Evening star., 1924-11-28
GilIett, Smell and LongWorth
Promise Early Action on
Appropriations.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
MAPPED AT CONFERENCE
President to Send Message to Con-
gress, He Tells G.. O. P. Lead
ers at White House.

Concentration on appropriations
bills was agreed upon as the basis Of
the legislative program for the House
at this session Of Congress at a con-
ference today between President
Coolidge and House leaders. At the
same time it was made known that
although Congress will convene Mon
Gay, President Coolidge will not sub
NIT his annual message until noon
Wednesday. This was made known
today to Speaker Gillett, Nicholas
Longworth, House leader. and Repre-
sentative Smell, chairman OF the
House rules committee, who confer
red with the President regarding a
tentative legislative program in the
House for the coming session.
Senate to Recess.
1t was explained at the White
House that the President postponed
until Wednesday the sending of his
message to the joint meeting of Con-
greSS because the Senate when Il
meets Monday, will adjourn until
noon Wednesday out of respect to
the late Senator Henry Cabot Lodge,
Republican leader Of that body.
The President stated definitely at
today's conference that he will not
deliver his message in person, but
will send 1t by messenger and have
1t read. He said, however, that NJ
would go in person to deliver his
first message to the next Congress.
The Presidents talk with the threr
House leaders today is looked upon
by persons prominent in the party
as the most important one he has
held for some time. Speaker Gillett
who acted as spokesman for the del
| egation after 1t had seen the Presi
dent, said to newspaper men that
while the discussion had TO do en-
tirely with the opening of Congress
and the legislation to be considere
| during the brief period Congress wi:
be assembled, definite program wa
not decided upon as a result of th-,
| conference. He explained that III
| call was primarily for the purpos"
| Of acquainting the President wit.
| what the party leaders in the Houst
| look upon as the more important leg
| islation which has been lying over
should be given attention At this
To Rush Appropriations.
| Speaker Gillett said that the dele
| cation first of all assured the Presi-
dent that the general appropriation
| bills will be handled first and Will. b.
4
| else. The leaders expect these bills
| to be put through quickly and that
| ample time will be left for the con-
| sideration of legislation which has
been pending and which should b.
disposed of as quickly as possible.
The President was read detailed
list of these bills with a brief his
| tory of each and recommendation
! as to each.
! Prominent among what this dele
| cation considered as the more i'm
portant of these bills were: Rivers
and harbors; the administration
public buildings bill. which author
ICES a $4,000. 900 annual building pro-
gram for the National Capital for
period of five years; a bill amending
the present civil service retirement
law; the McFadden banking BILL
which permits national banks to
| compete with State banks; bill
amending the Constitution so as to
change the time for the inauguration
of the President of the United States
and the Vice President, and the ad-
ministration's bill providing for a
complete reorganization of the Gov
ernment departments.
Tax Publicity Discussed.
Representative Longworth said that
the matter of revising that part Of
the new tax law so as to DO away
with the publicity feature of 1t was
discussed during the talk with the
| President, but no provision has been
made for this subject in the tenta-
tive legislative program. He ,ex-
planned that the House leaders will
| await the outcome Of the suits
brought by the Government against
several newspapers which published
income tax returns. In the event the
| 20 ha
very certain that Congress will
| bring about a revision.
| 1t is the opinion of Representative
Longworth that such an amendment
to the tax law can be readily passed.
He believes that many members OF
Congress have changed their Views re-
garding publicity of income tax reg
| turns since their publication in tl4
press, and that they will vote for sucf
a revision of the law. He said he per.
sonally, as well as others In thu
House, always has felt that the la;
does not authorize the printing oil
these returns in newspapers.
ID. C. Bills to Come UP.
Three of the bills mentioned on the
list of important legislation to be
brought up at this session directly af-
| feet Washington.
The Lehlbach bill amending the ex-
| listing civil service retirement act in
creases various annuities and cor
| rects a number of inequalities In the
| present law. 1t is pending in both
| the House and Senate, and Senator
| Stanfield, chairman of the Senate civil
| service committee, expects to call 1t
up for consideration within the first
| 10 days after the Senate convenes. He
| has obtained assurances from Senate
leaders that its passage will not be
| opposed. 1t is not on any formal pro-
gram in the House, but 1t is classed
| among the legislation that the lead
| ers want passed.
The Lehlbach bill sabolishing the
| Personnel Classification Board and
! transferring its functions to the Civil
| Service Commission already has
passed the House, and has received a
favorable report from the Senate civil
service committee. 1t Is now on the
Senate calendar and the prospects are
believed to be good for its early en-
| actment.
The Personnel Classification Board
has drafted letter to be sent to both
House and Senate appropriations COM
CONTINUED on Page Q, Column a.