Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17
Closing the Short Session.


is to close in two weeks time. Despite
the efforts Of the leaders there is the
threat in this session. as there has
been In other sessions which conclude a
Congress, of a legislative jam and the
failure of important measures. So
much 90 that within the last few days
Senator Norris of Nebraska has been
led to point out the futility Of these
short sessions Of Congress and the ad-
visibility of the adoption Of his resolu-
ton proposing change in the Consti-
tuition 90 as to do away with the short
sessions so-called. Three times the Sem
ate has adopted the Norris proposal,
but Il failed to receive the approval Of
the House.
The trouble comes usually In the
Senate, with It's rule Of unlimited de-
bate, in the closing days of a short
session. And it Is in the Senate now
that the danger of legislative jam Is
threatened. So far only two of the an
nual appropriation bills for the oper-
alton Of the Government have been
finally approved. Two others are wait
ing the approval of the President.
Several others are In the conference
stage. The Senate still has to consider
the naval appropriation bill. the legisla-
tive bill and second deficiency bill, all
measures Of great Importance.
In addition to the appropriation bills,
the Senate has before it the bill author
ixing the taking Of the next decennial
census, which it is proposed to take
next November. according to the
amendment OF the Senate committee,
or in May, 1880, according to the bill
as passed by the House. There waits,
too, the bill for the reapportionment
Of the House Of Representatives in ac-
cordance with the census, which has
passed the House, but which has not
yet had its day in the Senate.
For two years the Senate slush fund
committee. headed by Senator Reed Of
Missouri, has been considering the case
Of william 3, Ware. Senator ELECT from
Pennsylvania. The committee is about
ready to make Its report to the Senate.
The Missouri Senator Is anxious not
only to have this report made, but to
obtain action on it before the close Of
this Congress, when he goes out Of
the Senate. II he submits report,
as he plans to do, and urges It's adop-
ton, the fat may be In the fire. 30 far
o. legislation is concerned. The Ware
case Is privileged matter. II the SEN
ate Is asked to vote upon report which
would in effect declare that Mr.. Ware
Is not entitled to be seated, the prospect
Is for q nlibuster against the resolution
by those who are defending Mr.. Ware.
and such filibuster may well occupy
the time of the Senate to the close Of
the session March 4.
The failure Of some of the appropria-
ton bills would not be so serious as
might be the case If 1t were not planned
to call a special session of the new
Congress this Spring. They could be
handled In that session n need be. But
that would upset the plan Of the lead
ers to conflne the activities Of the spe-
cial session to farm relief and tariff
revision.
The leadership of the Senate is striv-
ing now to wind up the essential bust
ness Of legislation before March 4.
Much can be accomplished In two
weeks. Already the Senate has dis
posed Of two controversial subjects this
session. the Kellogg multilateral treaty
renouncmg war and the bill for the
construction of fifteen modern cruisers
and an aircraft carrier for the Navy. It
seems quite clear, however. that what
ever further important measures are
to win their way through the Congress
in these final days Of the session must
be permitted to go through the Senate
practically by unanimous consent.