The Washington herald., 1917-11-21

ment will be pushed with vigor, Of
course. In addition the dry forces
will make an effort to put the dis
trict into the bone dry column. And
it may be-it certainly will IL some
drys have their way-an effort will
be made to amend the food control
law TO the extent of putting a ban
on the use of food products for the
manufacture Of beer and light wines.
Such a ban Is on whisky now, but
many of the dry leaders think II
would be a progressive step to include
all intoxicants In the provision. When
there isn't anything else to bring
sharp fight on then, according to this
outlook, there can be plenty OF eX-
citement stirred up over this issue.
Investigations and special commit
tees-The La Toilette special commit
tee will report. This may bring on
a fight of considerable dimensions.
There is no question but what sentl-
mcnt has increased, during the re-
cess, for the expulsion Of the Wiscon-
sin man. But many members doubt
whether the public generally favors
such n step. There are enough SEN
ators who believe 1t does. to make a
sharp encounter. Then there will be
IL
fight to provide for a committee on
war expenditures. This will not be es-
sentially in opposition to the Presi-
dents suggestion. that no such COM
mIttee be created to hamper" the
war administration. But this COM
mittee will be created, in all probable
ity, in response to a demand Of the
people that some Congressional check
on war expenditures may be had. In
addition to this is the postal inVes-
tigation in the House. and minor in
vestigation bodies which have been
sporadLcally proposed to look into the
morals at the various military camps
in the country, and to accomplish the
end, in other directions, of SATISFYING
the people as to what is going on
and how successfully We are making
our efforts count to prosecute the war
Allied conference or parliament
Congress may be required to take
some action with regard TO American
representation abroad. For war pur-
poses such a body is now "over there
representing US, but does America
want to invade the realm Of strictly
European affairs and have represen-
tatiyes on a body which is interested
more than merely in the physical con-
duct of the war? The President
knows now what course America
should pursue-and he may ask Con-
grcssional support for his opinion.
Food and fuel regulation-pyramid-
ing priCes-the bane of the existence
of the peoples representatives-ma
come in for attention later in the ses-
sion. The members are returning
with the objections of the people
to present prices ringing In their ears.
Can they keep themselves from try
ing new legislative solutions for the
old. old problem? Some members
think they can. Others think SUP
Elementary or amendatory legislation
will he necessary. Any kind of
proposal may be looked for in this
division. 1t will be up to DR.. Gar
field and Mr.. Hoover to solve their
respective problems some time soon.
so that Congress will not have ground
upon which to object to their &C
tivities.
ropriations-whatever the Presi-
dent asks for-Congress wants to pro-
vide what is needed to prosecute the
war. But this doesn't mean there
will not be scrutiny of the items,
however.
III COlCluSlbU, lHt StSSlOh dp-
proaches, it might be well to warn
those who objected at the extra ses-
sion's lack of outstanding leadership,
that the regular session may de-
velop the same tendency. A war ses-
sion is not session for develop
ment of individual or party ideas.
1t has proved, and it should.
subordination of all personal and
party aims to the accomplishment of
just one thing-the winning of the
war. And that can only be accom-
plished by following the Commander
in-chief. The members of Congress
are on the Commander-in-chi staff,
true it is, but as such they cannot
do other, either as individuals or
as a body, than follow the general
plans laid down by their Chief. And
very probably. during the coming ses-
sion, there will be nobody found
who wants to try to do so.
THE OBSERVER.