Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-24

Congress For several weeks. although
committees have been enGa.ed in CON
stdcraton Of the army and nav5' up.
propi i:ltion bills, preparedness has been
overshadowed by the Mexican situation
and the international questions grow
ing out Of the European war. Now.
with the President about TO tour the
country to arouse the public 10 mill
,ary requirements of the nation. admin
stration and opposition leaders real
ize tia, lively times are ahead on Cap
itol Hili.
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS
GRATIEIED WITH PROGRAM
Democratic leaders thoroughly in
sympathy with tho Presidents views on
preparedness arc gratifed over the pur-
pose of the chief executive 10 take the
field inasrnuch as there has been ar
parent in Congress for some tim. Il
tendency to adopt n waiting policy
among many members uncertain re-
parding the views Of their constituents
on the subject. The Presidents tour.
IL is believed. will serve the double
purpose of bringing out public opinion
ana stirring UP members of Congress.
On the other hand. opponents Of pre-
paredness see in the Presidents trip.
an opportunity 10 further their cause
b. replying 10 his arguments in The
Scuat. and House.
Cneasiness over the Mexican Situa-
,!oa, which stirred Congress for more
than week. has greatly abatcd and
probably Will not be revived soon un-
less new sensational developments
should occur in Mexico. -Administra.
ton leaders regard the danger OF be.
ing forced into difficulties with the Car
rama government as averted for the
present and even Republicans OF the
Senate have concluded not TO force the
issue of intervention TO 4 vote III this
time. Senator Borah one of the fore
most believers in the necessity of mill
tary action in Mexico by the United
States has decided now that that il
not the thing TO he done at this time
When the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee declined to act on interyen-
tion resolutions last week. Senator
iorah had contemplated a motion to
discharge the committee from further
consideration Of the resolutions. but a
canvass of the Republicans showed
them almost unanimously against s:Ic,
rIove
fSPEST MEXICAN SPEECHES
TO DE MADE Now AND TIti,N
Democratic leaders in both houses
expect Mexican speeches TO b. made
now and then. bu, they arc satisfied
that the situation is IN their control.
for the present III least. Some time
during the week Representative
Humphrey, cf Washington. expects TO
make speech assailing me admins
tration's Mexican policy. President
Wilson'S reply to the Senate in which
a nT der al
ana Mexico will he Included. may also
serve to arouse the interest Of Congress
aGain. II is probable now shat this re-
ply will not be sent TO the Senate u,til
the President returns from his West
ern tour. Interest is still apparent ut
tho Capitol in the European situation,
hut no aggressive action is looked tor
Embargo resolutions have hcen submit
tee to a subcommittee on Foreign Rela-
tions, and no report is Anticipated for
some time.
With regard to Legislation III general,
both houses continue to travel slowly,
notwi,hst taniiing efforts OF adyninistra-
ticn leaders TO speed up the Legislative
machinery. Committees have been
urged To work faster, and signs of
progress are looked for during the
coming week. In the House, now that
Majority Leader liitchin has returned
from North Carolina. leaders will at
tempt to inauGuratc the spcedinr-up
program. and Senate chlcf:ains will do
all they can. although they must de-
pend upon passage first in the House on
appropriation bills and revenue lcYisla
ton. The revenue bills must wait until
an estimate OF what money is needed
is available. so the Ways and Means
Committee hardly will accomplish much
before the Military and Naval Gem
mittcc report several weeks hence
FEELING OVER MEASURE
Is HIGH IN COMMITTEES,
The immigration bill nteracv tcs,
Will be reported this week Feeling
over this measure Is high in tho com
mittcc. and its appearance on the floor
ts expected to preclpitate heated arru-
ment
Peace advocates will be given n hear
ing on Tuesday before the Foreign ,f-
fairs Committee. when resolutions look.
ing 10 formation Of peace commissions
VIII he under consideration