Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-12-14
SENATE 70 SHAPE
IRMI Legislation !
PREDOMINANT FEATURES OF
BILL TO BE WORK OF
UPPER HOUSE.
MANY BILLS OFFERED;
SITUATION Is MuDpLEp
Not Quite Clear What 10 Expected in
Way Of Legislation to increase Army
and Navy-senate Better Prepared
to Give Important Legislation Care
full Consideration.
Especial correspondence


Washington, Dec. lit begins to
look as If the new army legislation,
which is expected to be passed this
session. will be shaped In its final form
at the senate end of the capitol.
OF course, the house win pass a
military bill and the senate viii pass
one The adjustment OF details Will
be made In conference committee Of
the two houses. The bill as it be-
comes law will no doubt contain some
house features and some senate fea-
lures. But the belief is growing that
it will be in the senate where there
win be stamped on the measure its
predominant features. Enthusiastically.
the senate military affairs committee,
which is headed by Senator Chamber
lain, and which contains a number of
men who have given careful study to
military legislation, will have q great
deal to do with the form the legislation
takes. Two of the republican MEM
bers of the committee are former
chairmen. Senators Warren, OF Wyo-
70 Originate !. Aenee.
After the bill has been passed on by
the house military committee 1t Will
go to the house. That body has little
facility for debate or the shaping up
OF legislation. After the bin has gone
thru there. it will go to the senate
military committee for its considera-
ton The senate Will then pass it.
u>t "a r,.-fth tn1 q n
and with much more Of a<~disposition
to examine carefully into legislation
than the house. may be expected to
give prolonged consideration to the
new military plan. It may be doubted
ton to adopt White House orders.
The most intense interest in prepared
ness prevails in both houses of con-
gress. and the senate. being 50 much
less tied up by rules and less unwield-
ly in size than the house. will. In all
likelihood, overhaul the bill In most
deliberate fashion and. perhaps, evolve
a real. constructive military program.
Senate Real Legislative Body.
The history OF the military legisla-
ton OF this year is likely to be about
that Of great deal Of other important
legislation. initiated In the lower
house but strengthened and broadened
and improved in the upper house.
While 1t Is the fashion to poke criti-
cism at the senate. the fact Is the sem
ate legls,ates with a great deal more
care and wisdom than the house. It
is not hard to find instances. The fed
erai reserve act is a recent instance.
The bill. as i: passed the house, was
strengthened in important respects in
the senate.
The history OF the railroad legisla-
ton Of 190s-10 is weIi-remembered
instance. In that case, the house
passed an interstate commerce law
which was found. when sent to the
senate, to have some weak and objec-
tionable features. The senate took
hold of the bill. there was a long de-
bate, the bill was ripped to pieces and
literally made over. The result was a
strong piece Of interstate commerce
legislation which has greatly strength
ened the hands of the interstate COM
merce commission.
Situation Now Badly Muddisd.
Just now. the situation as to army
legislation this session is far from
clear. 1t is badly mixed, in fact. A
long list Of bills has been presented.
More will be introduced Wide dis
agreement prevails. not alone as to
the extent OF preparedness and
whether there should be any prepared
ness but as to how to 30 about It.
Some increase in the regular army
win be made. The national guard will
be given federal pay and will be
strengthened, but the continental army
Is in much doubt and just how far
congress will go IN the direction OF a
real reserve for the regular army is
conjectural Considerably increased
sums will be set apart for material and
one OF the sharpest fights Of the SEES
sion Will rage about government man
ufacture Of munitions, arms and arma-
ment. The resolution presented by
Senator Cumming for an Investigation
into this question win cause much de-
bate. Closely related to #, tho not
bearing on the army legislation. is the
Tillman bill for an armor plate fac
tory. The whole subject Of how faI
the government y to go In manufac.
turing what It needs for army and
navy looms up with more and more
prominence.
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