The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-02

ment
 SPECIAL SENATE COMMITTEE
 Some senators also were said to have prepared resolutions for introduction tomorrow proposing appointment of a special Senate committee to go to Flu rope and keep the Senate informed on events at the peace conference. A spc- cial meeting of the democratic steering committee has been called for tomor- row before the Senate convenes to discuss the general situation. SBesides dealing with the peace con- ference, the President tomorrow is ex : pected to discuss legislation he may regard as necessary for the transition of the country from a war to a peace basis
 Few formalitfes for the opening day of the new session are planned. After Vice President Marshall and Speaker Clark formally open the sessions of the Senate and House, rolls will he called to disclose quorums. new mem bers will be sworn in and committees appointed to notify the respective bod : ies and the President that Congress is ready to proceed with business.
 Generally the Presidents annual ad- dress is delivered to Congress on the day following the opening of the reg ular December session. but the joint session was arranged for tomorrow so that the President might hasten his de- parture for Europe.
 PROBLEMS OF PEACE
 At its last session Congress saw tha end of the war, now it faces in the new session, which expires next March, g. my statutory limitation, the problems of peace and reconstruction. If tho peace treaty is negotiated before the session ends. it will come up for rati- fication before the present Senate. but otherwise it will be considered at a special Senate session after March 5.
 With the passing of the Sixty-fifth Congress, democratic control of the two Houses will cease. a majority Of republicans having been elected to both Senate and House of the next Con- gress, which will hold it's first regular session next December. If a special session should be called before then, however. it would be of the Sixty-sixth Congress.
 Matters to occupy the session Of Congress beginning tomorrow include retrenchment in expenditures and ex- tension of government agencies cre- ated for the war. Retrenchment all ready has begun in preliminary work on the annual estimates and sappro- priation bills. Secretary Baker and Chairman Baruch of the war industries board. have been asked to appear be- loTS the aOuSe apprOprlatlOnS commit tee tomorrow to discuss reductions in appropriation measures.
 For the first time in the recollection of congressional attaches. the annual ap- propriation estimates will not be ready for presentation tomorrow. Reductions necessitated by the change from war to peace conditions will delay their sup- mission a few days.
 TAXES AND BONDS AHEAD Taxes and bonds are other important subjects ahead New bond issues are re- garded as certain, but there now is doubt whether the pending revenue bill revised by the senate finance committee to impose ss,00oO0O,O0o of taxes next year and si0o0.000,0O0 in 1920. will be enacted. The bill will be reported to the Senate this week, probably Thursday, with de- bate beginning the following Saturday or Monday. If passage of the bill is de- layed, emergency legislation is planned so collection of taxes will not be delayed.
 Numerous investigations are expected during the winter. The inquiry of the Senate judiciary committee into brewers propa aganda activities, including their loans to Arthur Brisbane for the pur- chase of the Washington Times will be resumed next Tuesday, with MT. Bris- bane and Alexander Konta named by Alien Property Custodian Palmer, as an alleged agent in negotiations looking to the purchase of newspapers by German interests, summoned to testify Wednes- day