Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23
CONGRESS BEHIND
W|THLEG|SLAT|0N
All Big Appropriation Bills Are
- yet to Be
Passed. *.

A month and a half after the OPEN
ing of the first session of the Sixty
fourth Congress-, the situation as re>
unchanged. Never before, say both
democrats and republicans. has Con-
gress been in Washington for so long
a time and accomplished so little at
the opening of session. And Con
gress has made no move to speed up
the legislative wheels.
In the past two or three of the big
appropriation bills have usually been
passed by the House and are under
considerat ton in the Senate or Senate
committees by this time. Yet SO far
has passed the House is a small de-
flciency bill.
Few Bills Acted Upon.
With the exception of few minor
bills TO which there was no objection
Congress has taken no affirmative
action on anything yet this session. ex-
cept the joint resolution extending the
war tax law. which the republicans
permitted to go through without a
fight just before the Christmas holi
days.
The Senate has had before it for sew
eraI weeks the Philippines bill, and it
may pass it some time this week. The
Senate committees haze so far done
little, and the same may be said of
those on the House side.
The truth Of the matter IS" said one
democratic senator last night. that
Congress doesn't want to do anything.
II is nervous. and the members have
their ears close to the ground just now,
TO catch the sentiment at home in. re-
gard to preparedness. taxation, and
other important matters pending in the
House and Senate. During the Christ =
mas recess many OF the members of
the Senate and the House visited their
homes. ard they found their constitu-
ents were not so eager to commit this
country 10 heavy additional expense
for tine army and navy as they had
tion of further taxation for any pur-
pose was regarded by the folks at
home with considerable distaste.
Obstacles to Preparedness.
The insistence OF the administration
upon its preparedness program has
made it very difficult for some of the
democrats who would like to support
the administration, and at the same
time are getting many letters from
home urging them to go slow on plans
for a greater army and navy. So they
are letting things drift and hoping for
some solution of their troubles"
The republicans are sitting tight.
They are waiting until their demo-
cratic colleagues bring their bills out
of committee and. into the Senate and
! House. They are not mourning over
the dilemma in which the democraes find
themselves.
With the long list of bills which the
administration desires, and some of
which members of Congress themselves
desire. still In the course Of prepara-
tion, republicans are predicting that
Congress will be in session all next
summer. The army and navy bills,
and the kindred bills for fortihca tions,
Military. and, Naval Academy. the
government ship purchase hill, the
rural credits bill. the conservation bills,
not to mention the great supply meas
ures of the government other than
those for the military establishment,
present formidable array. Some OF
the democrats are urging river and
harbor bill. and some q public buildings
bill. But such measures will have a
hard row TO hoe between the deiicit in
the Treasury and the attacks Npf the
republicans charging the democrats
! with extravagancS. {. -l-ssr1 :. .tsa,-