Evening star., 1919-12-30
MEXICO UNLIKELY
!. . I0IA!cT: ON OIL BILL
Thought Impossible for Depu'
ties.to Take It Up Before ;
s. Adjournment,

| MEXICO CITY, December 20 (by the
| Associated. Press) Action on the all
important petroleum bill is improb-
able, according to parliamentary ex-
psrts who point out that only two
days remain for regular sessions of
the Mexican congress. which ad1ourns
December 81.
Cor sress has been in virtually con-
tinuUus session since september l.
l1s1S, extraordinary sessions lasting
most joining the regular sessions
which the constitution provides for
during the last four months OF eacn
year. While numerous laws OF more
| or less importance have been enacteo'
the only legislation Of . notable cnar-
ticie 3 Of the constitution. which in
wolves the formation OF an organic
It is believed Impossible for the
chamber Of deputies. to which oooy
pending petroleum legislation nas
matter before adjournment. The pro,
posed Oil legislation was Introduces &c
! In congress November %, 1918, on the
| initiative Of the executive depart
ment. This measure. INTENDED 10
carry out article ~, Of the cohsutsu'
aroused bitter opposition on the part
Of foreign interests. which causeo
congress to give the question most
! careful consideration.
Senate Passes Measure.
Although debated in the chamoer
Of deputies during the extfaordinary
session last spring, no action was
taken, but the delay caused the sen
ate to take UP the measure 1t tne
The Bin nov rests in the chamber Of
deputies ana there il little prospect OF
action until tho autumn OF 1920. when
the new congress will take it's seat,
unless the president convokes an ex.
traordinary session next spring. ~ ~
hanneI1 and that some sort OF agree
m eft win be reached between the
executive department and foreign IN
tefests before congress has another
chance to take~a h1rd.
The closing days Of the present ses-
sion have been watched win in.eHse
interest for the purpose Of determin-
ing the alignment Of the members
making up the permanent commission
which continues in session. with lin
tied powers, between sessions OF
congress.
Duties Of Commission.
This commission is composed OF
twenty-nine members. fifteen from the
chamber of deputies and 1ourteen
from the senate. SiHCc Iho
| Of president and new members OF
both houses is scheduled for the nrst 1s
Sunday of next July, and since .ne
new congress will not meet until sep.
tember j. 1920. and fhe new prestdent
win not take office until December a.,
next, the permanent commissi0n VII
represent the legislative branch,c ,cI tne
government during the critical, cleo
ton period unless extraordinary ses-
ATOMS of congress are convoked.
while not directly directly, INVESTED =, ,s a.,t Win I'm
authority over elections; It u.s. is isl. r.sn sne
tive department, will have consider
able power during the crisis OF next
summer. In congress are sympathis.
ers of various candidates, including
Pablo Gonzalez. Alvaro Obregon ana
Yrnacio Bonillas. as well a others
who are still without party alignment,
but who remain strong supporters .s'f of
the present administration. For this
r1a son the election of q permanent
commission is being awaited with. in-
tefest, as it may give some signin-
can't; indicati0sa as to the trend of the
coming e1ectfonS. E'&HS