New-York tribune., 1917-12-02

- ~ApNAtA lHc btSslOu.
hut that Battling Bob will be ex-
PEELED no one-in private Conversation
predicts. The public generally has
10 idea of the fear in which Ia Fol
lette is held by so many OF his col
leagues. 1t dates back to his threat,
many years ago, that certain Senator,
VINO opposed his progressive leeisia-
ton would be defeated for reelection.
The following fall he went into tbs
states OF those Senator's, preached hi,
progressive doctrine. and the casual
ties among the old line Senator's wer.
startling. Since then Mr.. La Foll.tt.
wwhlle puoIicly reviled, has gotten near.
ly everything he wants. and an .ston.
ishingly amount OF consideration.
Compulsory Military
Service To Be Pushed
prospects Of railroad legislation M
tne coming session loom larger rv.ry
day. From the attitude Of the Admir-,
lstration since the war began tbene /.
no longer any belief that the Presid.nt
wiz urge the completion of the nro.
gramme OF which the Adamson law wa,
part. The part which proposed com.
puIsory arbitration is believed 10 h.
dead. However, the transportation nrob.
iem VIII probably be one Of the most
important questions confronting Con
gress. 1t is realized now that mara
ireignt rate advances, which would coma
with the increased cost of operatinn
VIII not suffice, as this would not pro-
tect tne railroads against the maturing
Oh ABOUT billion Of dollars worth az
OohdS year, at time when the gov.
ernment is absorbing all money which
can De invested, and railroad securitie,
are so depressed that 20 sell Securities
on the market would mean homeless
oVercapitalization.
Government price fixing, begun last
session with wheat and coal. will be
tremendously extended IL many SEN
ators and Representatives already in
washington have their way. This is an
other part Of the probable legislative
programme which touches every pocket
Dook, for the impetus behind the de.
mand Tor more price fixing Is not the
Dellef that the government is paying
excessive prices for its war supplies,
but the mounting cost Of living to the
individual householder. Probably. also.
tnere VIII be an extension Of the plan
OF guaranteeing minimum prices, so
as TO encourage production of neces-
sarles, as was done with wheat last
session.
Probably before Christmas the House
OF Representatives will vote on the ma
tlonal prohibition amendment. This has
already been approved by the Senate,
ana II 1t obtains the necessary two
thirds vote in the House, which now
seems likely, it will be submitted 70
the states. Attached 10 it, however,
viii be a string never before coupled
with a constitutional amendment. II
Will fail absolutely unless It 10 rsti-
ned by the necessary three-fourths Of
tne states within six years Of the date
Of submission.
81, A vote in both houses is expected on
the woman suffrage Federal amend.
ment early In the session. Opponents
OF the amendment in the Senate ara
confident that this resolution will fail
10 OBTAIN a two-thirds vote, but they
concedc majority in favor of it.
More drastic legislation with Q view
to meeting the enemy alien situation. is
regarded as assured. One power which
the President will undoubtedly ask is
the right to put women in the same
category as men, so that women enemy
aliens may be kept out of the barred
zones. and restricted just as it is pro-
posed TO restrict males over fourteen
years old. Legislation is also expected.
IN lieu OF declarations of war against
Austria, Bulgaria and Turkey. sp-
plying the samee treatment 70 ma
tionals of countries allied with Ger
many as with German nationals. This
wlll follow the precedent set in the
trading with the enemy act.
Water Power Bill
Sure to Come Up
In view OF the coal shortage. or
rather the shortage in the means OF
transporting coal, there will be tire.
mendous pressure for the enactment OF
conservation legislation at this session.
ms legislation has been hanging fire
since the Wilson Administration came
INTO power. IL would permit .he utiliza-
tioh OF electricity produced by water
power to be substituted for coal-pro-
duced power to a tremendous extent
all through the Far West. IL would
permit the opening of additional oil
and coal fields, and encourage the pro-
Guctlon OF other minerals. Many mem.
DerS OF congress, realizing the lmpor-
tanee from war point of view OF this
legislation, opposed adjournment OF
the extra session until IL had been
passed. All are now confident that IL
will be passed before the session about
10 open adiourns, especially as there
Is no time limit on this session.
The Webb export bill, which will
permit combinations ordinarily for
hidden by the antitrust laws In the
case OF export business, will also prob
ably be enacted. Its novelty has en-
tirely been lost in the last few weeks,
with SO many government agencies
at combinations regarded a
essential to the conduct Of the war. The
proposed export combinations are In
nocuous, indeed-for instance, as COM
pared with the pooling Of the railroads.
The Webb bill, however. looks more 70
the conditions right after the war thss
TO present emergencies. IL is designed
to permit the American exporting In
duStrials to start on an equally un-
hampered basis with the German COM
binstions IL seeking their share Of
world trade.