Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-08
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

)oNGREss will tomorrow
settle down to serious and
A earnest work in legislating
after experiencing hectic
week for the opening of a short
session.
1t was a stirring and interesting
week, charged with events and
marked by displays of partisan and
personal feeling out of the ordi-
nary. Party feeling ran high
tb.ere was excitement in the air;
friction and irritation in both
houses. Eut they got it out OF
the system pretty well before
the over Sunday rest. and the COM
ing days promise to be full of ac-
tivity on legislative affairs.
President Wilson sailed away,
serenely Indifferent to the pother
raised by his fracture of tradition
and disregard of international
boundary lines as limiting the
freedom of presidential movement.
His going promises to prove
Seven-day wonderland no more.
1t is predicted that in another fort
night Congress will cease to DIS
cuss it. Minority Leader Mann OF
the House is believed to nave
voiced the sentiment OF the mass
of professionals, vociferous or silent,
in the suggestion that, now that
he has gone, it devolves upon those
who remain to uphold his hand IN
the work before him. and at all
events refrain from nagglng MIN.
1t is accepted as assured that no
attempt will be made to question
the integrity of governmental or
ganiza ton as being affected by his
absence. Bills that may pass the
two houses of Congress will be-
come law automatically after the
lapse of ten days, not requiring MS
signature. 1t is not believed that
any legislation which might merit
q presidential veto will be attempt
ed and the question of the Presl-
dents right to veto by cable not
brought up.
CENTIMENT among senators and
~ representatives in the main
concurred in the probability OF an
extraordinary session of the Sixty
sixth Congress. Speaker Champ
Clark thinks it is practically as
sured. holding that it will be all
the Congress can do to pass the
supply bills between now and
March when this Congress will
expire by constitutional limitation.
An immense amount of work IS en-
tailed in the scanning of the estl-
mates for the next fiscal year and
the pruning of appropriations al
already granted and rendered un-
necessary by the sudden term1na-
ton of the war.
There is one policy upon which
both parties and all factions in
Senate and House are agreed-re-
trenchmeut in expenditures. Every
man outvies his fellows in wishing
to back-track on the lavish OUTLAWS
granted for war purposes until 1t
may prove a real problem to the
Army and naval establishments to
secure what they may deem ade-
ouate grants of money to Keep up
their military program for the
future. 1t remains for after de-
termination whether the bitter les
son the nation learned from UMPIRE
paredness can be borne in mind and
serve to reinforce the pleadinSS or
the Army and Navy heads that the
military arm shall not be permitted
to be weakened through parSimony
or shortsightedness. 1t is known
that the Army is still short of Il
nroper equipment of heavy artil-
lerv. of machine guns and small
arms, and time is required to make
Them The naval program. TOR
which President Wilson spoke a
word, will need large sums. and
thoughtful men in Congress say IT
will be idle to talk of freedom OF
the sees" without navy to en-
fI,a nripcinle in case of dis
pute.
"Retrenchment" has ever been a
good word for politicians to con-
lure with, and it is more popular
now in the face of approaching
continued heavy taxation; but the
wise men on the hill declare that a
line must be drawn between re-
trenchment and false economy.
:: =
uTHERE-that will give you
i something to worry over for
awhile and keep you busy while L
am gone" might have been an eX-
pression attributable to the Presl-
dent when he tossed Congress the
question of disposinG of the rail-
roads under governmental control.
He did not say it quite that way. OF
course: but the statesmen realized
that he certainly did put 1t up TO
congress strong" - this problem
which many thought he would
share with them in solution:
What will they do with 1t? They
are of many minds upon the sub
iect, which, for the present. does
not seem likely to take party form.
~ seems to present an economic
nroposition, and in it's present stage
is not susceptible of party manipu-
iation by either democrats or re-
nuhlicans. 1t Is thought at the
Capitol that the next Congress
especially if an extraordinary ses,
sion impends-will have to deal
uith il Many men prominent IN