The Colorado statesman., 1923-02-03
REASONS WHY CONGRESS HAS
CHANGED ITS OPINION AS TO
PREsInENT's INTENTION.
SUPPLY BILLS FAR ADVAN CED
Ship Subsidy Probably Would Have
No Chance in Next Conoress-Mr.
Harding. May Take Wife to Florida
In March.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

sudden but not altogether unaccOunt-
able change of opinion in congress
concerning the likelihood of an extra
session. Until few days ago It was
believed that every attempt would be
made TO force the President to call
the members together shortly after
the death of the present body. but
,Oday the feeling is that the newly
elected ones will not come to Wash
lngton for legislative purposes until
next December.
A filibuster has been in progress in
the senate against the ship subsidy
nill. No partisanship is involved when
the fillbuster opinion Is expressed.
The senators who are talking against
time when the ship subsidy bill is up
only smile when the direct charge is
made that they are using the tactics
of delay. Admission of course can be
found in the smile.
The agricultural credits bill at this
writing is about to displace ship sub
sidy as a subject of legislation The
advocates of subsidy hope that hav-
ing yielded to the sentiment in favor
of agriculture first they will win
support enough later to give the sub
sidy measure at least chance FOR its
life. Nevertheless II looks today as
if the subsidy bill would not be al
at this session, although of course the
unexpected may happen
There are several reasons for the
sudden birth of belief that congress
will not be convened in extraordinary
session. The senate has talked and
talked on subsidy, or rather has talked
and talked while the subsidy sub
ject was up without saying much about
the specific matter, but it has re-
Trained from much talking when the
appropriation bills have been un1er
consideration.
Supply Bills Well Advanced
Not for many years have the sup
ply bills been so far advanced at a
short session as is the case at present.
The senate when II feels the pulsing
movement has way of putting ap-
preparations through in short order
and without the accompaniment OF
many words Therefore IT seems that
the appropriation bills will be well
out of the way by March 4, and If
such be the case there will be no ne
cessity for an extra session In order
20 give any department the money
wherewith to keep the wheels moving
If the Republican majority in the
next congress were as heavy as 1t is
t1 hA DF.As "a
questionably would call the law
makers together again for the express
purpose of passing the ship subsidy
bill provided of course If II should
fail at the present session. AS things
are however, the belief of the admin
lstration supporters is that subsidy
will have no possible chance of enact
ment in the next congress and that
the President, being well aware of
this, will not call an extra session for
ship subsidy purposes.
1t is understood that as soon as
congress quits in March the President
will take few weeks rest from his
Washington labors. 1t Is believed to
be his intention to go to Florida for
recreation and surcease. 1t is said
Mrs. Harding is so far convalescent
from her recent Illness that she will
be ready for travel in the early spring.
1t is known that it is the desire of the
President to give his wife the benefit
of n change of clir.iate, and of course
naturally 1t Is his wish to accompany
her.
Harding May Visit Alaska.
Tentative plans are being made at
this time for visit of the President
in the summer to the territory of
Alaska. This northwestern territory
has been a subject for acrimonious
debate in congress, and for trouble
to at least two of the departments of
government for n long time. The
President, 1t is sai1, wants to go to
the territory to judge of things for
himself. He will be the guest while
there of Scott Bone, former news
paper man and now under the Hard
ing appointment the governor of the
| territory.
Disputes over government policies
in Alaska, it is said, in part were re-
sponsible for the willingness of Secre-
tary of the Interior Fall to retire from
office. AS man who has known
Alaskan conditions for many years
has said: mo two officials of govern
ment ever have been able to agree
on what should be done to rehabili
tate the territory"
Every time II is suggested that any.
thing be done along certain policy
lines for Alaska. the ch rye instantly
is either that capital is seeking u
chance for selfish exploitation or that
advocates of conservation are trying
so to tie up things that the natural
resources OF tine territory cannot be
utilized. Alaska has been known In
Washington for ,ong time as ''the
land of suspicion"