The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-28
PLANS TO ADJOURN
NOT MATURING AS
LEADERS DESIRE
Crisis in Railroad Situation
Coming at Eleventh Hour
May Prolong Session
Beyond Friday

Washington, August 27.-Congress
plans for adjournment of Congress
next Friday are. not maturing as rap
idly nor as certainly as majority lead
ers cooperating with minority chief
tains had contemplated. The crisis in
the railroad situation is the principal
obstacle encountered at the eleventh
hour and no one tonight would predict
when the long and arduous session
would end
The Senate has begun the final drive
on the emergency revenue bill and will
continue consideration of amendments
tomorrow. Senator Underwood, whose
revolt against the income tax provi-
sions was defeated yesterday, will
make another protest against the pro-
posed increased tariffs on dyestuffs.
He intends to fight to the last on the
ground that it is undemocratic and a
resort on the part of democracy to the
republican principle of protection. SEN
ator Phelan of California wants amend
ments to the wine tax and Senator Ov-
erman of North Carolina will lead a
revolt against the proposal to tax
manufacturers of all materials en-
tering into munitions of war per
cent on their net profits. He will pro-
pose to exempt all agricultural pro-
ducts from this tax, his amendment
being designed to prevent taxation of
cotton which enters into explosives.
MUST PASS APPROPRIATIONS
When amendments have been dis
posed of the Senate will lay aside the
revenue bill long enough to pass the
general deficiency appropriation bill.
With the last of the appropriations out
of the way and conference reports
completed, administration leaders hope
to pass the revenue bill; to defeat mo-
lions that will be made to take up
the corrupt practices and immigration
bills and then to adjourn. Senator
owen will struggle to the end for &C
ton on corrupt practices and Senator
Smith of South Carolina threatens to
call up immigration again, but admin
istration leaders have entertained no
fears that these motions would inter-
fere with adjournment.
So far as known tonight the only
legislation that may be pressed affect
ing the railroad situation is the bill
to enlarge the interstate commerce
commission from seven to nine men,
bers Senator Newlands, chairman of
the interstate commerce committee, has
said he would press that and the
President is known to have expressed
a desire that it be passed. This bill
by itself, democratic senators said,
could be disposed of without difficulty
If an attempt should be made to amend
it, however, by proposals affecting the
strike situation, they admitted condi-
tions would be entirely different
INFORMAL DISCUSSION
There was much informal discussion
today of suggestions to attach to the
Interstate commerce bill provisions for
compulsory arbitration of railroad dis
putes and an expression of opinion on
the part of Congress that the railroads
should be entitled to more revenues il
they accept the eight-hour work day
involving an increase in operating ex-
pense. Efforts to press such measures,
it was declared, would provoke long
discussion and undoubtedly hold Con-
gress in session indefinitely.
The House Tuesday will act on the
deficiency appropriation bill. 1t will
follow this with action on the amend
ed shipping bill which has been held
up because of the lack of quorum.
Then it will await the Senate revenue
bill amendments and whatever the
railroad crisis may have in store.