The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-03
CONGRESS CLOSING
 DURING SUMMER LONGEST F0R YEARS
Exodus of Government Off. ciaIs Next Week to Make Capital Look Like "De-
 serted Village"
Fly LAWRENCE MARTIN


 United Press Staff Correspondent Special Dispatch to The Age-HeraId WASHINGTON. March 2.-The first rumblings of 2 great exodus of gov ernment officials. congressman. poli- ticians and iobbyists from the na- tion's capital were heard today.
 With tho death of tho sixty-sev- snth Congress tomorrow night or Sunday the movement will be in full swing, and by carly next week Washington will be ''deserted vil- lase"-off,cially and politically.
 The prospective absence of e Con- gross from Washington-from March to Deoember-will be the longest rest the nation has had from legis- lative oratory since before tho war. The final gavel of the session will be the signal for a series of 1unkets vacation trips and "itinerant" inves- legations that for some weeks at least will strip Washington of its leading public men.
 The rank and file of tho great ex odus will be composed of members Of Congress. going home or on vaea- tions, with politically awkward" squad of lame ducks" bringing up the rear.
 Harding Departs Monday.
 President Harding will join in the movement Monday, when he and Mrs. Harding leave for months vacation trip in Florida. With the presiden- tal party will be Secretary of War and Mrs. Weeks, Brigadier General Sawyer, Speaker Giliest of the House, n | a . nf n board, Attorney General Daugherty, Secretary Christian. Senator Freling- huysen and others.
 Secretary of tho Navy Denby, other high naval officials and a goodly number of congressmen will sail Monday for five weeks cruise to the West Indies and the Panama canal to witness the maneuvers of the United States fleet. They will derson.
 Early next month the army trans port St. MihieL with Secretary Weeks. some congressman and other officials aboard. will sail on an in vestigatinE cruise of tho military posts in the insular possessions of the United States.
 Members of the United States coal commission will so out into the coal
  regarding this troubled industry.
 Members of the Senate forestry committee during the vacation will visit many of the timber regions in order 10 recommend new forest re- serves.
 Free Trip to Europe.
 The Leviathan, Americas greatest liner, will inaugurate its return to active service with a free trip to Europe for government officials and congressman. This probably will be In April.
 Several senators and House mem bers will go to Europe. Among them are some presidential possibilities. Senator Underwood of Alabama left a few days ago for the old world. and he will be followed by Senators Johnson. Borah and Moses. three of the leading irreconcilables in the Versailles treaty fight.
 Later in the summer President Harding probably will visit the mid dle and far west. making several speeches. He may reach Alaska. but this is not regarded as probable.
 Senators Kellogg and Pomerene, both defeated for reelection, will journey to the Pan-American confer ence at Santiago. Chile. as members of the American delegation.
 Secretary of State Hughes is one of tho few officials who turned down a real chance to leave Washington with the absence of the President ing government official in Washing