Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-03-24
UNEXPECTED MATTERS CAUSING
p CONGRESS TO GET FAR
REHINDHAND.
'e MAY SIT THROUGH SUMMER
Long Debates Certain on Some Of the
Legislation That is Proposed-Many
Appropriation Measures Necessarily
Held Back.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

strenuous work of inducing their con-
stituents to return them to office are
worried today ever the backward con-
dition of the legislation fixed upon for
the winters labor. Their sharp fear is
that notwithstanding the hopeful out
look of few days ago they be com.
PEELED to sit through the hot summer
and up-to the time when the snow be-
gins to fly in the fall
Congress would have made much
better progress with the bills that 1t
was determined in advance to enact
into law If 1t had not been for the ar
rival in the midstsof things unex.
pected and troublous visitors in the
shape of what might be called extra
,neous subjects. The apparent deter.
mination of a part of congress to pass
resolution warning Americans OF
merchantmen carrying guns for de-
fensive purposes created a tremen'
dous amount of excitement and set
back legislation for some days.
Then came the letter of President
Wilson asking that congress should
vote on one of the warning resolu-
tions and put itself on record as be-
ing for or against the administration
in its handling of the delicate diplo-
matte negotiations which were before
It. This matter gave the senators and
representatives SO much to think
about that the machinery Of ordinary
legislation moved still more slowly.
The proposal of Representative Bor-
land of Missouri that government
clerks In Washington should have an
hour added to their days work also
added to the embarrassment of the
situation.
Money Bills Badly Delayed.
As yet only one or two of the q eat
er appropriation bills are on their way
to final passage and signing Some OF
these measures necessarily must be
delayed until late hour when II can
: be determined definitely how much
money is to be needed to run depart
ments of government whose expenses
this year probably are to be increased
materially
II is Impossible. of course. to pass
the army and navy appropriation
bills until 1t is shown clearly how
much the increase in the two branches
of the service is to. be; how many
ships are to be built and how much
ammunition is to be purchased. In
fact. the preparedness measures So
called and the army and navy appro-
priation bills virtually are appropria.
ton bills in themselves.
The senate debated for a long time
what is known as the waterpower
bill II has been opposed bitterly in
its present form by the conservation
lists of the country who maintain
that It does not properly safeguard
the interests of the public. The re-
verse. of course. is maintained by the
proponents of the measure and the
fight has been long and fast.
Plans That Are Bitterly Opposed.
An attempt is being made this year
to pass legislation which will make
the government its own manufacturer
in-chief. It is proposed that all armor
plate shall be made by the United
States and 1t is more than suggested
that all other things having to do
with army and navy supplies shall he
given directly into the manufacture
and control of Uncle Sam. 1t is hard
ly necessary to say that these prop
ositions are being combated bitterly
and that the subject is one which
makes for iengthening Of the ses-
sion.
The bill known as the shipping bill
which provides for government
owned merchant marine will take per
haps weeks of debate before the ques-
tion can be decided definitely one way
or the other. It will be remembered.
of course. that II was this bill or one
somewhat similar which engaged the
attention of congress last year. the
house finally passing 1t and the SEN
ate finally forcing 1t to die by the
talking route The measure has
been altered materially this year and
with the increased Democratic major
ity in the senate II seems likely that
II will be passed by that body at
least, although the situation in the
house with its decreased Democratic
majority is somewhat in doubt
There are several other measures
of considerable national moment
which will engage the attention OF the
lawmakers for a long time before ac-
tion can be taken upon them. The
house, of course. can put things
through under rules limiting debate.
but the failure of the senate to adopt
o rule of like kind makes 1t still pos
sible for matters to run their course
of talk unchecked In .he upper house
until unanimous consent can be OBJ
tanned to put them to vote.
Congress Galleries Crowded.
Promises of sharp and spectacular
debates in the senate on the questions
of foreign relations and on prepared.
ness bring daily to the senate galleries
hundreds of visitors. many of them