The Parisian. (Paris, Tenn.) 1907-1962, 1918-05-24

ties have very largely been discard
ed. The very existence of free gov
] ernment throughout the whole worlc
lis seriously threatened. At such 8
time as this the people take no4hter.
est in the petty personal discussions
OF the claims of rival candidates foi
office. The Sixty-fifth is war con.
gress and the Sixty-sixth will be no
less war congress. No one can
foresee when the present session of
the Sixty-fifth will end and TO one
of its members ought to be chal-
lenged to abandon his post of duty
in order to have joint debate with
a competitor for party nomina-
tion.
| AS chairman of the committee on
Interstate and foreign commerce |
introduced and wao instrumental in
securing the passage of t..o admins.
tration bill for government control
and operation of all the rail and
water transportation systems in the
| United States. This bill was one of
the most essential end the most stu
pen6ous pieces of legislation that has
ever been enacted. ITO law by any
congress Stree the establishment of
our republic. AS time passes no
doubt petfecting amendm 2nts 20 this
great war act will become necessary.
A number of bills have al.'eady been
introduced proposing amendments TO
this law. Some are wise and good
and some are unwise crd bid. Direc-
tol General McAdoo is in constant
consultation with me regarding these
several bills, and is relying on me to
take care of the Legislative situation
III the house. Even temporary alb
sence from Washington on my part
might prove very detrimental to gov
ernment railway control legislation.
During the long and sultry days
of last August and September instead
Of seeking the refreshing atmosphere
of seaside resorts, |, with other mem
bcrs of our committee, were spend
ing our days and nightr in formulat-
ing and securing the passage of the
great war risk insurance law, pro-
viding for government life insurance
for our soldiers at the lowest rate
of premium ever known III the his
tory of the world for so hazardous a
risk; also providing for family al
lowances and allotments for the de-
pendent members of the families of
soldiers, and for compensation for
tn death or injury of soloiers. Dur
ing this session | have already in
troduced seven administration bills
and joint resolutions amending said
act so as to further broaden and
liberaliZe the provisions of the law
Two of these bills have already be-
come laws and four others have been
favorably reported by my committee
and are now on the calendar of the
house ready for passage and I feef
compelled to remain hele and secure
the passage of all these bills before
this session of congress adjouzns. II
beg to cite you to the fact that many
hundreds of government checks for
family allowances and allotments are
now being received every month by
wives, children and widowed mothers
of soldiers in our congressional dis
trict as the result of this most bene-
ficial 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 if / should leave
the halls of congress and let these
bills die on the calendar of the house
simply in order to accept your chaI-
lenge for joint debate?
But in addition to the Importance
of my duties as chairman of the
committee on interstate and foreign
commerce, am also chairman of the
new water power committee, created
at the requests of the president, to
have consideration of all bills both
of the house and senate providing for
the development of hydro-electrrc
energy, to conserve the fast failing
coal and fuel Dill supplies of the ma
ton, and to relieve the great power
shortage in the eastern seaboard
states, so badly needed ut this time
in the production of ships munitions
and other war supplies After sew
eral months Sof the most arduous
labor the water power committee
will immediately begin final conside-
ration of the senate bill, commonly
referred to as the Shields bill, which
passed the Senate in December, last,
but as it passed the senate it pro-
vided for water power development
only on the navigablc rivers 1t will
be amended so as to apply also TO
water power development on the pub
lie lands end forest reserves, so as
to harmonic with the recommends
tion of the president; that all water
power legislation should be embraced
in one act to be administered by a
commission composed of the secre-
tcries of war, interior and agricul-
ture. AS soon as is practicable the
amended senate bill will be reported
and passed in the house. When pass
ed in the house and sent back to the
senate, it can and will Immediately
be sent to conference. AS chairman
|, must necessarily be q member of
the conference committee and cannot
possibly serve as a conferee without
remaining here. If / do not remain
here the conference cannot be COM
pleted and the bill cannot be passed
before adjournment.
In addition to these numerous
house Craftsmanship sduties and re-
sponsibilities, am the ranking house
member and vice chairman of the
joint senate and house committee
created in response to the recon-
mcndation of the president in his an
nual address to congress two years
ago, to investigate the subject of the
government control and regulation OF
interstate and foreign transporta-
tion, the efficiency of the existing
system in protecting the rights OF
shippers and carriers and in promot-
inp the nuhlic interast tho ineorno