Evening star., 1928-12-16
CLEARING
DECKS FOR ACTION
Anti-War Pact, Navy Bill
and Farm Aid Await
Battle.
IContinued From First Page,)

very doubtful that any action can be
had on the proposed farm legislation
at this session. In some quarters it is
believed that Mr.. Hoover might we'll
express the view that farm legislation
should be passed at the present Ses-
might have the full benefit of the
new legislation to aid them with their
1929 crops. To this suggestion, how
ever, the reply is made that if a special
session is called Immediately after
March there would still be time to
put through a bill which would be
operative in time to help with next
years crops.
The House committee on agriculture
has practically shut up shop for the
present session and apparently is op-
posed to action on farm legislation until
a special session of the new Congress.
II one is called. The farm organiza-
ticns generally have gone on record as
favoring the handling of agricultural
legislation at special session and not at
the present session. Proponents of tariff
revision also are demanding special
session. The argument advanced
against a special session is that
the incoming President should have an
opportunity TO adjust himself to his
new Office before he shall have Congress
on his hands in Washington.
The problem of upon whom the man.
tel of Republican leadership in the
Senate shall fall after Senator Curtis,
Vice President-elect, shall have given
= that Office was somewhat Simplified
Ierday by the announcement of Sen
,,~-0r wesley A. Jones of Washington,
present Republican whip of the Senate,
that he would not permit his name to
be put forward for the position of leader.
Watson May Be Leader.
In the opinion of many of the Sena-
tors, this means the election of Senator
Watson of Indiana, at present assistant
leader and candidate for leader. Sem
ator Curtis has not resigned from the
Senate and is under no compulsion to
do so, though he may desire to quit.
He may remain as Senate leader until
the close of the present session if he
desires. In that event the election of
new leader would be deferred until the
Senate meets either in special session
next Spring or in regular session next
December, if no special session is held
AT present. the withdrawal of Senator
Jones leaves the field practically to Sen
ator Watson. If the selection is de-
ferred, there is the chance that some
other Senator may be put forward in
opposition to Senator Watson later
Senator Curtis has indicated that he
may make definite statement of his
plans some time during the present
week
Senator Jones' statement, declaring
himself out of the leadership race, fol-
lows:
Many of my colleagues have kindly
urged me to stand for the leadership
of the Senate at the next Congress.
I appreciate this very much. but this
position would require me to give UP
my place on the commerce or the ap-
preparations committee. Both of these
committees are of vital importance, es-
pecially to my State and its people
could not properly discharge the duties
Of both positions at the same time
The interest and welfare of my State
must come before any personal inter
est or preference of myself, and so I
: have decided after most careful study,
that / cannot permit my name to -
used for the leadership. have dis
charged for several years practically
the duties of assistant leader, as well
as those of whip Whether have
done this well is for my colleagues to
say. If should be rendered the po-
Sition OF assistant leader, I will accept
it and discharge its duties to the best
of my ability"
Ware Case Due.
The impression at the Capitol yester-
day following the announcement of
Senator Jones was that Senator Wat
son would be chosen leader and Sena-
tor Jones assistant leader.
The racn 0f CnnafNr-n1pPt Ware 0f
Pennsylvania is to come up before the
Reed Slush fund committee tomorrow
afternoon. A meeting of the committee
was called yesterday, but owing to the
absence of some of the members the
matter was allowed to go over. The
committee is expected to decide whether
1t shall press the charges against Mr..
Ware that he was nominated in 1926
by the use Of excessive campaign funds
and through fraud. Some members of
the. committee are inclined to allow the
health of Mr.. Ware, who suffered last
Summer a stroke of paralysis
The committee and the Senate have
given Mr.. Ware the right to appear and
speak for himself on the floor of the
Senate when his case comes up. Tt is
obvious that We will be unable to do sc
in view of his present condition. On the
other hand, there are members of the
committee who believe that there should
be termination of the case before the
close of the present session.
While the public lands committee of
the Senate is to hold further hearings
4 this week on the renewal of the Salt
Lake oil leases to Sinclair, in connec-
ton with its consideration of the nomi-
nation of Secretary Roy o. West to be
head of the Interior Department. The
belief of Senate leaders is that the
nomination will be disposed of at an
early date and that Mr.. West will be
confirmed. His appearance before the
committee last week did much to weaken
the opposition to his confirmation, it is
said.