The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-29
THE OTHER SIDE


representing the lumber and wooden
ship building industries. Representa-
tfves of the milling industries went
before a congressional committee with
approval of the bill for mixed flours
IA measure which the milling inter-
ests are said to have spent hundreds
of thousands of dollars to defeat dur
ing former sessions. Those are in
stances of a spirit which prevails
even tho it may not be unanimous
among the Hobbies which fill the
Washington hotels.
But Washington is not expressing
such deep and serious concern with
the lobby as might be inferred. Rath-
the adoption of the government pro-
gram--even hostile Republican mem
berg refer to the Wilson program as
the government program during this
seSsion.
seems to have clogged the wheels
The senate has a loose set of rules
which permits the bungling and pos
sible juggling of legislation by a few
men who agree on a filibuster. In
fact the absence of rules closing de-
bate in the senate is one of the real
sources of trouble in Washington
these hot, sultry, history making days.
When the house had forced the five
minute rule on debate and knew al
most to the hour when a vote would
be taken on the food bill, the senate
filibuster crowd was only beginning
to chew the loose provisions in the
food measure. An exhaustive eX-
PLANTATION of the senate rules indicates
that by almost unanimous consent
the senate may force a vote on a bill
at the end of seven or eight days.
Give Wilson What He Wants.
Yet in the end the senate will give
to the president practically the
things he demands and asks. That
fact seems to be agreed in Washing
ton.
1T doesn't make much difference
what is asked by the government, 1t
will get it If there is a possible good
reason for such action" said one
member of congress from a rather old
fashioned state that has often been
DIaced in the reactionary class. 'All
we want to know is that the govern
ment wants it"
The lack of that necessary detailed
knowledge was responsible for dump
ing the food control bill onto the
floor of the two houses without
recommendations. Yet this action
prevented probable congressional crit
icism. The bill went before the joint
committee with a number of provis-
ions not included in the original sum-
mary. There was little explanation
and practically no discussion. At the
end of the short session the bill was
sent back where it could be fought
out in the open-where everyone
could see.
billion war loan bill, the joint COM
mittee spent but an hour and a half
in discussion of it's merits. Instead
of adoption of star chamber tactics.
| the committee gave the bill to the
house and senate with a favorable re-
port and a chance to fight where
everyone was looking and might see.
Even congressional members who
are working most earnestly in behalf
| of the national program admit that
| II work of the session will probably
| slow imperfections. But the United
| States is a peace loving nation. And
| it is probably natural that a compre-
| hensive war program such as is before
| congress at this session will in future
| years show some weak points and OPP
portunities for improvement.-issIts is
this lack of definite,.s positive knowl-
edge as to the actual needs of the ma
ton in this crisis which occasions the
present delays and seeming inaction.
No Adjournment Soon.
| There is every probability congress
will remain in session until late Au-
gust-maybe September. A few men,
not end until October. Yet, in the
end, congress will get together on the
food control bill and other important
measures-just as it got together on
| the war OeClarauOn, the S0.OUU,UUU,-
| 900 loan bill and the CONSUMPTION act.
| Congress may delay. 1t will prob
ably make mistakes. Such things
were even suspected in the happy days
when Joseph L. Bristow was in Wash
ington as senator. Even Kansas
state legislatures have on rare occa-
| sions been suspected of erring in their
course. In the end, tho. congress is
quite certain to have adopted the gen.
eral and important provisions of the
tional administrations program. And
the record of the session will be the
| answer to the near reasonable Bris-
| tow charges-an answer forever and
| forever, world without end. Amen.