The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-11-09
RrsY SESSION IN CONGRESS

Washington Nov. ~ he ehoTl
ssion Of Congress which will meet
W the FIRST Monday in December anc
ladjourn on the third Of March will
lave presented for its consideration
some Of the most important questions
that have ever called for legislative
action in the United States. The
present administration Democratic in
both Houses Of Congress and nj the
White House, will endeavor TO com
plete some OF the legislative policies il
has undertaken
II is acknowledged by the Demo
Gratis that the so-ealled eight-hour leg
islation, which is in reality a wage in
crease law, is not complete and there
will be demand on the part Of both
the employers and employees that the
administration take some action to
make the law more definite and spe-
cifc in its language and to make il as
comprehensive and as permanent in
character as this administration in
tends to make it. The question Of
compulsory arbitration will also be up
for consideration in this connection.
1t is recognized, even among Demo
Gratis, that the so-called anti-dumping
provision Of the last revenue bill is en-
tirely inadequate and will be ineffec-
tive as protection against the compe-
tition of cheap foreign products after
the war While it is scarcely to be ex-
pected that the Democratic admins
tration will take any action looking to
the reinstatement Of protective tariff
policy there will be demand among the
business men Of the country for some
legislation that will prepare this coun-
try for after he-war conditions
The passage Of appropriation bills
for the ordinary and perhaps extra
ordinary expenses Of the government
will also present perplexing problem
for the present administration. Rev.
enues are VIGOROUSLY inadequate, and
yet the general policy of the present
administration in the creation of new
commissions and in authorization of
new governmental enterprises will call
for appropriations nearly as large as
were made in the last session of Con-
gress, which was record breaker in
large expenditures of public funds.
The higher cost of living has become
a serious problem to the wage earners
of the country and it is altogether
likely that there will be strong demand |
from the consuming public that Con-
gress make some effort to check the |
steady advance in prices of the neces-
sites of life. There has been much |
agitation in favor of an embargo which |
would shut off or curtail exports and |
thereby reduce prices for the home
consumer. There is also much opposi-
ton to any legislative enactment of
this kind. Since, however, it has be-
come difficult for wage-earners to pay
the prices that are now demanded for
ordinary necessities, not to say any
thing of the more common Injuries, |
many people will expect Congress to
find means of affording relief
Not much progress has been made |
in naval construction or military pre-
paredness, and nothing has been done
under the provisions of the ship pur-
chase bill. The indefniteness of steps
already taken is certain to impress up
on members of the present administra-
ton the necessity Of further legisla-
ton in order to avoid confession of
complete failure.
Congress will meet on December 4th
and will probably adjourn for the holt
days about the 21st. Some of the APP
committees will probably
hold informal sessions before Con-
gress meets and will get some of the
appropriation bills in tentative shape
before adjournment for the holidays
The short session of Congress is al
ways busy one, notwithstanding gen
raj legislation is not usually taken
Up. The coming session will be no ex-
RECEPTION to the rule.