The Washington herald., 1917-05-28
Three BIG BILLS
TO ABSORB week
Congressional Outlook Now
Favors Long Drawn
Out Session.

Three issues will be paramount in Con-
Eres this week Both houses win discuss
the censorship provision which the Presi-
dent wishes placed in the espionage Dill.
The House will take up the senate's in
sreases In the urgent deficiency bill The
Senate Finance Committee VIII continue
consideration Of the great s., 500 100000 war
revenue bill.
The conferees upon the espionage bill
will carry their report to the House to-
day for consideration. This report in
cludes the modified censorship provision
accepted by the conference committee
Under its language, President Wilson ls
empowered to proclaim what is and what
Is not publishable. and what "is" Of value
to the enemy.
Determined opposition to any form Of
censorship will make the aght bitter IN
the House as well as in the Senate. era
ham, Of Pennsylvania. will lead the night
In the House; johnson, Of California, and
Borah Of Idaho, will WELD the cudgels
in the Senate. House Republicans are
lrrevoeably opposed TO any form Of news
paper censorship. BY two votes. the
Senate has already rejected such a sug-
gestion. It is predicted that the ad-
ministration will fail in its efforts to
force the obnoxious section through.
Service Omeers Recommended.
The House has accepted the Senate's 5
amendments authorizing the Shipping
Board increases to the Urgent deficiency
bill, which carries the startling total OF
S3.347 900 900. The shipping bill amendments
authorize $50 100000 for the emergency
merchant marine fund, and Of this s4OO.-
DoooCO is Immediately available for the
Presidents use.
There are other items in the bill
amounting to about $4,000. which the
Senate tackled on, and which the House
must yet agree upon. Most of the items,
providing for needed military and naval
equipment. wrere recommended by service
oficers.
1t seems likely at this time that the
Senate Finance Committee will reduce
the total of the war revenue bill 10 about
1880. 10000. Senators do not think that
the government needs at this time the
vast amount granted by the House.
There is no question that the admins
tration has recognized that the bill
drawn by Claude Kitchin and his COM
rnittee was far too drastic Already the
Senate Committee has removed the ) per
cent tax on manufactured goods OF GER
tain kinds.
There will probably be some kind OF
direct tax imposed upon automobiles and
motorcycles. There are two schemes
one providing a Federal tax on horse
power and the other based on the cost
Of the vehicle.
May Take n Month.
The Lenroot amendment raising the
surtaxes on incomes above $4,000 3 per
cent was removed. But the rest Of the
income tax schedule was accepted.
1t Is estimated that the consideration
Of the revenue bill may consume q
months time in the Senate alone. After
that, a conference committee between the
two houses must try to adjust the diff
fersnces.
Important legislation Is still on the cal
endars, The Webb bill to allow American
merchants to pool interests abroad, the
Adamson-Newlands bill allowing the
President to direct preferential ship
ments Of commodities, the bill to increase
the Interstate Commerce Commission, the
bill forbidding trading with the enemy
and for seizing enemy patents, and the
food legislation will all take much time.
Senator Martin. Of Virginia, Democratic
leader, expects Congress to continue in
SESSION at least until the middle Of July
Republicans say that the legislative body
will not adjourn before October, while
there Is a strong impression abroad
that the session will merge without a
break into the session set for next De-
Cember.