The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-06-18
NAY QUIT IN JULY
CONGRESS NOT NOW so EAGER
TO REMAIN IN CONTINUOUS
SESSION DURING WAR.
BIG TAX BILL YET PENDING
Belief Exists In Washington That the
House Deliberately Shouldered Onto
the Senate the Responsibility for
That Great Revenue Measure.
By EDWARD 3. CLARK.

| ~ GS"Nu6 De- S6NnN
Washington.-Wh Is congress to
adjourn?
Prior to the outbreak Of the war, but
when 1t seemed likely that war was
to come, many members Of congress
who believed that the legislative body
should be on hand In case Of hostiliies
Joined together to prevent the passage
at the regular session Of certain ap.
preparation bills in order to compel
the administration to call an extra
| session Of congress.
There was feeling among some Of
the legislators at the time that con.
gress should be in session constantly,
or almost constantly, during the period
| Of the war, If the war were to come.
The argument advanced was that no
administration alone should be per-
mitted ito run a war" Now there
seems to be considerable change of
view because congress itself either has
enacted or is about to enact the war
legislation which it deems necessary,
and SO there Is little or no talk today
of continuous session unless new
things happen of so much Importance
that congress will refuse to let 60.
So 1t appears today likely that July
Is, or little later, will see the de-
parture Of the legislators. The big tax
bill has not yet been enacted into law
and there are other highly important
measures to which congress must give
consideration, but the older heads on
the hill seem to think that unless the
unforeseen happens adjournment will
come by midsummer at the latest.
Tax Bill and the House.
Under the Constitution of the United
States all revenue bills must originate
In the house of Representatives. Reve-
nue. bills are for the most part tax
bills, although there is difference Of
opinion, of course, between the two
great political parties as to whether
or not the tariff Is tax" But the
tariff is revenue bill and so all tar
If measures must be passed first by
the house of representatives.
1t was this provision of the Consti-
tuition fixing the house as the originat-
ing place Of revenue legislation which
made 1t imperative that the represent
atives should frame the big war tax
measure. There are all sorts of stories
running about Washington concerning
the action Of the house in the case Of
the tax bill. There seemingly is rea-
son to believe some of these stories.
The taxation measure is one of the
biggest things ever considered by con-
gress. The ways and means commit
tee Of the house threshed the matter
over and finally succeeded in framing
bill. Both Republicans and Demo-
Gratis in speaking on the measure when
1t reached the floor admitted that 1t
was far from perfect, virtually saying
that some of It's features were Of the
hodgepodge kind.
There seems to be feeling in Wash
ington that the house actually intend
ed to depend on the senate to frame
tax measure which would meet the
requirements in the case and so make
void some of the many criticisms which
had been advanced against the house
measure. If this really was the case,
1t means the house, compelled to abide
by the constitutional provision max
ing 1t the place Of origin for reve-
nue. measure, contented itself with
framing the bill and then leaving 1t to
the senate for readjustment. In other
words, good many Washington peo-
pie believed the house deliberately
shouldered the heavy responsibility on
to the senate.
cloture May Hasten Things.
The taxation bill will consume a
good deal of the senate's time. Then
there are food propositions to consume
more time and there are some other
war measures which must be given
consideration and sanction. The SEN
ate has form of cloture which was
adopted recently, and therefore 1t will
be possible in the upper house, after
due notice has been given and the
sanction Of certain number of sena-
tors secured, to close debate on the
tax bin and bring 1t to vote.
1t is the cloture rule upon which
many people depend for verification
Of their predictions of comparatively
early adjournment. Of course 1t Is
possible that something may happen
abroad or here which will necessitate
new legislation of high importance. II
such shall be the case congress may be
here until the snow flies, but Washing
ton in midsummer Is as hot place as
there is on the face of the earth, and
even though senators and representa-
tives have linen suits, straw hats, palm
leaf fans and liberal supply of iced
lemonade, they do not like to sit I'M
der the dome with the hot MONDAY
sun beating down upon its brazen sur
face.
There has been great deal of criti-
cism Of congress for being slow in
passing war legislation. A. J. Balfour,
the British foreign minister, when he
was here ventured to say word or
two about this matter. He said that
from long acquaintance with repre-
sentative bodies he did not think 1t |
= L - - =