The Colorado statesman., 1923-02-17
EXTRA SESSION IS
NOW IMPROBABLE
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SEEM TO
BE WEARY AND READY TO
TAKE A LONG REST.
COUNTRY ALSO IS WILLING
People Want Some Months Undis-
turbed by Legislative Uncertainties
Farming Interests Perhaps Not
Quite Satisfied.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK


Washington.-At this writing moth
ing apparently is looming which de-
mands an extra session of congress.
Curiously enough, perhaps, today the
senators and the representatives who
at the outset of the session seemed de-
termined to force an extra session If
such a thing were possible, are now to
all appearances as glad of the prom
ised freedom from legislative thraldom
for time as are any of the original
opponents of the extraordinary session
project.
1t is always possible, of course,
that something may happen overnight
to change the whole trend Of legisla-
tive events, and to make probable
what hitherto seemingly was improb-
able. Therefore let it be said that
now it looks as If there will be long
vacation ahead for the representa-
tives and the senator's but If unto
ward things shall happen the advance
word that they might happen will
stand as an excuse for what otherwise
might seem to be a case of faulty
prophecy.
What is it that has changed the de-
sire of some of the members of con-
gress for an extra session into will
ingness that none shall be called? A
good many reasons have been ad-
vanced, but probably the basic reason
is that the strenuous endeavorS for
this thing or that thing by virtually
every member of the present congress
seem to have tired them out and made
them willing for physical reasons to
take rest.
Sense the Country's Desire.
There is another reason however,
which in a way is similar to the one
just given and yet it is different
There seems to be a feeling in the
house and senate today that the coun-
try is tired of congress 1t is not
meant by this that the communities of
the country, according to their vary
ing viewpoints upon legislative matters,
are tired of the efforts which men in
congress are eXerting to secure specific
kinds of legislation, but simply that
congress feels that the people of the
country generally would like to get
release from the uncertainties of leg
islative activities, and would welcome
tiiC opPoit " 6Nt DeeNh ~ 'oi -
undisturbed by economic or financial
>theorizing for eight months or so.
There was fear on the part of
some of the members of congress at
the outset of the session that drive
was to be made in behalf of ship sub
sidy legislation to the exclusion of all
other matters of public moment. 1t is
true, probably, that the leaders of the
majority party in the two houses Of
congress could have prevented con-
sideration of anything at the present
short session except ship subsidy and
the appropriation bills, but even if any
of them felt so inclined they believed
that to follow such course would be
bad politics. If not bad economics.
A great deal has been said publicly
about the victory which certain ele-
ments in the Republican party in con-
gress gained over the leadership of
the majority when the virtual side
tracking of ship subsidy was secured
and bills for the economic relief of
agriculture were given the right-of-
way. OF course in a sense the plead
ers for first consideration for agricul-
tural credits and the like won vic
v,
which was willing to yield victory In
advance.
Farm Bloc May Not Be Satisfied.
Some men here say that the men
who are working for laws which will
give relief to agriculture are not en-
tirely satisfied with the form which
the legislation is taking, and hold that
II was prevented from taking the form
they wished because of opposition from
the majority leadership. Whether the
farming interests will be entirely sat
isfied with such legislation as 1t Is
TO get at the present session of con-
gress Is much to be doubted, but 1t
seems to be true that some of the
farming interest exponents In congress
are fairly well pleased with what it Is
doing and what is yet to be done.
Certain it is that the so-called con-
servatives in the senate and house
yielded much more to the arguments
of those who sought relief for agri-
culture than it was believed at first
they could be made to yield. Agri-
culture has gained a little or has
gained much according to the view
point, but 1t has gained more than
was thought possible at the beginning
of things, and so 1t is possible that
things may prove fairly acceptable.
Archives Building Approved.
Priceless documents of the rarest
historic value, the property of the Uni