Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1917-12-20
HOUSE ACTION ON
PROHIBITION SOON
PROGRAM ALSO EMBRACES
PASSAGE OF SUFFRAGE
AMENDMENT
REGARDED As WAR MEASURES
Strong Pressure Will be BrOt
to Get Measures Disposed Of
Ahead of Other War
Legislation

Washington, d. c., Dec. 15-Ac
cording to a tentative program o.
Legislation outlined by House Major
ity Leader Kitchin, an attempt will h
made to pass the prohibition and suf
rage amendments before thc holida.
recess. This amendment came 3.
quite 4 surprise to those member.
who had hoped to delay the rroh'
.ior question as long as possible. II
IS evident that House leaders belicvc
prohibition and suffrage to be essen
italy war measures, but particular.
ly so in the case Of prohibition.
Members of congress express tha'
there never before was time wha;
the settling Of the prohibition ques
tion was Of such vast Importance to
the people of the United States am
the whole world. They say that all
energies must be concentrated upoI
the winning of the war, and in tn
removal of those things which hamr
or or deter the speedy prosecution
the war, and the sentiment prevail.
that liquor is one detriment whicl
should be removed once and for all
Leaders of both branches in tn
House, supported by strong follow
ing and backed by strong moral sup
port from without, are confident Of
success, and predict that the prohi
bition amendment will be adoptet
without difficulty and before the enc
of the year. The amendment has al
ready been adopted by the Senate.
When it passes the House all that re-
mains is its ratification by three
fourlhs of the states of the Union.
Influential members of Congress as
sert that prohibition unquestionably
fall within the category Of legisla
tion outlined by the President as war
leg station.
At the same time, the suffragc
forces are measuring their strength
and are preparing for the final drive
for victory and the adoption of the
woman suffrage amendment to the
Constitution. They, too, hope to win
their fight before the holidays.
The opinion prevails in Washington
that if Congress adopts these two all
important amendments to the COnsti-
tuition, in addition to declaring war
against Austria Hungary, an excel
lent start will have been made to-
ward speeding the second war session
to a successful termination.
Leaders of Congress conferred as
to the difficulty of putting through
the domestic legislation outlined to
Congress by President Wilson. Some
party managers regarded it as q
lengthy task, but the majority be-
lieved it could and would be easily
and rapidly completed.
Extension of the federal price-fix-
ing power was regarded as the most
problem. Alien enemy legis-
lation is sure to be considered
promptly. The Department of JUS
tice is already drafting bill to meet
Wilson's recommendations.
A meeting today Of the Senate Judic-
iary Committee will take it up, and
the committee also will proceed with
the sailors civil rights bill passed by
the House last session.
Chairman Newlands of the Senate
Interstate Commerce Committee said
he would soon confer with President
Wilson on transportation legislation.
The Presidents remarks favoring
concentration of appropriation bills in
a single House committee aroused a
difference Of view among
House leaders. Eight committees, in
cluding the appropriations committee
which originate the big supply bills,
have contended for years against the
concentration plan, which Chairman
Fitzgerald of the Appropriations
Committee has advocated.
"For 16 years." said Mr.. Fitzgerald
81 have given exhaustive study to this
question, and ! am convinced that the
first step in fiscal reform in the
House must be concentration Of pow
er and responsibility in a single COM
mittee. With prospective ezpendi-
lures Of such magnitude as now pro-
posed, the Presidents recommenda-
ton should be adopted"
None of the ranking members Of