Evening star., 1924-12-21
Leaders of Both Parties Con-
fident Business on Hand
Can Be Completed.
GRATIFYING PROGRESS
MADE IN LEGISLATION
House Already Has Disposed of
Three Supply Bills-Filibuster
Is Improba Die.

Progress made by Congress since
II met December | is such that Re
publican leaders al the Capitol pre-
dicted yesterday all necessary bills
would be put through by March 4. No
special session of the new Congress
they said. would be necessary.
With the Christmas recess starting
yesterday, a review of the situation
reveals the fact that the House has
already passed three Of the nine an
nual supply bills. and two others
have been perfected by the committee
on appropriations and will be dis
posed of soon after the House re-
convenes December %. The bills al
ready passed are the Interior Depart
ment. Agriculture Department. and
Navy appropriation bills. The Treas
ury and Post Office bills have been
reported.
No Delay Expected.
The Senate it is true, has not yet
pass sed-or begun consideration of
any of the appropriation bills. which
in the final analysis are the ential
measures which must be put through
at a short session of Congress or an
extra session of a new Congress be-
2.
appropriations committee has COM
pleted consideration of the Interior
and the Agriculture bills and is
merely awaiting an opportunity TO re
port thsee measures and obtain &C.
ton on them Senate leaders last
night declared that there was no Tea-
son to expect delay of the appropri-
alton bills in the Senate, and things
were as far along as usual at the
opening of the Christmas recess.
The adoption OF the budget system
with strict rules that none OF the
regular appropriation bills shall car
ny legislative provisions-has brought
bout much more speedy considera-
tion and passage of the annual sup
ply bills in both houses of Congress.
Furthermore, the bills are being kept
down within the limits of the budget,
all of which aids quick action on
these measures.
Muscle shoals Bill.
Since the Senate met 90 days ago
the Muscle Shoals bill has been the
unfinished business of the Senate and
continues to occupy that strategic
position. When the Senate returns
ii will continue It's consideration of
that bill. But it is hoped that before
long final disposition Will be made of
the Muscle Shoals question and the
Senate will get down to other busi-
ness.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
Muscle Shoals matter has occupied
nearly all of the time of the Senate
that body has put through the second
deficiency appropriation BILL which
failed of passage at the last session,
and the House bill providing for ma
val building, including eight light
cruisers, authorizing appropriations
OF $110 100000. The Senate also has
approved so-called rum treaties with
Canada, Panama, France and the
Netherlands, and has favorably acted
upon the debt-funding agreements
with Lithuania and Poland.
Isle of Pines Treaty.
The Isle of Pines treaty, dealing
with the sovereignty of that island
which was to come before the Senate
December 10. was postponed until
the Muscle Shoals bill has been dis
posed of.
The Senate has agreed to take up
for consideration the Presidents veto
Of the postal pay bill January and
to vote on 1T January 6. Tke mes
sage has been on the table awaiting
action ever since the close OF the last
session Of Congress. The admins
tration leaders believe that they
have sufficient votes to prevent the
passage OF the bill over the Presi-
dents veto. The pending motion, Of
fered by Senator Sterling, chairman
Of the post office committee, is TO re-
Ter the message and the bill to the
post office committee. Steps have
been taken looking to the perfection
of a bill increasing rates on certain
classes of postal matter SO as to meet
the increased expenditures provided
In the postal pay bill, and it is under
stood that if such a measure can be
put through the President will then
not oppose the passage OF the wage
bill
Postal Rate Bill.
A subcommittee of the Senate COM
n1ittee on post offices has been ap-
pointed to handle the postal rate bill
It is headed by Senator Moses of New
Hampshire and will meet Tuesday.
with Postmaster General New as its
first witness, it is understood. An in
Vitation has been extended to the
House post office committee to send a
subcommittee to sit with the Senate
subcommittee. 1t is hoped to have the
postal rate bill ready for Congress
certainly by January 5, when the
wage bill and the Presidents veto are
TO come before the Senate under the
unanimous consent agreement enter
ed into.
Politically, SO far as the session has
gone, there has been an absence Of
fireworks. The Democrats have in
dicated their intention of co-operat-
ing In the passage OF the supply
bills and such other Legislation as
they believe can be given proper con-
<ideration at the short session. The
Insurgent Republicans who followed
la Toilette during the campaign so
far have raised no rumpus. They
rave indicated that they do not in
tend to fight until there is some issue
bafore the Senate or House which de-
mands a firm stand on their part.
The House has put through legis-
1otion proposing to extend the air
r,aiI service and other legislation of
general character.
Await Farming Report.
Farm legislation is waiting recon-
,,andations of the President, who, in
t,,ru is awaiting the report of his
avricultural conference, appointed by
tin, 10 study the situation and make
-,,~cestfons This conference will re-
oonvene in Washington, January 5.
Members of Congress interested in
farr legislation, and the President,
YonfInued on Page ?, Column -