Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-03
Busy Days in Congress

| + the administration program is carried out
by Congress at the short session which be-
gan yesterday, this will be one OF the busiest
periods in congressional history. Legislation
TO prevent the unconsidcred interruption OF
tho train service of the country. a corrupt
practices bill. the naval and postal appropria-
ton bills. the measure designed to permit
combinations among persons and corporations
in foreign trade. all complicated by disagree
ments growing out Of the Presidents efforts
TO have the beligerents state their terms of
peace. will give House and Senate enough
and more than enough TO do
There is. In addition the matter OF pro-
ridinE new and adequate scheme OF ma
tional defense to take the place of the Hay
army hill. which most OF its supporters and
benefciaries now admit does not meet the
public need. Senator Chamberlain's bill for
universal military training will be pressed at
this session. and that measure. some other
OF like import. should be passed. Nothing
is gained and much is risked by deferring
action on this subject. Some time a begin
ming must be made IL the anxieties OF the
President that this nation will be drawn into
the European arc we'll based--and who
can doubt 1.-THE time for making a be-
ginning is now.
The corrupt pra ctccs bill ought to be
passed at this session, not because the need
is exigent. but because if it is not passed
now, II very probably will be post poned until
alaci tue HeNl national cleCtlOn. such meas
ures always tread on the toes OF great many
persons, and therefore encounter bitter OBJ
position. II is only when their wisdom is
stressed and emphasized by events which yet
nave lively existence in the public mind
that there is great hope Of obtaining action.
The last presidential election witnessed the
wholesale use of money to influence the re-
suit, and 1t is certain that in some OF the
States many votes were changed by this i'm
proper means. Both parties spent lavishly
nor are Democrats entitled to take any credit
to themselves that their expenditures were
oVershadowed by those of their rivals 1t is
not written in the record that the Democrats
tailed to make unceasing appeals for funds
or that they rejected any contributions the
law did not i'll terms forbid. However il is
to the advantage of the Democracy that a
corrupt practices act be adopted because in
collecting and spending money the party of
special privilege will always he able to out
shine the party which works for the greatest
good of the greatest number. Political con-
siderations. therefore accent the general
welfare and make it wise that a Democratic
Congress should be particularly active i'm this
respect.
The railroad legislation. which formed a
part of the Presidents program when the
str'kc was aVerted last fall ought not TO be
delayed. The Democratic party is under
contract to make these measures the law of
the land and the reluctance of both the rail
roads and the train-service broiherhoods to
consult the public interest, while insisting
stronuousiy on their private and personal in
iercst. makes the duty OF Congress all the
more clear.