The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1916-03-17
UNEXPECTED MATTERS CAUSING
CONGRESS TO GET FAR
BEHINDHANp.
MAY SIT THROUGH SUMMER
Long Debates Certain on Some Of the
Legislation That IL PrOposed-Many
Appropriation Measures Necessarily
Held Back.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

"a al pdASASS WIN arc uhAlOuS " ~
turn home in time to take up the
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 a 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 midst of things o. unex-
pected and troublous visitors In the
shape of what might be called extra
neous subjects. The apparent deter
mination of 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-
lions 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
1t. 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 great
er appropriation bills are on their way
to final passage and signing. Some OF
these measures necessarily must be
delayed until a late hour when 1t 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.
1t is impossible, of course, TO pass
the army and navy appropriation
bills until It 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 waterpoweI
bill. It 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. 1t is proposed that all armor
plate shall be made by the United
States and II is more than suggested
that all other things having to dc
with army and navy supplies shall be
given directly into the manufacture
and control of Uncle Sam. II is hard
ly necessary to say that these prop
ositions are being .combated bitterly
and that the subject is one which
makes for a frightening OF the. ses
sion.
The bin known as the shipping biz
which provides for a government
owned merchant marine viii take per
haps weeks of debate before the CUES
ton can be decided definitely one way
or the other. II viii 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 II 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 It seems likely that
It win be passed by that body al
least. although the situation In the
house with its decreased Democratic
majority IL somewhat in doubt.
There are several other measures
Of considerable national moment
which viii engage the attention Of the
lawmakers for long time before &C
ton can be taken upon them. The
house, Of course. can put things
through under rules limiting debate
but the failure Of the senate to adopi
rule Of like kind makes II still pos
sfble for matters to run their course
OF talk unchecked In the upper house
until unanimous consent can be OBJ
tanned to put them 10 q vote.
Congress Galleries Crowded.
Promises OF sharp and spectacular
debates In the senate on the questions