The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-12-06
CONGRESS FACES
MANY PROBLEMS
sHoRT SESSION PROMISES no IL
ONE or THE BUSIEST I'm
HISTORY or NATION.
Scss.War Issues Sure 10 Demand Large
Share OF scion's Attention, the
Problem OF Reconstruction Be-
Inc One OF Nest Pressing.

Washington The program provis.
sonaily laid out for the coming session
81 congress lndientes that iii tho ts,ree
months between December ana
March both the senate ana the ho1se
VIII have about the busiest tIme in
their history. In addition 70 the reg,,.
mr. appropriation measures which
have % be passed. ehere are bound To
cfop ~ any number of Issues grow.
ms out Of the war and the peace con.
ference that win crowd tho session
fuli Of events that viii attract the
public Interest.
The biggest legislative issue flint
VIII come before the congress win be
the problem Of reconstruction and the
legislation that may BE- required 10
make Il effective, The president has
Indicated h. does not favor The ere.
alton Of a speclai commission, but
would prefer to have The problems of
reconstruction worked out by war
hoards already constituted, 10 which
he could transfer what authority might
be needed 60 proceed.
Nevertheless, fhe Republicans III the
sennte are committed Is pr0gram OF
creating six joint congressional com.
mitteps. each Of which ii 10 have an
rection 81 al Legislation ON i pnrtlen.
lar subject involving the recoustruc-
ton settlement, II bg any chance ac.
ton on the subject should be delayed
until the now congress comes IN. The
Republicans would be able to force this
program through, although they prob
ably win not be able to puss Ii over Il
veto by she president.
The revenue bin, which has been hang
Ing fire In congress since early iii May.
viii be before the senate early In the
session, according TO plans Of file sen
rte finance committee, which has con-
eluded It's work on the measure. The
bill Is due for a prolonged fight iii the /
sennte because of provisions fixing the
maximum amount of revenue 20 be
raised IA the 1920 collections. These
provisions We're put Into The bill by |
the solid vote Of the Democratic mem. |
bers Of the committee over the opposi.
tftft* va hhAl 1NfNFtl AttHNHuGNlA ailEitlilNfNs
trhe tsepnisiiean@ sus<e the position vnwt
such a measure II unfair to the new
congress, IN that II seeks to tie the
hands Of the Republican majority
YEAR Ia advance Of the time when the
bin becomes effective. They will fight
the bin la the senate even 80 the ex-
tent of holding up los passage In order
30 make an extra session OF congress
unayoidahle.
The appropriation measures, which
during the war period were passed III.
most without question and merely
upon the recommendation Of the
heads OF departments, win be subject
cd % the closest scrutiny Both repre-
sentattves aud senators are deter
mined To force strict economy upon all
the departments Of the government
aud they wlIl prune the uppropria.
tlpns ID every direction whenever pes.
shle.
The issue 81 government ownership
undoubtedly win DO In the foreground
ia the coming session, The lines for
this battle already are being drawn
between administration officials who
believe that the railroads, teiegraphs,
telephones, express companies and
cables now under the control Of the
government should be retained, and
those who are flatly opposed TO gov.
erument ownership or control in any
foFln whatsoever,