The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-03-22
MAY CALL CONGRESS
ABOUT MIDDLE OF MAY
WILSON KEEPS IN TOUCH
WITH HOME AFFAIRS.
And Development Of Senti-
ment Toward League Of
Nations.

Paris, March 22.-(A. PA
special session Of both houses OF the
American congress probably will be
called to assemble about the middle
of May, the date when President Will
son hopes to return to the United
States.
It is possible that II the treaty Of
peace is sufficiently advanced to war
rant such course, special session
of the senate may be called even
earlier to afford 1t opportunity to
deal with this subject before being
called upon to direct its attention TO
other important matters. chief OF
which will be financial affairs.
1t Is held to be necessary for Presl-
dent Wilson to be in Washington
when the call for such special ses-
sion Is issued. for this may lie cabled
from Paris in advance of his depar-
ture from France. Mr.. Wilson, now
ever has reached no decision regard
ing the question and is reserving the
shaping of his course of action until
he has a more definite idea of the date
of his return to America.
The president is also keeping In
touch with the development OF sentl-
ment in the United States toward
league of nations. If the situation
! appears to him to demand such action
| il is not unlikely that shortly after
| his return from Europe he will make
an intended speaking tour. present
! ing his view Of the issue directly 10
| the voters in the states whose sena-
! tors are opposed to the ratlfication OF
| the league plan.
White House Comment.
| Washington. March 22.-lt was
said unofficially at the White House
today that President Wilson might
return to the United States by May !,
leaving Paris Immediately alter
reaching an agreement on the prln-
| cipal features of the peace treaty,
without waiting for the actual sign
ing of the document.
An extra session Of congress not
later than May Is now is regarded
as n certainty among officials ana
Headers in congress, and If the presl-
dent is able to return as early as
Nav | both houses may be called 10
meet very shortly after that date.
Government departments, by resort
ing to various eXpedents. are meet
ing the situation created by the fall
ure of appropriation bills in the last
congress, but 1t is regarded as essen
! tial that these measures be passed
before the end of the fiscal year.
June 80.
Received With Interest.
The suggestion in Associated Press
DISPATCHES from Paris that the presl-
dent might summon the senate spe-
cial session to consider the peace
treaty in advance of the meeting OF
both houses was received here with
interest. 1t was noted in this con-
nection that the republicans. who
will control the senate, have taken no
steps toward organization, although
the house republicans virtually have
completed their work.
Democratic and republican leaders
still in Washington agree that the
sooner congress is called the better
it will be.
81 am glad the president is going
TO do it," said Speaker Clark. THE
quicker the better. in my opinion"
Representative Mondell, of Wyo-
ming. recently chosen republican floor
leader. asserted congress should be in
session now.
"In any event" he added, "con-
gress should be called not later than
May and it will require at least
two months to consider properly the
six great supply bills and the de-
fciency bill, which failed in the last
! congress"
New Floor Leader Glad
'T am glad" Representative Mon
dell said. ito know that the president
anticipates calling an extra session
and apparently has reached some
definite conclusion about it. 7 hope
however. TINT he calls ii before the
middle OF May. Congress ought to
be in session now. Every day IT Is
not in session embarrasses and in
tcrferes with the work of those gov
prnment bureaus and departments for
which deficiency appropriations were
asked and which were provided for
in the deficiency bill that failed.