The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-12-06
CONGRESS WILL
BACK PRESIDENT
DECLARATION OF WAR ON AUS
TRIA TO COME AT ONCE.
BOTH HOUSES ARE UNANIMOUS
Suffrage and Prohibition to Be Given
an Early consideration.--"center
On Responsibility" Measure
May Meet With Opposition.


Washington, Dec. 5.-Congress to-
day set out to make law of Presi-
dent Wilson's war message.
Immediate declaration of war on
Austria-Hungary, the first of Presi-
dent Wilson's suggestions, will prob
ably come before the week end.
Formal drafting of the war resolu-
tons against the "vassal of German
autocracy," was made by the house
foreign affairs committee today, and
it will be ready for the house consid-
Grafton tomorrow.
Senator Stone, chairman of the for
eign relations committee called his
committee to meet tomorrow and ex-
poets them to report the resolution
when the senate meets next Friday.
Declaration To Be Unanimous.
That the war declaration will pass
both of the houses nearly unanimous
ly was apparent today.
Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts,,
is preparing to lead fight that will
include Bulgaria and Turkey in the
declaration.
Other leaders however saw in the
view of the Presidents statement
that Turkey and Bulgaria were mere
tools of Germany and they do not "as
yet stand directly in our path for nee
essary action" Congress will leave
them for the present.
Minor Bills To Come.
Several other minor bills carried
over from the other special session
were in line for consideration in the
house.
Aside from the national prohibition
and woman suffrage legislation which
will be cleared away by the Christ
mas recess the leaders will confine
congress rigidly to win the war;"
victory measures.
Both prohibition and suffrage APP
pear likely to pass.
Anti-alien legislation, the extension
of price fixing and the conservation
of the nations resources will have
early calls in the legislation's SEIZED
ule.
Gigantic Money Measures.
The gigantic money measures for
the raising of revenue and the appro-
priations of it are not expected until
later in the session.
The single recommendation by the
President which it is apparent may
have rough shedding is his suggestion
for a single committee to approve
bills to center on responsibility" in
the expenditures and in the avoiding
of waste"
Many of the committees which are
now spending the public's money
promise to balk at the blows to their
powers.
His approval of the Webb bill in
the elimination of export trading COM
binations may save the measure.
No Hope Of Alternating Austria.
The recommendation for war with
Austria was generally received as
meaning that the president has at
last relinquished hope that peace
might be forwarded through aliena-
ton of Austria from dominating al
lies. 1t also recognizes the extern
sion of the western front on which
American forces are operating to
Italy, and will serve to hearten the
Italians.
1t was learned today that in con-
versation with congressional leaders
before leaving the capitol, the presi,
dent said that the Austrian declara-
ton was advised largely because it
might be necessary at any time to
have American soldiers aid Italy.
| ... To Aid Railroads.
Several billion dollars of govern
ment funds for railroad equipment to
be rented to the carriers in the com
pletion of the program of the railroad
legislation, is ready for presentation
to Congress.
Senator Newland chairman of the
joint council commission investigating
railroad conditions will ask President
Wilson to approve the measure. One
bill will prohibit the railroad strike
during the war. Other measures have
been prepared but their nature is be-
ing withheld until they are discussed
with the president.