The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-18
s}a|RLWIND WEEK
! AHEAD CONGRESS
Several Big War Jobs to Be
Wound UP During the
Coming Few
Days.
RAILROADS NEED HELP
Overman Empowering Bill to Be
Whipped into Shape and Be
Brought to
Focus.
RAILROADS NEED HELP

by l.. c. Martin, United Press Stah
Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-A whirl-
wind week in ending up big war Jobs
was ahead of congress today.
The railroad control bill was expect
ed to clear the senate and be ready for
house action by Saturday.
Chairman Smith of the interstate
commerce committee was to ask for a
definite date for a senate vote today.
Close on the heels of this measure
was to come the McAdoo war finance
corporation bill
House action was expected early in
the week On the daylight saving bill.
the senate already having passed It,
Both houses were to wind up the
$5O,000,000 housing bill, to provide bet
ter living conditions for ship yard
workers.
The billion dollar urgent deficiency
bill carrying moneys for many needs
of General Pershing, was to receive
house approval and follow IN the sem
ate after the railroad and war finance
corporation measures.
War reorganization work will center
in the senate judiciary committee
where the Overman bill empowering
President Wilson to redistribute ad-
min1strative functions at will, will be
whipped into shape. The military COM
mittee probably will vote again on its
war cabinet bill, which today appar-
entity was deadlocked.
Deep in constructive work, the sem
ate was prepared to pause in the near
future while Senator Reeds report on
investigations into sugar and coal is
presented to it. The report is deemed
certain to assail aspects of the food
and fuel administrations.
The price fixing bill-long promised
by President Wilson and cited by op-
position elements as the most start
lingly drastic move yet proposed
was undergoing it's final revision in the
house and senate agriculture commit
tees.
The big. navy bill was to emerge
from committee soon, as were the eX-
ecutive, legislative and judicial and
the rivers and harborS budgets.
Asks Emergency Fund.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S-To expe-
dite work on U boat fighters. tor
pedoes, etc, Secretary of Navy Dan
fels today asked congress for an EN-.
ergency fund of S1O0,O00,O00 to be plac-
ed In the hands of President Wilson.
He submitted requests for addition
al appropriations of $230,O77 152 20, the
increases to be made available for the
fiscal year 1919.
Urges Speedy Action.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-Delay in
passing the railroad bill is imperilling
the success of the war, limiting indus
trial efficiency and jeopardzing the
general prosperity and welfare of the
country. Director General McAdoo
wrote the house today in Urging speedy
action on the bill.
Much more equipment, both in mot.
i've power and cars, with increased
terminal facilities, must be added to
the national railroad this spring, Nc.
Adoo said and orders cannot be placed
until the bill passes. a.
~ cannot over-emphasize the urg
ent necessity for prompt action in this
matter" wrote McAdoo. This is the
time of the year when the railroads
should be placing orders for essential
equipment and making preparation for
those improvements in facilities which
| will enable them to meet the great and
urgent demands for trans portation for
which they now not only have INSULT
cient motive power and equipment but
! in many cases inadequate facilities.
"It is great task to do the required
work in time to get the benefits Of this
war
eve cannot go forward with many
matters of vital moment until the
pending railroad bill becomes a law
| Government Ownership.
! WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-Govern
/ ment ownership of transportation
and communication lines would mean
the ultimate destruction Of the re
| publican form Of government in the
| United States, Senator Watson. Indi
ana, declared to the senate today
discussing the railroad control bill.
! Watson declared that if govern
ment ownership of railroads comes
| 1t will quickly be followed by govern
ment ownership of telegraph and tele
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