The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-17
DEMOCRATS TO ASK
EXTRA SESSION SOON
Congress Party Leaders Fear
for Reconstruction Legislation
Special DespatcA 10 Tns SUI.

Special Despatch 10 THE SUI.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1s.-Immediateiy
upon his return to Washington President
Wilson will be urged by Democratic adj
visers in the Senate and House to call an
extra session of Congress Immediately
after March 4.
Republican leaders have said privately
that they did not expect an extra session
before the middle of May; Democratic
leaders say privately they will urge an
immediate extra session: that even elm
mating Republican opposition they will
be unable to procure at this session much
ct the legislation the enactment OF which
before the middle OF May will be essen
tiai TO the successful handling of recon-
struction problems, the responsibility for
which the Administration cannot evade.
The frankness Of Secretary Glass in
nsking extraordinary discretionary pow
ers in floating the coming loan. the
power TO fx the interest rate and the
tar exemption features Is largely respon-
sibie for this attitude.
OF still greater Importance. however.
Is the unwillingnSss of Congress. partisan
consideration aside. to permit the Presi-
dent to return to the Peace Conference
before the people Of the United States
and the Governments OF our late AS
soeiates' in the war shall have had the
bensht OF q full and free discussion on
the proposed League OF Nations In the
light of the proposed constitution and
such additional information as may be
forthcoming from the President.
d, Six Days Not Enough.
In the minds Of the Presidents alleged
constitutional copartners in his European
undertakings the six days which will
intervene between the meetings at the
White House dinner of the President and
members OF the Senate and House For
em Committees and March 4 will not
permit of tho, Gull and free discussion
which Congress feels the Importance OF
the subject demands.
Aside from the international situation
the Presidents partisans in Congress are
unwilling to grant Secretary Qlass's re-
quest for a still further extension of the
arbitrary powers conferred upon, the
executive braneh Of the Government dur
ing the war. And they are thoroughly
impressed with the sound principles be-
hind his declaration that to ix the inter
est rates and tax exemption features of
the coming loan several weeks before
the frst bonds are to be offered for sale
would be fatal to the success OF the
venture.
Very reluctantly I am constrained to
ray" Mr.. Glass wrote Representative
Ritchin and Senator Simmons and ne
repeated the declaration before the Ways
and Means Committee, shat cannot
wisely determine now in February the
terms OF the bonds or other obligations
which II would be wise to offer for sub
scription in April. when the Liberty Loan
campaign should probably begin.
why He. Asked Latitude.
Therefore. and in view Of the early
expiration of the life of the present Con-
gress and the apparent impossibilty OF
converting and obtaining the new Con-
gress In time TO enact further bond legis-
lation before the Victory Liberty Loan
begins, reluctantly ask greater latitude
in the exercise OF a sound discretion as
10 the terms Of the Victory Liberty Loan
,han has been conferred by the Congress
in respect to previous loans"
In the first place very many OF the
Democratic members OF the Ways and
Means Committee are unwilling to fur
Their resign their constitutional powers
and duties. Republicans are even more
unitedly opposed to the proposal
Accepting Mr.. GLASS; original premise
that Il would be unwise to announce oil
AK the interest rate and tax exemption
features far In advance OF the first sub
scrlption to the loan. they do not follow
Mr.. Glass in his conclusions therefron
that It would be an apparent impos.
sibility" to convene and organize the
next Congress In time to enact further
loan legislation before the notation be-
gina
It Is pointed out that TO all practica
intents and purposes, the House Of tn,
Sixty-sixth Congress will be organized
hA tea Err
81. The Speakership and patronage of
fees for the House proper will be settled
at that time. Between that date an(
March It will not be difficult for tn,
Republicans and Democrats TO determin,
the Ways and Means Committee mem
bership.
Could Act QaicIxIy.
No further organization would b.
necessary to enact the revenue legisla
tion. One week. or II necessary fou
days, after the new Congress meets tn,
House can have before II the loan bill
II controversial features OF Mr.. Glass
proposal are eliminated for the time be
ing. the measure can be put through in
couple of days. II can be put through
the Senate and conference in anothe
four days and be ready for the Presi
dents signatura.b by April is.
There has been no intimation tina
II In proposed to float the loan befor
that date. But here comes the darl
Complexioned gentleman in the WOO
pile; it has been fntimated that Tn
President contemplates a return /
Europe on or about March 8, thus et
fectually cutting or debate or instruc
tions In his League OF Nations proposal,
This fact, rather than the "apparen
tmpossibIlityr OF getting tho loan legis
lation through the new Congress In tim
TO have the loan ready for fiotation,
regarded as the determining elsmen
In the Administrator decision to fore
n blanket authorization throuph the '.rs