Evening star., 1918-07-14
CONGRESS ACCEPTS
.3DAY RECESS PLAN
Members Hurry From Capital
When Senate Sets
the Pace.

Congress. after series Of disap-
pointments. Is at last on its way home
or to summer resorts for a midsum-
mer vacation lasting probably until
August ~.
The Senate entered into a unani-
nous consent agreement last night for
three-day adjournments. beginning
tomorrow. until Saturday, August "a.
with the understanding there would
be no important business transacted
in the meantime. unless some emer-
gency should arise.
The House Isl expected to enter upon
a similar agreement when it meets to-
morrow A request for unanimous
consent for three-day adjournments
was submitted. late yesterday by Ma
tority Leader Kitchin, but Represent
ative Harrison of Mississippi blocked
the plan, saying he would not con-
sent to such an agreement until the
Senate had finally passed the wire
control resolution. 1t is expected he
will make no further objection to the
vacation plan. Representative Sims.
CHAIRMAN OIL INC "dISE pOWcT COIlHiil-
tee, shows signs of objecting unless
an agreement is made 80 that he can
get a vote on the pending water power
bill before the war revenue bill is
taken up.
Committee to wrestle With Bill.
Congress is going away for rest
while the House ways and means
committee wrestles with the new war
revenue bill. and will return to Wash
ington to pass that measure demand
Plans for the holiday of the Sem
ate were nearly upset at the
eleventh hour by Senator Johnson OF
California. who declared he was op-
posed to a recess of Congress. and
that 1t should stay on the Job" In
the Senators favored a recess. he
refrained from making formal OBJ
lection to the plan.
Under the proposed agreement,
Senator johnson declared the Senate
put itself into a position whereby it
the recess or debate anything except
prohibition after it rcconvenee. mo
matter what happens on the western
front"
isn't prohibition more important
than anything that can happen on the
Thomas. democrat, of Colorado.
You can't transact any business"
resumed Senator Johnson.
No Bar on Talk.
But we can talk" broke in Sena-
tor Penrose of Pennsylvania.
Although not formally objecting.
Senator Ashurst also objected to the
wording. Of the agreement The
~ ~ .
days pass an important mining bill
permitting mining operations on In
dian lands. but the agreement would
prevent that being sent to confer
ence until August "a.
Efforts of Senator Smoot of Utah
NIT Majority Leader Martin. in case
of an emergency. to notify senator's
SO they could reconvene, failed. but
upon the suggestion Of Senator Smith
of Georgia, the agreement was modi-
fied SO as to provide that II quorum
should be present before August -
the agreement could be set aside and
regular business transacted three days
thereafter, This was accepted and
the Senate adjourned until tomor-
row.
President Approves.
Tho midsummer vacation plan. 1t
was understood, has the sanction of
President Wilson, who called upon
Congress last week to defer holiday
plans to enact the resolution author
fxing him to take over telegraph, tele-
phone cable and radio wires during
the war. The three-day recess plan
was adopted because of the legal in
hibition against longer recesses by
either house without consent of the
other, and also because Congress
technically remains in session prepar-
i ed for any emergency action.
Under the arrangement only a few
members will remain to attend the
perfunctory sessions twice each week
and outgoing trains last night were
flled with members departing for
their homes or summer resorts. II an
emergency arises the arrangement
provides for notification of members
Of suspension Of the three-day recess
program. -.".#."
The holiday plan involved postpone
ment of action on national prohibi-
tion legislation by the Senate and
proba bly, of the waterpower bill In the
House until conclusion Of the three
day recesseA which were brought
forward as q makeshift for tho fixed
term adjournment of both houses
which failed last Saturday in the
Tho agriculture appropriation bill.
vetoed by the President because of
the $40 wheat clause. also is left
undisposed of. Congress has passed
a resolution, however, extending the
old appropriations for the Depart
ment of Agriculture over July and
August and will pass the bill without
- L.