McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1918-05-31


allowances and allotments are now
being received every month by wives
children and widowed mothers Of SOL
diers in our Congressional District as
the result of this most bene6cent
legislation. What would the wives,
children and widowed mothers of our
brave boys who are now dying in the
trenches in Northern France think Of
me il | should leave the halls Of Con-
gress and let those bills die on the
calendar of the House, simply in order
to accept your challenge for joint
debate?
But in addition to the Importance
of my duties as Chairman of the Com
mittee on Interstate and Foreign Com
merce. am also chairman of the New
Water Power Committee, created at
the request Of the President, to have
consideration Of all bills both of the
House and Senate providing for the
development Of hydro-electric energy,
to conserve the fast failing coal and
fuel oil supplies of the nation, and to
relieve the great power shortage in
the Eastern seaboard states, SO badly
needed at this time in the production
of ships, munitions and other war
supplies. After several months of
the most arduous labor the Water
Power Committee will Immediately
begin final consideration of the Sen
ate Bill, commonly referred to as the
Shields Bill, which passed the Senate
in December last, but as it passed the
Senate it provided for water power
development only on the nsvigable
rivers. 1t will be amended so as to
harmonic with the recommendation
of the President; that all water power
Legislation should be embraced in one
act to be administered by commits
sion composed Of the Secretaries Of
War, Interior and Agriculture. As
soon as is practicable the amended
Senate bill will be reported and passed
in the House. When passed in the
House and sent back to the Senate
it can and will Immediately be sent
to conference. As chairman | must
necessarially be member of the con-
ference committee and cannot possi-
bly, serve as conferee without re-
naming here. If | do not remain
here the conference cannot be CON-
pleted and tie bill cannot be passed
before adjournment.
In addition to these numerous House
Chairmanship duties and responsible
ties, am the ranking House member
and Vice-Chairman of Joint Senate
and Honse Committee created in re-
sponse to the recommendation of the
President in his annual address to
Congress two years ago, to investi-
gate the subject of the Government
control and regulation of interstate
and foreign transportation, the effici-
ency Of the existing system in pro-
tecting the rights Of shippers and
carriers and in promoting the public
interest, the incorporation or control
of the incorporation of carriers. and
all proposed changes in the organiza-
tion Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission and the act to regulate COM
merce, also the subject Of Govern
ment ownership Of all public utilities,
such as telegraph, wireless, cable,
telephone, express companies and rail-
roads engaged in interstate and for
eign commerce. and report as to the
wisdom or feasibility Of Government
ownership Of such utilities and as to
the comparative worth and efficiency
of Government regulation and control
as compared with Government owner
ship and operation. While much val.
liable work has been done by this COM
mittee, it's labors are far from COM
pletion. | necessarily must devote
much Of my time to the work Of this
committee. 4
! suppose that when you wrote
your kind and respectful invitation to
make q list Of appointments for joint
debates with you, covering the whole
district. that you did not know how
pressing and how important my official
duties are with regard to necessary
and essential war legislation largely
depending upon my continued pres
ence and personal attention that must
be finally enacted before adjournment
Therefore have gone somewhat into
details in order that you may know
how impossible it is for me to comply
with your request while Congress re-
mains in session.
Supposing syou will have no objec-