Norwich bulletin., 1916-04-24
|On The Verge of a |ClaShin The House
OVER LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
 FOR REST OF SESSION
'FLLIBUsTER OF REPUBS.
They Want Agriculture Appropuau0n Bill Acted Upon Before the Prssi- dents Special Msasures-Demoerats May Enforce Some Drastic Rules to oueII Opposition.

Washington. April z3.-House demo crats and republicans, after having worked together tremendously for four and a half months. are on the verge of a clash over the leEislatfve pro- grarnme for the remainder of the ses- sion.
 The majority, desirous of cauying out the wishes of the White House in pushing through the Philippine and shipping bills as quickly as possible. ls threatening to invoke drastic rules which will insure the measures rIEfr or way. The minority while rnakine, DO threats, Is concentrating what ap- pears to De a mild hlfbuster on the agricultural appropriation bill and urg- ing consideration of the Qualifications or appropriations measure in lieu of the presidents special measure.
 Efforts to Agree on Programme Fail.
 Attempts to agree upon a fixed pro- gramme for the session have been fu- tile thus tar. Minority Leader Mann says that he Is willing to come to an agreement with the democrats but that
 the White House can't tell us what We must do." and he is waiting for the democrats to make the next move. In the meantime the democrats are having many conferences in Majority Leader ktchtn's office in an endeavor to reach a working agreement, while on the floor such agricultural problems as poisoning coyotes. fighting the Hessian ny and preserving the buffalo are be- , discussed at length.
 Democratic Leaders Face Problem.
 Besides having a discOntented minor ] fly, democratic leaders face a problem within their own ranks on the Philip pine bill The White House, it is un- derstood. favors the measure as amended by the senate, to give the E1hpinos freedom in four years but | this does not meet with the united ap- II =@.~@~~T --nW L | the plan to make the bill party meas ! ure, which has been seriously discussed, now seems likely to be abandoned. Many members would like to see the shipping bill brought in before the | Philippine meaEure- but the ie4{fprT arc | not certain that this would be possible Another week will be required to finish | the shipping bill. it Is said and unless | the debate on the agricultural bill | lasts throughout this week. the Philip pine measure probably win be consid- cred next
 Contest Over Shipping Bill. | Whenever the shipping bill does come lin, tt Is certain to p-ecipitate a pro- longed and heated argument. Only a few minor changes will be made in the | measure as drawn, it .s understood and vessel owners are determined to train their heaviest guns on several provisions which will be retained. espe- cially those giving the shipping board power to hx rates and to permit the government to purchase ships.
 Slow Work on Preparedness. Preparedness measures. which, a few weeks ago. were promised a clear track are not moving rapidly to completion.
 The army bill, amended in the senate l SO as to provide upwards of a million
 trained men, repose5 in the house mill
 tary affairs committee, due to the ob-
 jection of Mfr. Mann to It's being sent to conference on the ground that he
 had not read it- Chairman Hay of the
 military committee expects to see a rule reported early this week which }, will send the measure to conference
 promptly.
 , Senator Chamberlain. chairman of
 the senate military affairs committee,
 believes international events will have a weighty influence in ftvor of retain
 ing many of the army increase pro- visions of the senate bin. The naval affairs committee stiIl is working quietly on it's bill, but 1t has not
 reached the personnel feature. Marshall Contempt Charges. The house may be asked late this , week to pass on the report of the se-
 lect committee which drafted contempt
 charges against United States Atror- ' time of the introduction of the report Chairman Moon of the committee said he would request action on it in abou- two weeks. The two weeks would be
 up next Saturday.
 International Problems.
 With respect to international prob-
 lems. the threatened diplomatic break 1 with Germany in particular. both ] houses are exercising great caution. and
 no outbreaks of discussion have occur
 red since President Wilson's address a revealing the governments demand . that Germany immediately declare and 9 effect an abandonment of its method 2 of submarine warfare. Administration s leaders are keeping in constant touch
 with the situation both as to MeUicc
 and Germany.
 l Senate Takes Up Rural Credit. Beginning tomorrow the senate vii ! take up the rural credit legislation which has long been waiting for ac.
 ton Senator Hollis of New Hamp-
 shire will have charge of the bin
 which. 1t is predicted, win require a. . least ten days of debate