Evening star., 1925-01-24
SPECIAL SESSION
IN AUTUMN SEEN
Only Appropriation Bills Seen
/ Likely to Pass Before
March d.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

ia LA =" h6NChs
Within six weeks the present ses-
Rion OF Congress will come to an end.
Judging by the rate of Legislative
speed and time taken for debate in
the past, 1t is not too early to predict
that scarcely anything of major i'm
portance outside of the regular ap-
preparation bills will get through be-
fore Congress automatically expires
on the 4th Of March.
While there is often a Iast-minute
rally in which measures are jammed
through without much debate, the op-
portunity of a minority to block al
most anything is conceded. So just
now there are various maneuvers ap-
parent which merely look to obstruc-
tion and delay.
One of the most significant phases
of the Legislative situation IS the al
most complete absence of talk about
further tax revision. Even the re-
peal Of the much discussed provision
of the present revenue law whereby
income tax payments are made avail
able to public inspection is not being
agitated. This is due partly to the
fact that sentiment in Congress has
not yet crystallized on this issue and
partly to the desire of the Coolidge
administration itself not to reopen
the present revenue law to amend
ment.
Proposals Not Pressing.
Most of the recommendations which
President Coolidge made in his last
message TO Congress will not be car
ried out at this session of Congress.
This is no longer doubted. The Ex-
ecutive has. however. declined to say
that he considers any proposal he
made as serious enough to require
the summoning of an extra session
after March 4. His strategy has been
TO stimulate, if possible, the present
Congress to accomplish as much as 1T
could by March 4, leaving undeter-
mined whether there would be an ex-
ira session before next December.
Mr.. Coolidge has also become con-
WINGED that business men would pre-
fer that Congress give the country a
legislative rest. He intends to put
that policy into effect for 4 while at
least after March 4.
The consensus of opinion. on the
other hand, is that Mr.. Coolidge will
Hno that by September l there has
been enough rest to satisfy many of
the elements clamoring for such
oo-nothtng policy and that the pres
sure TO get action on tax reform. ag-
rlcuItural relief and problems grow
ing out of the war debt negotiations
with Europe will again become acute
Ihe summoning of an extra session.
g IoE Ihe autumn months
may be looked for, even though an
announcement to that effect might be
delayed until late in the Summer.
Last Vacation Long.
although last year was exceptional
In that the presidential campaign oc-
cupled the minds of almost everv-
noay IN the congressional world, and
little could have been accomplished
aQEhOW, III there had
the vacation from June to Decembe,
was one of the longest which the
country had experienced in legisla
ton in decade. Much was forgiven
on the ground that the political cam
palgn would have interfered with
congressional action. No such excuse
can be offered after March 4. and if
the countryman manages to get along
without session of Congress from
March until December, it will indeed
be proof that pre-war normalcy has
returned
Judging by the letters received by
members of Congress requesting re-
lief either from past laws that have he
come burdensome or economic prob
lens that require Government aid the
demand for an almost continuous ses-
sion of Congress year in and wear out
would seem to have become imbedded
IN the minds of a great many organi-
cations as well as Individuals There
are some who even question whether
the business of Government will not
be retarded if as many problems are
left pending on March 4 next as ap-
parently will be the case
Would Get Start
Con gress would normally covene in
December but that means inaction
aa a rule until after the Christmas
holidays. A meeting of Congress in
October or November would get
things started for the regular ses-
sion, and make it possible perhaps
to adjourn early in 1926, when the
primaries will be held preliminary
to the congressional elections of No
vember 1926.
1t is very essential to Mr.. Coolidge
that he win the 1926 election and
his only chance for a good legisla-
tive record will come in the Congress
which is scheduled to meet in Decem-
Der of this year. There is every in
dtcation, therefore. that he will start
Congress to work earlier than De-
cember and that the comfortable
majority given him in the last cleo
rlon VIII be expected to put through
tax reform and other administration
proposals with old time legislative
smoothness.
Copyright, 1921