The Wolf Point herald., 1925-01-01
Extra Congressional
Session Is Talked OF

Washington, Dec. Whisper.
ines about an extra session of Con
gress have reached the talking basis
The proposal for a spring session re-
veals wide difference in opinion
between the President and congress
sional leaders. At present it appears
that the Chief Executive holds the
whip hand. 1t is said that Mr.. Cool
idge wants to call another armament
conference here in the spring and
desires to be free from congress
sional criticism. His idea is that an
international arms conference is of
sufficient Importance to warrant
exclusive attention.
On the other hand, one of the adj
ministration spokesmen at the Capt.
tol, Senator Borah, has openly advo-
Gated an extra session. The legis-
lative calendar at the beginning of
the year is extremely crowded. 1t is
claimed that time is all too short to
allow consideration of all important
legislative measures. Senator Borah
says that a special session should be
called to give attention to agricul-
tural and general economic legisla-
ton.
Agri. Commission At Work
One of the proposals is to dispose
of the recommendations of the Coal
Commission which reported nearly
two years ago. No action has been
taken on the recommendations of the
Federal Coal Commission after
long and intensive study recommend
ing reorganization of the coal indus
try.
1t is believed that the findings of
the special Agricultural Commission
now at work will not be available un-
til early spring months. The senate
steering committee has framed an
elaborate program for the short ses-
sion which expires March 4. The de-
velopments of the first three weeks
of the session shows quite clearly
that few, if any of the nine major
bills reported by the steering COM
mittee will ever find their way into
the statutes. True, they are on the
Senate calendar for immediate con-
sideration but the legislative situa-
ton precludes immediate attention.
Muscle Shoals Delayed
One of the important bills on the
Senate calendar is the Smoot reor-
ganization measure. This bill pro-
poses to realignment of Federal bur
eaus, including the establishment of
q Department of Education. Action
on this measure has been held up at
previous sessions because it is gen
orally agreed that the proposal con
tains political dynamite" The Sen
ate expected to dispose Of the Muscle
Shoals program before Christmas,
but parliamentary complications en-
sued with the result that nobody
knows when the matter will be con-
Guided.
The House made considerable pro-
gress on appropriations bills during
the early weeks of this session. The
Senate Appropriations Committee /
took steps to keep abreast of fiscal
legislation by taking note of the ac-
ton of the House on each item for
expenditures. This
time-saving plan was practically
wasted because of the Muscle Shoals
project holding up Senate schedules.
Both houses have approximately
eight weeks of legislation days as
distinguished from calendar days, in
which to dispose of nine appropria-
tions bills. The House has already |
passed three appropriations bills and
has made excellent progress on the
others. The Senate Appropriations
Committee is ready to report the fis-
cal measures for the Interior and
Agricultural Departments but cannot |
find a place on the Senate calendar.
Postal Salaries and Revenues
The legislative situation is further |
by the postal salary pro-
posals. Under an agreement the SEN
ate will vote on the so-called Edge |