on the job. This Mr.. Will
son promised to do.
The President impressed his callers
with his belief that the proposed rail
road legislation is of the utmost i'm
portance. Neither the Speaker nor
Mr.. Kitchin would say whether the
President had indicated just what
form he wished this legislation to take.
Railroad Program.
There are four subjects embraced
in the railroad program as it was left
when Congress adjourned just prior
to the presidential campaign. One OF
chese features is the increase in the
membership Of the Interstate Com
uerce Commission from seven to nine.
Another grants the commission au-
thority to consider suggested increas-
es in freight rates to balance the ex-
penditures that are contemplated for
wage increases under the application
of the Adamson law.
A third phase is the Canadian prin-
ciple, suggested by the President at
the last session, when the agitation of
the eight-hour day was at its height,
which provides that all industrial dis
putes be investigated before strike
or lockout.
The fourth feature cedes power to
the President in case of military ne
cessity to take over the control of the
rolling stock of railroads.
Union Men Oppose One Measure.
The President is understood to ia
vot the adoption of all these measures.
Some features of the program do not
meet with the favor Of the four rail-
road brotherhoods, or the American
Federation of Labor. They especial
ly oppose the Canadian plan of in
vestigating labor disputes, which they
contend is in the nature of enofrced
arbitration.
There is reported to be considerable
Democratic divergence of opinion
over the several phases of the railroad
legislation. Majority Leader Kitchin
is credited with being opposed to in
creasing the membership or powers of
the Interstate Commerce Commission,
although he said nothing after leaving
the White House tonight to indicate