New-York tribune., 1918-07-07
ate took n recess until $3.50. When the

nounced that the Commerce Committee
would commence hearings on tho wire
bill at once, and would continue. re-
gardiess of the possible recess, until
the measure was reported. He then
put tho motion to adjourn until August
IL, which carried by vote of only 27
to 26.
When the resolution came to tho
House, Majority Leader kitchin under
took to secure immediate consideration,
but was blocked by Representative
Heating. of Colorado, who suggested
the absence of a quorum, and a count
disclosed only ZIP members present,
less than the number necessary to
transact business. A call of the House
brought 241 members, but meantime
members were debating the proposal in
groups all over the House chamber and
1t became evident that there was a
growing opposition to the recess pro-
gramme.
Senator Martin came into the cham
Der and conferred with Mr.. Kitchin,
1t is believed, to suggest that Senate
leaders would not be dsplcased if the
House killed the resolution. Mr..
kitchin then made brief speech, in
which he reviewed the incidents of the
day, concluding by saying that he was
convinced that sentiment in the House
had changed and that majority of
ITS membership was now opposed to a
recess, and that he. therefore, would
Withdraw the adjournment resolution.
The House then adjourned until Mon
day at noon.
Wilson's Sway Reflected
The failure of the recess programme
through change of sentiment in the
House showed clearly that the Presi-
dent still exercises absolute sway over
the lower body. Probably majority
of the House membership wanted the
recess, even after it became plain that
the Pres dent desired Congress to stay
on the job until the wire legislation
was finally passed.
This, was particularly the case
among members from the far removed
sections Of the country, who wanted an
excuse to stay in Washington. 1t fur
ther applied to members who dislike
the prospect of campaigning during
the hot months. The Presidential or
der to stay at the Capitol would enable
these gentlemen to conduct their caN-
paigns il absentia by means of circular
letters, and thereby both give their
constituents an complication of their
to the welfare Of the coun-
try and further save the expense and
effort of making a campaign for reelec-.
ton.
On the Senate side there was dis
position to give the President re-
minder that his guardianship of that
body was not absolute. AZ the same
time the President SO represented op-
position to the recess programme that
the vote to adjourn could not be fairly
interpreted as rebuff, but rather an
expression of the Senate's opinion that
a recess would facilitate passage of
the wire legislation
The sum total Of the situation is that
Mr. Wilson can still snap the whip in
the direction of the Capitol Hill and
get the kind Of a response that he de-
sires-
Hearings This Week
The Interstate Commerce Committee.
at meeting Immediately after the
Senate recessed until O'Clock, decided
to begin hearings on the resolution
next week
Writing to Chairman Sims, of the
House committee, the President ex-
pressed gratitude that the House acted
SO promptly in passing the resolution
yesterday and expressed the hope that
members of the House might influence
members Of the Senate in pressing for
action there before the recess.
The Presidents letter to Representa-
tive Sims follows:
II am deeply grateful that the House
acted SO promptly and SO emphatically
IN the matter of the control of the
wires, and l want to thank you and all
who were associated with you in get
ting the measure adopted
Il feel the critical Importance of the
whole thing very keeny, and ! am hop
ing that the members of the House NAV
be influential with members of the
Senate in pressing for action by that
body before the recess"
Senator Martin said that he had
made an investigation in both Senate
and House, and found practically unan-
lmous opinion that the resolution
should go over and Congress take its
recess Ii considered now, Senator OF
Martin added ii would be impossible
for Congress TO secure vacation it
needs
An appeal to ~stay on the job was
MAJ de by Senator j Johnson, Of California.
and few persons in the galleries who
applauded were ordered elected By Sen
ator King of Utah, temporarily presid-
ing
The highest duty Congress can do
is to stay on the job Senator Johnson
shouted "Not on the ground that the
QeNI peI1n1LS or fOrbldS q Vece SIS.
but because OF the responsibility and
duty of Senator'S There is little per-
haps that Congress can accomplish.
realize we have lost our initiative and
become a mere rubber stamp in govern
ment- But there is a possibility that
We might do something, and we ought
TO be ready to meet that possibility"
Senator Johnson said the military
situation on the western front now is a
Aperilous crisis" and for that reas on
alone Congress should remain at it's
post
Pomerene Asks Data
Senator Pomerene, Of Ohio, declared
he opposed any action without anfor-
nation regarding the necessity of the
government control. He read a tele-
gram signed by eighty Western Union
employees at Columbus, Ohio, opposing
government control. and insisting that
the threatened strike would not seri-
ously affect communication.
Senator Lewis, of Illinois, said COM
naittee hearings could De held during
recess without loss of time.
Senator Sherman, Of Illinois. denied
that the strike call Of the operators
union constituted an emergency, and
presented telegram from 239 West
ern Union operators at Chicago IRE
pudiating" the authority Of union off,
cials. He suggested that Postmaster
(,<,y, aV~a1 RI e. NJ. -