Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-18
URGE REPUBLICANS
'TOFORMPROGRAM
National and State Managers
Ask Leaders in Congress +!
to Act. /
LEGISLATION SUGGESTED

Republicans of prominence in the
House and Senate who are to be
members of the Sixty-sixth Congress
are being urged by national and state
managers to begin work at once upon
policy of constructive legislation
to he entered upon in case of an ex-
traordinary session of the next Con-
cress assembling shortly after March
4. In the past week or SO the atten-
ton of Congress leaders has been ur-
gently directed to the necessity of
framing program and to the charge
that the party is at present merely
drifting aimlessly.
The men at the lookout stations of
the party in the east and west have
made strong representations to the
leaders at Washington upon this
score. Their views as represented to
Washington are that the republican
party is being looked to by the people
who placed it in power in the last
election to carry out progressive leg
j$latiou. constructive in effect, and
hat no plans are being laid in ad-
vance To do this. In some of the
states the republican governors have
already begun upon policies of state
legislation for the party in power
and il is considered desirable that
similar course should be pursued by
The party as to national affairs.
Legislation Suggested.
of legislative action which the out
side leaders deem should be taken
under consideration in advance of the
expected extra session of Congress.
and policies as to them outlined:
Disposition of the several federal
agencies brought into being for the
eXigencieS of the war and settlement
of the question whether they are to
be continued in partial effect and for
Il limited time under the conditions
of peace. For example, the Federal
War abor Board, created for the war,
but whose continuance is strongly
urged in many quarters. This is the
board of which former President Taft
is member. The board. as we'll as
the labor men and employers. do not
know what the future has for Them
Then there is the highly eXigent and
important question of a least partial
control of fuel and food prices for the
next few months. The public is de-
scribed as being uneasy over the
possibility of the federal hand of re-
Decessaries of life and business while
industrial and wage conditions are so
unsettled.
Taxes and immigration.
The taxation system to be employed
after the war is deemed of prime i'm
portance. The democrats relied upon
internal and direct taxation to sup
PIGMENT the revenues raised by loans.
The republicans are expected to ad-
here to old republican doctrines of
raising portion of the revenues from
customs duties and easing the direct
taxes, while depending also upon in
rernaI taxes on tobacco. liquors, etc.
The absence of revenue derived to or
from liquor taxes in the future must
be taken into account and supplied.
Immigration must be dealt with, it
is pointed out. The war has changed
conditions applying to unrestricted
is believed that la Dor will concern it
self with the subject very interest
cdly from now on.
The future of the merchant marine.
bright from the impetus given it by
the war must be looked after. The
republican party has ever been the
advocate of the merchant marine.
along definite lines of upbuildinE.
Whether those policies shall be al
tered is a question for immediate set
Element it is urged
Railroad Control, Issue.
Railroad control and government
ownership of utilities will. of course,
need careful consideration in the de-
termination of fixed party policy. If
such a thing be possible. At any
rate. lacking agreement upon a party
policy. it is believed that a program
of action for the immediate occasion
can be outlined along party lines of
agr" ement.
Water power development is re-
garced as one of the most impor-
tant questions of public economics.
second only to railway and utility
ownership. There is said to be i'm
Fortunate demand for constructive
legislation upon this subject at once.
IT is evident now. it is declared that
the framing of Legislation will be
left to the next Congress. conse-
1uently TO the republican party, and
conferences and agreements are de-
Clared to be in order.
REORGANIZATION of the civil sery-
ice to prure some of the extensions
for political benefit alone charged
against the democratic administra-
ton. is suggested as a constructive
task for the republicans. The adop-
ton of budget system to make eff
fective the republican demands for