Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-11-18
TO
START PLANS in
RECONSTRUCTlNG
Cummins Resolution TO Have
Support of Independent
Democrats at Well

Washington, Nov. IS Preparing
for a constructive reconstruction pro-
gram the Republicans in Congress
have outlined u program which will
take form in q resolution to be in
troduced this week by Senator Cum
mings, of Iowa. This resolution will
have the united support of the Re-
publicans in Congress and is expected
also to have the support OF many
Democratic members who are opposed
to giving President Wilson absolute
control Of the. reconstruction program
Senator Lodge. of Massachusetts,,
Republican leader of the Senate. Will
issue call for a conference OF the
Republicans in the Capitol the first OF
draft of the Cumnlins resolutions Will
be adopted by the Republicans as
their official program for solving the
reconstruction problems.
The Cummins resolution provides
for six joint congressional commit
tees of ten members each. Each COM
mittee would be composed Of Ave
members from each house. While the
Democrats are in power the commit
tees would be composed each of six
Democrats and four Republicans, and
the ratio would be reserved after
March /, when the Republicans take
control of Congress. The several COM
mittees would have charge of the
y
commerce; interstate transportation;
domestic business: employers and en-
ployes, and natural resources.
Problems of Decentralization
The duty of the committee on de-
mobilization would be to investigate
and report on the following subjects:
The employment of discharged sol
diers and sailors in civil pursuits;
The allotment of lands 10 returned
soldiers and sailors and their estab-
lishment in homes on the public do
main; and
All legislation that may be rcquir-
ed in the proper care for those who
have suffered the dangers of war and
whose ability to earn a livelihood has
been impaired.
The committee on foreign trade
and commerce would have charge Of
the following problems:
Duties on imports for the protec-
tion and encouragement of home in
dustry.
The development of new markets.
Combinations for the purpose Of in
creasing our selling facilities.
Changes in our banking facilities
necessary to cooperate with such
trade.
The supply and control of raw ma
terials and encouragement in the pro-
duction of articles that have not here
toIore been manufactured in this
country.
The merchant marine including the
construction of ships; the continuance
of government ownership and opera
tion, and in general the various prob
lens of transportation on the high
seas.
To Decide Federal Control
The following problems would be
turned over to the interstate trans
portation committee:
The permanent relation that the
government should sustain to the
common carriers of the country.
Whether the system of transporta-
ton now in possession of, and being
operated by, the government should
be returned to their owners and op-
Grated as before, or whether the gov
ernment operation should continue
with or without government owner
ship; or If private ownership is to be
continued, what system of regulation
and control will be best adapted to
assure efficiency in service, reasonable
rates of transportation and fairness to
the capital invested.
The relation that should be estab-
lished between inland and water
transportation and the railways, in
cluding the control of the former.
All questions relating to communi-
cation by wire.