The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-04-03
SPEAKER RESENTS
DAWDL|NG CHARGE
Declares House Is Making
Every Effort to Speed Its
Work.

Speaker Champ Clark resents the sug-
Restions In various quarters that Con-
gress II "dawdling" in its work. ana
isn't making an effort TO get speed M
and bring about an early adjournment.
In n statement issued last night the
Speaker says that so far as the House
10 concerned. there isn't n word OF truth
In these reports; that the present House
has worked more induatrioualy than
any with which he has been connecteo'
The Speaker does not comment on
legislative conditions In the upper cnam-
Der. 1t is recalled. however. that Seha
tor Oscar W. Underwood recently re-
marked that he had never seen leglslas,
ton 30 far behind. Mr.. Underwood
spoke with the experience OF one "ho
has served twenty years.
Anxious To Get Home.
Speaker Clark does not predict when
Congress will adjourn. He vigorously
asserts that Congressman are just as
anxious to get through and 20 home as
the President Is to have the session end.
The average member of Congress stun
has a feeling that he will be here until
early fall. Most members are preparing
to wage their campaigns FOR rC-clect,on
by mall. because the legislative program
recently mapped out by the House
Democratic caucus is so compromising
that NO member can foresee an carry
The statement issued by Speaker
o'@a fkess eSfh has been mucn loose talk
some OF II idiotic, some OF IL malicious
| about the dawdling OF Congress 90
far as the House is concerned, there
Is no truth In II. l am not UNDERTAKING
to speak for the Senate, because l Know
nothing worth while touching the state
OF its business; but the business OF
the House Is farther advanced than
usual at this date. OF course. II Us
necessary to pass the appropriation
bills. Otherwise. the wheels or govern
ment would stand stock-stll' ana they
| must be carefully considered poth h
the House and in the committee nt
| House has passed two of the grea'
supply bills-the legislative. judicial
and executive and the Indian, and -
now in process OF passing the river
and harbor bill. Also two deficiency
bins. Two more have been reported
Three more are about ready to be re-
ported. The House has passed the HAY
military bill, the Immigration Din
three conservation bills. and multi
tude OF bills OF more or less import
| ance.
Claims High Record.
mo House in the twenty-five years
that I have been here has worked 81
steadily and so industriously as thii
| one. II has not adjourned over a single
| day since II convened on January j.
| a remarkable record-and has worked
| iive, six. and seven hours n day. with
| an occa sional night session.
| "WheE two more hours a day are
i counted in for committee work, II makes
| good days work. to say nothing OF
| the time necessary for department work
| and correspondence. That's the record
fine one-and yet the public is con.
| stantlv misled into believing that Con.
gress il not working at all. II is a bald
and malicious lilo.
| "Of course. some of these critics with
| out any responsibility could pass bill
| carrying billion dollars In few hours
| but members who are responsible can
not pass bills that way. and the tax.
| PAYERS who foot the bills do not want
| them passed that way.
"One other thing: Some Of these wise.
| acres. who want important measures
| far-rCaching in character and vital e
| the republic. passed while YOU wait, scel
| to create the impression that the Presi
| dent is anxious for Congress to adjourn
| before the conventions, and that Con
| Rress is wickedly thwarting him. Every
| human being with two ideas above
| Hottentot knows that Congress is JUS
| as anxious to adjourn before the con
ventions as the President is why II
| heavens name would Congress desire (,
| remain in washington even one da,
longer than Is absolutely necessary
for the proper transaction OF the pub
| lie business?"