The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-04
Railroad Problem and Appro-
priation Bills Expected to
Take Time Of Short Session
REPUBLICANS MAY USE
OBSTRUCTIVE TACTICS
High Cost of Living and Food
..Embargo Not Mentioned in
Recommendations Given to
Speaker Clark and kitch.n

Washington. Dec. 3.--On the eve
~ the opening Of Congress President
Wilson called Speaker Clark and
Claude kitchin, the Democratic House
leader, into conference this afternoon
1t the White House He outlined the
iegislation he desires passed by hand
ipg them written memorandum con-
taining Ave recommendations.
First and foremost were the rail-
road legislation and the appropria-
ton bills. The question of the high
cost OF living was not mentioned in
the Presidents schedule 1t Is un-
derstood that the President and the
House leaders both oppose Consldera-
ton of this great subject at this time.
1T Is predicted that the railroad and
appropriation bills wili consume the
entire time OF the short session.
lin fact. there is a question whether
she railroad legislation VIII be actual
ly concluded President Wilson is
most earnest in his desire that the
railroad situation hc disposed of II Is
said he urges this because he con-
slders the welfare Of the American
people paramount to everything.
Fear Obstructive Tactics.
I Bus. already the-e T. toar Ia Wash
ingioa t-3at tAr Republicans VIII use
obstructive tttJrS Republican lead
were lying back In their trenches.
ana carefully Watching the Demo
cratic program. THE rapt That there
Is no csuturc ru}e IN the Svnat" leads
~ Mpprohcus that some Eepuhl8-
Gan senator u4av talk The railroad
bills INFO q dcuise. 1t Is sad tsat the
snain reason tur Republican opposI-
ttpn syi,i he iAsed III hnpe taat thi~
"nlrDi the deStlnirs of the
next House.
@ .4eat ,nt.maiea today thai
s.s"su saou!d Nr hut one railroad bili.
ahe details of tne measure were not
eons!dcrcA. tigt IS w.gs understood he
was stil. uo~, inSiStea, upou lvgisja-
,ien providing for investigation Of
The hlli VIII probably he modelled
nf.as the Mckenzie King or Cana
dian disputes ACT II may provide fog
The taking of "a strike vote through a
Fetleta. agency
There Is bound 70, be- a bitter fight
on this measure. Organized labor is
adamantine IN it's stand against such
legislation Congressman representing
industrial districts. as we'll as Eepub-
-licans, viii use all their efforts against
itx passage. even though the President
SAYS situation such as that OF August
1915. must never again terrify Ameri-
can people
Bill May BE Ready THIS Week.
Just when the railroad bill. or bills
will be brought upon the floor of Con-
gress is yet "A question. The measure
has not yet been framed. II Is hoped
the committee will he able TO pre-
sent II by the end Of this week. AS al
ready said, the high cost of living and
it's allied proposition that of an en-
barge OF foodstufys. were not men,
tanned. Neither was the immigration
bill. which provides IA literacy test for
prospective Americans. The impress
aion reigns in congressional circles
that the President would repeat his
veto upon such measure.
The other measures the President
Included in his memorandum. besides
the railroad and appropriation bills.
were the general dam, conservation.
and vocational educational bills. He
Indicated that the Ave were all he
though could possibly be cleared at
this session, under any circumstances.
Tho vocational educational bill will
~ brought up Immediately on the
suspension calendar. If possible,
9noAker Clark will recognize one OF
~ supportsss tomorrow. At any rate,
u will be- brought up Wednesday. The
General dam bin and conservation bill
j are no win conference, and II l con-
aIdered unlikely that the conferees
will reach an agreement
Republicans Arc Watching.
There was an idea tonight among
| influential Democrats that Senator
| Ovens corrupt practices acts would
alSo be considered at this session. Now
that the election is over 1t could not
| ~ charged that the Democrats were
playing politics by passing such
i measure.
8 Republican Congressmen have not
. Axreed a. to their course toward the
ADMINISTRATORS measure. Their at
fitude is one of "watchful waiting"
They intend to form their conclusions
after the President reads his mes
sage Tuesday and the Democratic
measures have been started.
No call for Republican caucus
has been issued. But in a series OF
f. Informal meetings. a tacit agreement
4 has been reached to follow the course
Indicated. Some matters, such as the
e&neral legislative and army and navy
ebpropriation bills. will not call for
= political division. But there would
81 long debate upon the embargo and
| the railroad legislation.
Hepublicans are not so sanguine as
Democratic members on the possibilf-
u Of rushing through the full pro-
aram. A leading majority member
| I'D that 1t will be difficult to do
much more than get through the APP
nroprtation measures.
Fur Larger Army and Navy.
Representative Mann, leader Of the
Home minority. said that although
~ had conferred with number OF
tfhe Republican members there had
|6een no agreement upon a course OF
|snction.
(A Representative Kahn, OF California.
fcca1nusA On second PAeal