Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-03-08
EXTRA SESSION NOT
LATER THAN JUNE
Sentiment Almost Unanimous
Congress Will Be Called
by That Time.
EXPENSES MUST BE MET

Washington, March Am extra
session of congress not later than
June, now is generally conceded
among officials here to be assured.
Although President Wilson has not
given any definite indication that he
has finally abandoned his hope that
an extra session might be avoided,
there is an almost unanimous senti-
ment among senator's, representatives
and officials of the executive depart
ments that one must be called. They
declare that even if the international
situation does not demand it, con-
gress must come back to complete its
legislative program and fill up gaps
in the governments financial scheme,
caused by failure of some of the more
important appropriation measures.
In May or June.
So certain are many members of
congress on this point that they are
specializing only on the probable date
of the session. The general expecta-
ton among them, said to be based on
word passed out by officials close to
the president, is that the end of May
or sometime in June will be selected
for converting the new congress.
Should the senate limit debate and
the presidents legal advisers decide
he has no authority to arm ships with
out congressional authorization the
armed neutrality bill would take first
place among the measures to be
pressed by the administration at an
extra session. 1t might be urged,
even if it were held unnecessary from
legal point, in order to line up con-
gress behind the president and wipe
out the adverse impression which Mr..
Wilson believes has resulted in some
quarters from the senate's failure to
act in the session just closed.
But aside from the international
crisis, the breaking down OF the ad-
ministration's legislative program is
regarded by many officials as an i'm
perative reason for an extra session.
There will be many flaws in the gov
ernment's financial and defense
schemes unless some emergency
action is taken, because of failure OF
the big supply measures, particularly
the army and general deficiency bills.
Although the War department will
bear the brunt of the financial en-
barrassment resulting from failure OF
the general deficiency bill, nearly
every other department will suffer to
lesser extent.
The Postoffice department will
have to cancel plans for extra carriers
and clerks declared by officials to be
necessary for efficient mail tran
sportation. The interior department
cannot move into its new building
because it mas no money to purchase
equipment. The commerce department
cannot put out the new coast charts
planned by the coast and geodetic
survey for national and merchant yes
sells. The Treasury department will
have to make an emergency arrange
ment for its burea of engraving and
printing if it is to be kept supplied
with the paper and other materials
used in printing paper money and
postage stamps.
In addition 100000 army pension.
ers will have their payments cut off
JUL /, unless congress meets again
and provides for them. Neither is
there any provision for taking care OF
$647 900 which the general deficiency
bill would have provided for the pay
of regular army officers and men. An
item of $250,0OG Tor support of SOL
diers' home: was another that died
with the bill and these establishments
throughout the country will have to
run on credit after June.
The lesser army items held up in
cluded $4,500000 for acquisition Of
sites and buildings for aviation sta.
tons and provision for 1903 additional
ordnance officers,