The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-10
CONGRESS ID TURN. ID VERY PRESSING. .DOMEST|CPR PROBLEMS. Railroad Legislation First in Rank of Importance and
 Difficulty IMMEDIATE ACTION WHEN WILSON SPEAKS Members Are Waiting for Him to Decide on Solution--Much Gen
 eral Business Pending
 on Calendar

Washington, December s.--Congress. having disposed of the war declaration against Austria-Hungary turns this week to pressing domestic problems.
 X Foremost on the new legislative call endar gradually assuming definite shape is the railroad question on which con- gressional leaders plan immediate action when. President Wilson's decision regard ing measures to unify railroad operations is made known. A special address to Congress on the subject is regarded as possible if the President decides legisla- ton is necessary.
 DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED
 Rapid developments in the situation son will confer tomorrow with Senator Newlands, chairman of the Senate inter- state commerce committee, and the head of the joint congressional committee con ducting general transportation investi- gation Senator Newlands hopes to sub- init statement on behalf of the railroad executives as result of their confer ences today at New York.
 On Tuesday the joint congressional committee is scheduled to resume it's hearings with shippers representatives on the stand.
 Members of Congress are busy study ing the railroad problem, in expectation of early legislation. There is wide differ ence of views on the proposals for gov ernment control of the railroads, volun-
 tary unification of the transportation system and on government financial aid
 MUCH GENERAL BUSINESS There is much general business to be disposed of before the holiday recess
 
 the House Tuesday, with committees oi both bodies planning to proceed with ap- propriation bills and other measures Debate will continue in the Senate or the Webb export bill, which it's sponsors hope to pass this week.
 Passage this week by.the House of vhe $333 100000 postoffice appropriation bill minus legislative riders also Is planned. Woman suffrage and prohibition art promised attention this week. The House judiciary committee expects to act Tues day on resolutions proposing constitu tional amendments and there is talk ot votes on both in the House next week Polls are said to indicate probable de feat for suffrage and victory for prohi- bition.
 The soldiers and sailors civil right. bill, which passed the House at the last session, probably will be considered to. morrow by the Senate judiciary commit tee.
 Legislation supplementing the Austrian war declaration, in behalf of Bohemians Poles, Czechs and other Austrian sub jects whom many members think shoult not be classified as enemy aliens wil be considered during the week by com mittees of both bodies of Congress. The House military committee will con tinue it's hearings Tuesday on the army appropriation bill, Chairman Dent doe! not expect to get his bill out before thu last of January.
 1 Some effort has been made to hurry u! | all of the.appropriating committees. bu I so far tXre is no supply measure il l sight in the House except the postal bud get. A relatively small urgent deficienc, l appropriation bill may be reported ant passed by the House before the holiday recess.