The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-12-13


--A------
Washington, Dec. 10.-(Special cor
respondence) )-The Democrats of the
Senate appear to have notion that
because of the close margin by which,
on the fact of the returns, the Re-
publicans will control that body it is
very much to their interest to stir up
fractional differences in their party
opponents. By so doing they think
there is chance for continuing them
selves in power; at any rate they know
they have nothing to lose, and every
thing to gain. The Republican Sena-
tors with progressive leanings are
having it impressed upon them by
Democrats that if the seniority meth
cd of selecting chairmen is to rule
when the Senate is reorganized in the
next Congress many of the best COM
mittees will fall under the control OF
what they still choose to call "stand-
patters."
But the danger of friction among
the Republican Senators is more fan
cied than real. A glance at the mi
nority memberships of committees as
they are now constituted shows that
there can be no serious differences not
easily solved. Some of the more i'm
portant committees will fall by SEN
iority to former progressive Senators
Other prominent chairmanships will
go by the same rule to Senators who
have never allied themselves with the
progressive cause. Some Republicans
of both sides will find that they are in
line for the craftsmanship of two OF
more committees. In such cases it will
be easy to make an adjustment salts.
factory to all concerned.
1t is well that the question of com.
mittee control has been raised at this
early day, as it gives ample oppor.
tunity for Republicans of every shade
of political faith to get together. II
is predicted that long before March
4th conferences will have been held
and chairmanships allotted in way
that will cement together, even more
firmly than before, the Republican
Senators for the great work of re.
construction that is before them. Il
is inconceivable that the insidious at
| tempt of the Democrats to arouse. an
cient animosities in the Republican
ranks will meet with any better sue
cess than the efforts of the German.
to create dissensions among the allies
| Like other Republican Senators anS
Representatives Congressman Henr.
/ z, Osborne of California, is making |
study Of reconstruction problems t,
prepare himself for intelligent actor
on such matters when they come be
fore Congress for decision. Mr.. Os
borne has convinced himself that tn,
most important feature of our post
war needs will be to find employment
for the returning soldiers. "We can
not allow any Of our brave Army O
Navy to suffer for lack Of employ
ment," says he, neither can we per
nit those who are at present employ
ed to be thrown out of work."
| While great many men will return
to their old positions, many thousand!
will be unable to find work at once
and it is for those that provision mus
be made by the Government.
Recognizing the necessity for i'm
proved and extended transportation
systems to take care of our increased
commerce Mr.. Osborne suggests thai
the Government may well enter upor
the construction of an extensive sys
tenn of good roads throughout TIL,
country. In the Congressman's opin
ion the work should be confined tt
trunk lines and roads leading to tht
principal harbors, leaving to thu
States and local communities the dut,
of building lateral lines. In conjunc
tion with road improvement Represen
tative Osborne believes that rivers
and harbors should be extensively i'm
proved and canals constructed. E,
THE CURSE OF ONE-MAN POWEF