Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-12-04
By e. p. sARTwELL.
International News Service staff
Correspondent


the Sixty-fourth Congrezs-an epoch
making national legislative body.
with only three months OF It's life r.
naming. the Congress Al noon today
opened its final session, confronted
with domestic and foreign legislative
problems of vast moment
In the legislative programme laid
down by President Wilson Tor The
short session" which ends March /
time will be the essence Of the con
tract From the first fan Of the saVels
in House and Senate At noon today tn
national Legislators began q fight
against time and drive for speed.
With Democratic control Of thu
House in the SiTty-fifh Congress a
matter OF grave doubt. the Administra-
tion Is prepared 10 make every effort
70 put through its important measures
within the next three months and
avoid an extra session next Spring.
Despite the declaration Of House anu
Senate leaders that the short session
will barely have time to do the routine
work of providing funds for the neN'
fiscal year, the Congress is confronted
with demands for action along many
general legislative lines.
Legislation must b. passed Ct f.
felt, 10 meet the recurring crisis in the
railroad labor situation Il i1as becoEu-
apparent that the EigEtHour lav
passed in the closed hours Of the La
session merely postponed the =tTugElr
between the railroads and their operar
ing employees
Investigations BY various commits
sions and committees are already IN.
der way seeking Z EJlutiOn Of the rail
road problem. but with the constitu
tionality Of the eight-hour Law under
attack in the courts. and the brother
hoods threatening a general strike IN
less the eight.hour day becomes effec.
tive January !. Congress viii b.
forced TO act at once. without awaiting
the results Of Investigations
President Wilson is determined 10
prevent the disastrous consequence
OF general railroad tic.up. ADD D.
will 20 TO almost any lengths to ave-.
an open break. Just what legislator
will b. proposed 10 meet this s'riE.
situation Is not clear. but pressure
already tremendous in Washington f..
a general law enforcing an inycstiga
tion Of labor disputes before STRIKE
can legally be called
Organized labor generally oppose.
this plan, and will exert all its power
full influence in Congress TO defeat an,
such proposals. The whole labor gifu
alton throughout the country IS chare
I'd with explosive possibilities. whici
ill-considered or unwise lcgigratio,
might touch off
The gravity OF tho conditions has i'm
pressed Administration leaders bot
In and out Of Congress. and they real
lie the need of real statcsmanship {
Industrial disaster OF widespread pro
portions Is 10 be avoided.
The ambitious Administration pian
FOR extending American foreign trad
and eGuippIng American export CON
merce for the world tradc-war TINT vii
follow settlement of the European cor
ilict call for extensive legislation. Tn
start on this programme has alrcad
been made. The House at The last Sc.
sion passed the Webb bill cxemptin
from the operations OF the antl.truq
laws combinations Of American mel
chants and manufacturers formed TO
the sole purpose OF engaging In tn
foreign trade. This measure failed {,
pass the Senate. but will be taken M
III the upper house at once. Despiip
strenuous opposition. the bill Is ey
pactod to become law.
The Administration. through tn
Bureau Of Foreign and Domestic Com
merce and the Federal Trade Commits
sion, plans general foreign trade leg
islatiye programme supplemental I,
the Webb law, which will dcnan,
lengthy consideration.
A complete code OF neutrality laws
worked out in detail for tho Admins
tration by the Department of Justice (,
awaiting action IN both House ant
Senate. The code. in the form of 8
dozen individual bills, was introduced
In both Houses at the last session. Il
gives tho President unprecedented
powers and almost unlimited authority
70 deal with violations or neutrality
II would allow him arbitrarily to refuse
clearance to vessels suspected OF neu-
trallty violatlons,,.2d would authorize
the use OF the armed forces OF the
country to- preserve neutrality.
The measures would likewise pro
vide strict code for the control Of
belligerent aliens in the United States
in time Of war by their native land.
and would regulate the conduct OF in.
termed aliens.
President Wilson's demand for con