Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-22
ORGANIZATION FIGHT
NOT TO DELAY ACTION
Both branches Of Congress Expected
to Get Down to Business Shortly
Following Assembly.
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS CALLED
Both Big Parties Expected to Dis
cuss Emergency Plans for Work.
ing on Bipartisan Lines or Chang
ing Rules Of Election OF Speaker.

BY Associated Press
WASHINGTON, March 2l.--Membcrs
OF Congress still i'm Washington re-
ceived President Wilson'S call for an
extra session on April with patriotic
expressions and confident predictions
that the close organization fight in
the House would not he permitted to
delay action OH the grave questions to
he submitted by the President
The senate organized and adopted
it's antitilibuster rule during the recent
extra session. House leaders say their
contest VIII be settled promptly, re-
sardlcss OF political results. so that
both branches may get down to bus
mess within n few days after they
assemble.
y Joint session 10 hear tho address
Of the President may be held without
waiting for the House organization.
and probably would serve 10 hasten
action in the House.
In spite Of their determination to
bring about "A quick conclusion. neither
Democrats nor Republicans intend to
surrender without fight, Majority
Leader kitchin from his home in Scot
land Neck. y. e.. to-day sent out "a call
for Democratic caucus on Friday
March so. at / y. Nj. Calls for Re-
publican and so-callcd independent
conferences are expected to follow
Democrats. ii is declared. will caucus
solidiy. despite the unple.santness
which arose over the prohibition fight
in the dying days of the las, Con-
Ercss. The Republicans. because OF
the opposition to caucus rules among
the progressive element. probably will
only confer. The five independents al
hay "a nfc, i,,f, I
before the session.
MAY ORGANIZE HOUSE
ALONG BIPARTISAN LINES
Eoth big parties are expected to dis
cuss emergency plans for organizing
the House along bipartisan lines. or
changing the present rules. which re-
uurc us votes. a majority OF the total
membership. TO elect Il Speaker AS
each side, il is generally agreed will
have a total membership OF only PA
on the opening day. it would be neces-
sary. under present rules. for the win
ming party TO attract four of the five
independents. Many Republicans are
opposed To permitting the balance OF
power tn rest with the independents =
ana any proposed plan which would
eliminate them from the hight would
receive hearty reception in the Rcpub-
iicau conference.
Some Democrats have EXPRESSED
themselves favoriuS a change in
the rules so as to permit less than "a
majority of the membership To elect
This has been done on two occasions
in $50? and 1879.
Calling OF the spccinl session to-day
made the independents IA much greater
factor III the organization plans than
they would have been If the session
had not convened until April Ii. as
originally planned. i;y then another
Democrat would Lavc been elected in
the strouG Tammauy district formerly
represented by the late Representative
Comry, and the Democrats would have
mecdrd only three independents to
elect a Speaker.
BOTii SIDES Nt:ED
INDEPENDENT NOrES
Whether either side can attract four
independent votes 10 itself is prublc.
matical. The Democrats base their
hopes Of doing this largely ON the
statement Of Representative Schau
Progressive. of Minnesota, tina, he
would retain his right to act indie
pcndcntly and under no circumstances
permit lack OF his vote To delay organ
izatiou OF the House. and their belief
that Speaker Clark Is certain to poll
the votes OF three other Independents.
Representative London. Socialist. OF
New York Representative Randall.
Prohibitionist. OF California. and Rep
rcscntativc Martin. Progressive -Protcc-
ZIONIST. OF Louisiana.