Evening star., 1925-02-01
MOUNTAIN Of WORK
SHADOWS &c DAYS
LEFT TO CONGRESS
Farm Legislation, Shoals
Disposal and Postal Pay Bill
Most Pressing Matters.
MEMBERS ARE L0ATH
TO LABOR AFTER DARK
Z Multitude of Less Vital Measures
Await Consideration of
Both Chambers.
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY 6. GOULD LINCOLN.
Con. sress has 261a more working
days-including the hours up to noon
March 4. when under the Constitu-
ton, il goes out Of office-in which 10
handle a very considerable legisla-
tive program. 1t is true that IL has
an equal number OF nights. But Con
gress is not given to working at
night, If that can be avoided.
The appropriation bills-the meas
ures which must be passed to keep
the wheels OF Government running
during the next fiscal year-are in
such shape that they may easily be
disposed Of by March T. A fIlbuster
might result in blocking one or more
Of these measures. But such tactics
TO compel a special session Of the new
Congress are not expected.
Time for Farm Legislation.
But the Congress must find time-if
it can-to handle the legislation for the
aid of the farmers recommended by the
President and the agricultural con
ference which h. assembled here.
1t must dispoS@ of the Muscle Shoals
bill. which has fl ally reached the con-
ference stage
1t must extr1u-te itself from the
tangle which threatens TO put an end
for the present, ~ the bill increasing
the pay Of postal employees and rates
on certain mail services-if it is to
play fair with the employees
Other Important Measures.
Other measures of Importance
which are clamoring for a hearing
include the good roads bill-now the
unfinished business of the Senate
the public buildings bill, the bill lib
eralizing the civil service retirement
law, railroad legislation, legislation
affecting the merchant marine, the
bill for the purchase by the Govern
ment of the Cape Cod Canal. Legis-
lation for the National Capital COW
ering such important subjects as rent,
traffic, public schools is awaiting its
turn, too.
AT the Senate end Of the Capitol
there is executive business to be
transacted also. The Isle of Pines
{ treaty, which for score Of years has
been dangling somewhere between
/ heaven and earth, has been debated
at some length but not actd upon.
The treaty of Lausanne, to which
the United States and Turkey are sig
natory, and the commercial treaty
with Germany, designed to be a
/
tions, are still to be considered. There
are nominations of Importance await
ing action, including those of Attor-
ney General Stone to be an associate
justice OF the Supreme Court and
| Charles 3. Warren of Michigan to be
Attorney General in place of Mr..
Stone.
Stone Nomination Up.
The Senate judiciary committee,
| meeting in executive session, Will
! consider again the nomination of Mr..
! Stone tomorrow morning. There are
/ the votes in the committee to report
the nomination favorably to the
| Senate-no doubt of that. even the
! critics of Mr.. Stone admit. 1t may
be that the nomination will be order
! ed reported favorably and placed on
| the executive calendar again at to-
morrow's meeting. But il individual
! members of the committee demand
| further Information before acting,
action may be postponed. As the
matter stands today, it is not believed
/ there will be a score of votes against
! confirmation of Mr. Stone in the
/ great many less. The estimate was
made by one who opposes his con-
| frmation at present.
| on w
! What, some of the Senators are
| asking, will be the effect upon the
cause Of Senator Wheeler of Montana
II the nomination of Mr.. Stone be
favorably acted upon at this juncture?
They regard it as unfortunate that
| the effort to indict Senator Wheeler
/ in Washington for conspiracy against
/ the Government has arisen just at the
time that the nomination of the At
! torney General for the Supreme
| bench is up for consideration, and as
! particularly unfortunate that the two
matters have been apparently con-
! sdered together. To approve Mr..
| Stone, they say, may give the appear
! ance of casting a doubt upon Senator
! Wheeler. 1t is not unlikely that this
| matter may be discussed on the floor
of the Senate. possibly after the
| Senate has acted upon the nomination
! of Stone.
| BOrah May Act.
Ways and means to expedite the
agricultural legislation recommended
| by the Presidents agricultural con-
ference are being considered. Sen
ator Borah has indicated that IL
something be not done soon-even by
tomorrow-to assign this legislation
a place on the legislative program
| of the present session, he will under
might be adopted would be to include
1T In one of the annual appropriation
| bills which must come before the
| Senate
! The rules bar legisIRa.-n from
| general appropriation bills. But TIE
! rules can be suspended by a two
| thirds vote of the Senate and it is
! possible that a two-thirds vote might
! be mustered to tack this desired
| legislation on an appropriation bill,
| If the committee on agriculture does
not speedily report out a measure.
| The House committee is meeting to-
morrow and the Senate committee the
next day to hear members OF the
! agricultural conference.
! VIII Push Action.
Senator Stanfield OF Oregon. chair
| man of the Civil Service committee,
will seek to have the bill liberalizing
| the retirement act made a special
order of business in the Senate
Thursday The Government en-
ployes, both active and retired. are
much Interested in the measure, which
| increases the annuities paid and re-
! duces somewhat the age of retire