Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-03-22
Republicans and Democrats
Are Certain of Only PA.
Members Each While 218.
Are Necessary to Control,
INDEPENDENTS HOLD
BALANCE OF POWER
Thought Is Crow
ing, but Not Sufficiently
Strong to Prevent Test of
Strength,
tsv MORNING IoussAL SPECIAL LEASED WIRE,

Washington, March 21.-Members
of congress still in Washington re-
ceived President Wilson's call for an
extra session April with patriotic
expressions and confident predictions
that the close organization fight in
the house would not be permitted to
delay action on the grave questions to
be submitted by the president.
The senate organized and adopted
its anti-filibuster rule during the re-
cent extra session. A Joint session to
hear the address of the president may
be held without waiting for the house
organization. This course is held to
be legal, and probably would serve to
hasten action in the house.
In spite of their determination to
bring about quick conclusion,
neither democrats nor republicans in
tend to surrender without a fight
Majority Leader Kitchin today sent
out a call for a democratic caucus
Friday, March 80. Calls for repub-
lican and so-called Independent con-
erences are expected.
Democrats, it is declared, will eau
Gus solidly, despite the unpleasantness
which arose over the prohibition fight
in the dying days of the last congress
The republicans. because of the OPP
position to caucus rules among the
progressive element, probably will
only confer. The five independents
already have agreed to confer inform
ally before the session
May Change Rules.
Both big parties are expected to
discuss emergency plans for organic
ing the house along bipartisan lines
or changing the present rules which
require 21S wuses, a majority OF the
total membership, to elect a speaker
AS each side, it is generally agreed
will have a total membership of only
214 on the opening day, it would be
necessary under present rules for the
winning party to attract four or the
five independents. Many republicans
are opposed to permitting the balance
of power to rest with the independents
and anv proposed plan which would
eliminate them from the fight would
receive hearty reception in the repub-
lican conference. Some democrats
have expressed themselves as favor
ing q change in the rules so as to per-
NIT less than a majority of the mem
bers to elect This has been done on
two occasions, in 1909 and 1879.
Independents Strong.
Calling or the Speclal SesSion toaaS
made the independents much great
er factor in the organization plans
than they would have been If the SEES
sion had not convened until April l6,
as originally planned.
Whether either side can attract
four independents votes to Itself is
The democrats base
their hope of doing this largely on the
recent statement of Representative
SchalI, progressive of Minnesota that
he would retain his right to act inde-
and under no circumstances
permit lack of his vote to delay or
of the house and their be-
lief that Speaker Clark is certain to
poll the votes of three other independ-
ents, Representative London, socialist,
of New York, Representative Randall,
of California, and Rep
resentative Martin. progressive-pro
tectionist. of Louisiana.
The republicans also claim 2le
votes. classifying Representative
Fuller of Massachusetts,, an independ.
ent. and Representatives Schall and
Martin as supporters of Representa-
tive Mann for speaker and counting
also upon Representative-ele Kelly
of Pennsylvania, a former progress
sive, elected last fall as a democrat