, 1925-01-26
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.


Association)
WASHINGTON. Jan. a4.-within
six weeks, the present session of
congress will como to an end. Judg-
ing by the rate of legislative speed
and time taken for debate in the
past. it is not too early to predict
that scarcely anything Of major i'm
portance outside of the regular APP
preparation bills will get through be-
fore congress automatically expires
on the fourth Of March.
While there often is a last minute
rally, in which measures are Jam.
med through without much debate.
h opportunity of a minority to
block almost anything is conceded.
So Just % there are various fac.
tors apparent which look to obstruc-
ton and delay.
The most significant>phase OF the
legislative situation is the almost
complete absence of talk about fur
Their tax revision. Even the repeal
Of the much discussed provision OF
the present revenue whereby income
tax payments are made available to
public inspection is not being agitat-
ed. This is due partly to the fact
that sentiment IN congress has not
yet c~rystallized on this issue and
partly TO the desire OF the Coolidge
administration itself not to reopen
the present revenue law amend
ment.
Most Of the Recommendations
which President Coolidge made In
his last message TO congress will not
be carried out at this session OF con-
gress, This Is no longer doubted.
The executive has. however. declin-
ed to say that he considers any pro-
posal he made as serious enough to
require the %summoning Of an extra
session after March ( His strategy
has been to stimulate, IL possible.
the present congress to accomplish
as much as It could by March 4,
leaving undetermined whether there
would be an extra session before
next December. Mr.. Coolidge also
has been undecided whether bust
ness men prefer congress to give the
country a rest . He will put that
policy into effect for a while, at
least. after March I.
The consensus OF opinion. on the
other hand Is that Mr.. Coolidge will
find that by September / there will
have been enough rest TO satisfy
many Of the elements clamoring for
such a ~do-nothing policy and that
the pressure TO get action on tax re-
form. agricultural relief. and prob
lens growing out OF the debt nego-
tiatlons with Europe will again be-
come acute. The summoning OF an
extra session, therefore, for the au-
tumn months may be looked for
" though the announcement to
that effect might be delayed until
late in the summer.
Although last year was excep-
tional In that the presidential cam
pagin occupied the minds OF almost
everybody In the congressional
world and little could have been ac-
complished anyhow II there had
been a session, the vacation from
June 10 December was one OF the
longest which the country has ex-
perienced In legislation in a decade.
This was forgiven on the ground
that the political campaign would
have i~nterfered with congressional
action. No such excuse can be offer.
ed after March 1 and If the country
manages to get along with the SEES
sion of congress from March until
December. It will indeed be proof
that pre-war normally has returned.
Judging by the letters received by
members of congress requesting re.
lief either from past laws that have
become burdonsome or economic
problems that require government
aid, the demand for an almost cor.
tinuous session OF congress year In
and year out would seem 70 have
become embedded IN the minds OF "A
great many organizations as well as
individuals There are some who
even question whether the business
OF government will not be retarded
of as many problems are left pend
ing on March 4 next as apparently
be the case.
Congress would normally convene
in December but that means mac.
ion as n rule until after the Christ
mas holidays. A meeting OF con
gress in October or November
would get things started for the
regular session and make it possible
perhaps, to adjourn early IN 1886
when the primaries will be held pre-.