New-York tribune., 1921-03-08
White House Conference
Decides on Special Ses.
sion Not Before April 4
and PerhapsW eek Later
Tariff and Taxation
Frankly Discussed
Hailed as Beginning Of
Close Cooperation Be-
tween Him and Congress
From The 7'ribune's WASHINGTON Bur,o

From The 1s1bunc's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON March S.-The ex-
ira session of Congress will be called
not earlier than April 4, and perhaps
not until week later. This announce
ment was made shortly after midnight
this morning by President Harding
himself. after long conference at the
White House with Senate and House
leaders.
The conference was the first eX-
tended one with a large group OF lead
ers in Congress which President Har-
ding has had since he was inaugurated
1t is only the beginning of numerous
conferences of the same nature, accord
ing to the President. He said last
night he found it "cxtremely helpful
to touch elbows" with the Senators and
House members and talk frankly over
the questions which have to be faced.
Discuss Extra Session Program
The conference followed dinner at
the White House at which the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Harding entertained a
group of influential Senators and
House members. The dinner began at
8. 1t was a few minutes after mid
night when the conference broke up
President Harding then announced
that he had asked number of the
Senator's and Representatives to the
White House to discuss with them
primarily the date for calling the extra
session. Varying opinions were cx-
pressed and while no definite decision
was reached, it was decided that it
would be not earlier than April 4 and
might be week later, or April II.
"ln addition to that said President
Harding, 1--WE discussed q wide range
of subjects pertaining to the possible
program Of the extra session. We
talked over domestic matters almost
cntilsiy."
The tariff and taxation rroblems
were the subjects of a great deal of
the discussion, according Co the PreSi
dent In this connection. he said
there was consideration of VIII ;ch was
the most important, taxation or tariff
legislation. and which ough. to be
taken up first.
On this, the President added. "there
was wide difference Of opinion"
The matter was not settled. The
President said the Ways and Means
and Finance committees would canvass
the matter further, seek to ascertain
the views of the members generally
and then definite program would be
mapped out.
Other Subjects which were brought ur
in the talk about the White House
table included the failure of the army
and navy appropriation bills and what
was the best manner of dealing with
them at the extra session.
President Harding made it plain that
the White House dinner and confer
ence tonight was in accord with his
general plan to cooperate closely with
Congress.
'Instead Of going into the session
without any plans as to where we are
going, we are trying to formulate Z
program in ADVANCE, said President
Harding.
"This is the beginning of program
Of cooperation between the President
and Congress-
He added that he was taking this
step in fultillment of what he believed
TO be the best method of procedure
under our form Of government, for the
Executive and Congress to cooperate
and for men in places of responsibility
Continued OH page ,our)