Evening star., 1918-07-07
STAND
ON WIRE CONTROL
PREvENTSR RECESS
House Decides to Stay on the
Job, Though Senate
Opposes.
ACTION FOLLOWS DAYS
WRANGLE AND PARLEY
Mr.. Wilson Puts It Up to Congress
After Conference on
His Plan.


Plans for an immediate recess of
Congress until August 12 were thrown
into the discard last night when the
House by acclaim declared its determi-
nation to continue on the Job"
The unexpected action Of the House
followed almost Immediately adoption
of a concurrent resolution in the Sen.
ate providing for the recess. The vote
in the Senate stood 81 to 26 for the
recess.
Congress now is expected to remain
in Washington and put through the
resolution desired by the President
giving him authority to take over the
telegraph and telephone systems of the
country for the period of the war, pro-
vided he deems such action necessary
Climax of Days Wrangle.
The vote in the Senate on the recess
resolution came after !. day-long
wrangle in that body. conferences be-
tween the President and congressional
leaders and a meeting of the Senate
interstate commerce committee to which
the wire resolution had been referred.
The action of the Senate in putting
through the recess resolution was in
disregard Of the Presidents expressed
wish that the resolution authorizing
him to take over the telegraph and
telephone systems be enacted with as
little delay as possible.
When the recess resolution came
over to the House Majority Leader
Kitchin announced that In his opinion
the sentiment in the House had swung
over and was now opposed to recess
In the twinkling of an eye The pros
pect of midsummer holiday for
weary senators and representatives had
vanished.
Kitchin Tells Of Conference.
Mr.. Kitchin explained the various
steps which led up to the Introduction
of the recess resolution in the Sen
ate last night He described the con-
ference at the White House yester-
day afternoon when he and Senators
Martin and Simmons called upon the
President, following a letter to Sena-
tor Martin in which the President ex-
pressed the hope that the telegraph
and telephone resolution be enacted
without delay.
Mr.. Kitchin said that the senators
had told the President the resolution
would meet strong opposition in the
Senate, that it would be before the
Senate committee on interstate COM
merce for weeks and that there was
nothing to be gained by keeping Con.
gress in session at this time.
The President. after telling the con.
gressional leaders that he desired the
passage of the resolution as speedily
as possible, considering it imperative
left to them the matter of settling
upon the procedure to get it through.
Confident that nothing could be
the Senate leaders determined to put
through a resolution for the recess
until August IL. The Senate inter
state commerce committee had con-
sidered the wire-control question and
determined to hold hearings and con-
ing over the telephone and telegraph
systems.
To Meet Tomorrow.
The House adjourned until tomor.
row, Immediately after Mr.. Kitchir
had addressed them, withdrawing the
recess resolution.
In the Senate a scene of consider
able confusion followed upon the re-
port brought from the House chamber
informally that the House would not
agree to the recess. Senators were
amazed at the sudden turn in affairs
Those who had opposed the resolution
laughed at the proponents of the re.
cess. A motion by Senator Overman to
adjourn until tomorrow was adopted.
The opinion was expressed by Sena.
tor Martin. democratic leader of the
Senate. that all hope Of a summerfre.
cess of Congress while the House ways
and means committee struggles with
the war revenue bill had vanished. He
said that undoubtedly it would take
several weeks for the Senate to pu,
through the telegraph and telephone
resolution.
Senator Lewis. the democratic whip
said the only hope of a recess lay ir
the failure to materialize a strike OF
the Western Union employees. If there
was no trouble, he said. the demand
for the resolution empowering the
President to take over the telegraph
and telephone systems might be aban.
doned.
- that situation does not arise
howe.sr." said Senator Lewis. "Con.
gress will be in session continuously
until snow flies"
Senate Plans Hearings.
Arrangements were begun last nigh,
fn In hA 70 - H.
telegraph and telephone resolution
with extensive hearings, to begin no
later than July Is.
The recess resolution was presented
in the Senate last night by Senator
Martin.> Senator Salisbury, the Presi.
dent pro tempore. ruled that the reso.
luton. which provided for an adjourn.
rules OF the Senate and the ballo,
was taken without further delay.
Party lines were disregarded. The
prohibition question was involved
however, for the "wets" desired to ge,
away from Washington and the pos.
sibility Of having the food production
amendment put through.
Vote on Resolution.
The vote on the resolution was as
.Ayes"-senators Bsckham. Cum.
Minis. Dillingham;. F'1stcher. Gerry
Gore, Guion, Kendrick. King. Len
root, Lewis, ,McKellar. Martin. Over.
man, Penrose, Phelaa, Poindexter
Pomerene. Ransdell, Rfad. salisbury
Shafroth, Simmons, Smith Of Arizona,
lContinued on Thirteenth Page.)