The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1917-01-10
HERCULEAN TASK
BEFORE CONGRESS-
Lots OF Work That Must BE Done. Re.
publicans Expected to Make as Much
Trouble as Lies in Their Power.

Trouble as Lies in Their Power.
washington, Jan. 6.-Thcrc is APP
parchtly but the remotest possibility
or congress, with it's extraordinary
legislative slate now spread before the
public, finishing its work inside of
the next five or six months, according
10 the information coming today from
the best posted men in and around
congress. While there is general
disposition here 10 close up the work
IL II can be properly done, by March
4, the date when the short session
must come TO close, there is so
much ahead that it is extremely
HouDtiul If this can be accomplished
even with the most hcrculcan efforts.
rs pointed out here today. should
both houses Of congress begin their
daily session at 10 O'Clock instead OF
at noon and hold night meetings a
saving of time might be accomplish-
cd but il must be remembered that
there IS great deal Of important
committee work TO be done, and that
practically half the time for the next
6o DAYS must be devoted to this fca-
turc of the congressional work.
With the International situation far
from satisfactory, with the trouble in
Mexico still unsettled, and with the
railroad problem and the big financial
deficit demanding not only immediate
but cifcctual attention, consideration
must be given them.
Putting aside for the time being the
routine work Of congress, that is PASS
ing the big appropriation bills, the
main features with which the Amcri-
can people are interested at this time
when the national lawmakers begin
the second lap Of the sessions work,
are the 1ockeying of the Republicans
with the half dozen "indepcndents"
so that the former may swing things
next December, the railroad situation
and the deficit.
Republican members may so jug
gle things that they can throw con
gress into an extra session by little
filibustcring and undoubtedly they
would be glad to do 1t were it not for
the fact that they are anxious for the
Democrats to get rid Of the several
pcrpleXing matters now pending
They want some plan devised for
meeting the deficit OF $500 100000. II
1t Is good plan, the Republicans
Will claim the credit for having had
share IN it. If it is a bad plan and
is unsatisfactory with the people gem
orally, as most taxation is, they will
insist that the Democrats be thrown
out as unworthy Of being entrusted
with legislation for more than hun
drcd million people.
There are some smart men in the
Republican, lineup and it may be talk
Ell for granted that if men like Sena-
tors Lodge OF Massachusetts, Pcnrose
Of Pennsylvania and others in the up
per house, and Congressman Mann and
dozen more on the house side can
figure any way to cmbarrasS the Dem
ocrats it will be done. They see that
this question Of meeting a deficit OF
the proportions of $300000,0O0 is no
small thing. The people will natural
~ not easily submit to further bur
dcns of this kind ana though this def
Cit has not come about through any
dcrcliction Of duty on the part OF the
Democrats in congress, Republicans
viii make il appear SO If the lcgiSla-
tive situation can be iugglcd. They
will therefore, probably cooperate
with the Democrats to put this money
legislation through If by doing so they
can help themselves. On the other
hand. they may decide TO lilibustcr,
Anything may happen.