Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-28
CONGRESS READY
TO FINISH SESSION
Leaders See Little Need for
Extra Term After
March q Next.
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.

With the Christmas recess behind
! 1T the Sixty-eighth Congress tomor-
row starts on the final lap which
Will close its legislative career and
existence March 4.
During the four weeks since the
present session of Congress opened
several important developments have
occurred In the situation which prob
ably will affect considerably the leg
isIative activities of the Congress and
which have a bearing on the possi-
biiity and probability of a special ses-
sion of the New Congress which
comes in March 4.
In the first place, demand for farm
legislation-as an emergency meas
ure has dropped off enormously.
owing to the improved situation OF
the farmers due to better prices, par
ticularly for grain.
Secondly, further tax reduction
legislation seems to be out of the
question until the Treasury officials
are able to say definitely what will
be the results of the new tax law.
President Coolidge has made this
clear and the leaders in Congress
have accepted such a statement of
the case. II there is to be a special
session dealing with tax legislation,
it will not come until after Septem-
Der 1, 1925, Senator Smoot, chairman
Of the Senate finance committee, said
last night.
No Chance to Repeal Publicity Clause.
In the opinion of Senator Smoot.
1t would be Impossible to get through
Congress at the present session any
measure repeating the so-called pub
licity clauses of the new income tax
law. He does not expect the matter
to be brought forward seriously at
this session.
Whether railroad legislation can be
put through before March is open
to doubt. But the demand for railroad
legislation has come particularly from
the sections which have demanded also
farm legislation, and with improvement
In farm conditions the demand for rail-
legislation has become less pronounced
also
Nor is it expected now that any seri-
Gus attempt will be made at this session
to get action on the World Court proto-
COL: As one Senator remarked yester-
day, They seem to be making some
thing of a joke Of the World Court
abroad-failing to put up to 1t vital
questions arising, which should go to
that court if it is to be Of real value.
Why, therefore, should the United
States become excited over the question
of adherence to that tribunal?"
Conhne to Money Bills.
The work of the present session of
Congress, 1t appears, will be confined
largely to the passage. Of the regular an
nual appropriation bills, with such gen
eral legislation as can be put through
without controversy.
Until New Year day has come and
gone the Senate likely will do little more
than mark time, although 1t meets to-
morrow The probability is that the
Senate will occupy itself tomorrow with
unobjected bills on the calendar, unless
there are some Senators who desire to
speak on the Muscle Shoals bill, which
is the unfinished business of the Senate.
The Senate will adjourn or recess at
the close Of tomorrow's business until
Friday.
Senate committees, however, will
continue their work. The appropria-
tions committee. begins tomorrow it's
hearings OH the naval appropriations
bill. and the postoffce committee will
continue its work on the Sterling
Paige bill, increasing rates on sec
ond-cIass mail and other postal serv-
ices. 1t is planned to report this
last measure to the Senate, II pos
Presidents veto Of tho postal pay in
crease bill, which is to come before
the Senate week from tomorrow
and Is to be disposed OF by the fol-
lowing day. So far as the postal pay
bill Is concerned. 1t now seems that
it will either be referred back to
committe or the Presidents veto will
be sustained.
Revive Teapot Dome.
Teapot Dome and the oil scandals,
which occupied so much time of the
Senate during the last session, will
raise their heads again. Senator
Walsh of Montana, who lifted the lid
of the Teapot Dome affair. will ask
the Senate to adopt the report which
was submitted by the majority of the
public lands committee, condemning
the leases Of the naval oil reserves to
Doheny and Sinclair, at the earliest
opportunity after the Senate recon-
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