The Washington herald., 1918-11-29
DIG TRENCHES
FOR NEW WAR
IN CONGRESS
Economy, Reconstruction
and Peace Conference
Main Objectives.
MAY BE EXTRA SESSION
Republicans Prepare to
Fight to Last Ditch on
Revenue Bill.

The program Professionally laid out
for the coming session of Congress
indicates that in the three months
between December 2 and March 4
both the Senate and House will have
about the busiest time of their his
tory. In addition to the regular ap-
preparation measures which have to
be passed, there are bound to crop
up any number of issues growing
out OF the war and the peace con-
ference that will crowd the session
full of events that will attract the
pubic interest.
First Of all will come the address Of
President wilson to the Congress,
which probably will be delivered on
the opening day. In this address il
Is expected that the President will
tell something of his plans for the
peace conference, the reasons for his
going, and the things ha hopes to
accomplish while there. The full
membership OF both Senate and House
undoubtedly will be present when it
IS delivered.
May Oppose Trip.
After the President has gone there
is likely to be some open discussion
OF his trip in both Houses. Senator
King has announced that he will lad
dress the Senate on the subject shortly
alter the President has left, and there
may De others. If the Presidents
going is criticised. there will be re-
Joinders by the Presidents defenders,
OF whom there are MANY
The biggest legislative issue that
Will come before the Congress will be
the problems of reconstruction, and
the legislation that may be required
to make it effective. The President
has, indicated that he does not favor
the creation of a special commission,
but would prefer to have the prob
lens of reconstruction worked out by
war boards already constituted. to
which he could transfer what author
ity might be needed to enable them
to proceed.
Nevertheless the Republicans In the
Senate are committed to a program
of creating six joint Congressional
committees, each of which is to have
direction of all legislation on a par
ticular subject involving the recon-
struction settlement If by any chance
action on the subject should be de-
layed until the new Congress comes
in. the Republicans would be able to
force this program through. although
they probably would not be able to
pass it over a veto by the President.
Revenue Bill Up.
The revenue bill. which has been
hanging fire in Congress since early
in May, will be before the Senate
early next week, according to the
plans of the Senate Finance Com
mittee, which has about concluded
its work on the measure. The
bill is due for a prolonged fight
in the Senate because of the pro-
visions fixing the maximum amount
of revenue to be raised in the 1890
collections. These provisions were
put into the bill by the solid vote
of the Democratic members of the
committee over the opposition OF
the seven Republican members. The
Republicans think such a measure
unfair to the new Congress in that
it seeks to tie the hands of the Re-
publican majority a year in advance
of the time when the bill becomes
effective. They will fight the bill
III NiAF senate even 70 Ine extent
of holding up its passage in order
to make an extra session of Con-
gress unavoidable.
The appropriation measures,
which during the war period were
passed almost without question, and
merely upon the recommendation OF
the heads of departments, will be
subjected to the closest scrutiny.
Both Republicans and Democrats are
determined to force strict economy
upon all the departments of the
government and they will prune the
appropriations in every direction
wherever possible.
The House Committee on Appropria-
tions intends to summon all the heads
of the departments and require them
to tell where millions that have been
appropriated may be saved. Repre-
sentative Sherley, chairman of the
committee. will introduce a bill to re-
peal all unnecessary appropriations.
Sherley is serving his last term in
Con gress as a result Of the overthrow
in the recent election and he intends
to devote himself to inforcing re-
trenchment throughout the govern
ment.
Government Ownership War.
The issue of government ownership
undoubtedly will be in the foreground
in the coming session. The lines for
this battle are already being drawn
between Administration officials who
believe that the railroads, telegraphs.
telephones, express companies and
cables now under the control of the
government should be retained and
those who are fatty opposed to gov
ernment ownership or control in any
form whatsoever. The advance rum
blings of the batAe have been heard
and these are likely to break out in
full force and volume when the Con-
gress gets down to work.
AMNESTY JS SOITCuT