New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-14
Overburdened House Cal
endar May Postpone
Freeing Islands.
MANN DELIVERS
MINORITY THREAT
Will Not Aid Legislative Pro.
gramme Unless Plan Is
Abandoned.
lFrom n. Trlhun. Buren, !

Washington, March ia possibility
that the Administration Philippines bill,
embodying the scuttle policy, may be
allowed 10 die in the House of Rep
resentatives despite the ardent support
of President Wilson, appeared for the
first time to-day since its introduction.
This became plain in q conference over
a tentative legislative programme for
the remainder Of the session between
Speaker Champ Clark and Democratic
Floor Leader Kitchin, on the Demo
critic side, and Republican Floor Leader
Mann. Mr.. Mann made it plain that this
was one measure which would have TO
be allowed to die if any cooperation
was expected from the minority.
The Democratic leaders have been
driven 10 frenzy in the last few years
over the lack OF progress IN both
houses With three and half months
gone only one appropriation bil'-the
least important of the fourteen TO be
passed before sdiournment-has been
gotten out OF the way. Two other
measures. the Indian land and the post
ofice bills, have been passed By the
House, but are still on the Senate
calendar.
Underwood Takes a Hand.
Senator Underwood, for years Demo
cratic floor leader Of the House, made
= speech on the Same subject on the
floor Of the Senate this afternoon, IN
which he said that in twenty years ex-
perience he had never seen re public
business so far behind. In addition 10
the appropriation measures, INCLUDING
the army and navy bills, are the rev
enue measures which must be psssct.
The sugar bill. repeating the free sugar
clause Of the Underwood Simmons act,
will be started on its way through the
House tomorrow. In addition specinl
revenue bills must be passed - pro-
vide not only for the increase in ma
tional defence appropriations, hut Tor
meeting the deficit Of more than $780,
100000.
Realizing this situation, and on the
eve OF the bringing in of the sugar bill,
Clark and kitchln called Mann in to-
day 20 ask his cooperation in making 1t
possible TO adjourn before election.
There has been a hope that Congress
would adjourn before the conventions.
This has now been given up by all. ex-
cept by few hopefuls like Mr.. Kitchin.
Mr.. Mann virtually issued an ultimatum
TO the Democratic leaders. He said he
favored an early adjournment, but If
the cooperation OF the minority was
expected TO that end some agreement
on legislative programme must be
reached
Mann Terms Under Consideration.
Mr.. Mann made it clear that he would
not agree 20 the passage of the Philip
pines bill, nor TO the Porto Rican bill.
bill granting a much larger measure
of self-government to that island. lie
also insisted that the government ship
purchase bill would have 10 be sub
stantially amended, though details were
not gone into.
While the Democratic leaders did not
give their assent to the Mann pro
posals, reserving the right TO discuss
them with the members Of the House
and probably with the President. il is
regarded as more than possibility.
especially # Mr.. Mann holds his
ground firmly, that they may give IT,
This would mean that the scuttle policy
in the Philippines had been given up.
for this Administration, at least.
This view is taken here because in
the short session of Congress TO be
gin December next, which will expire
by limitation on March 4, there will
be time for little but the passage OF
the appropriation bills, and opposition