The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1918-12-04
l31NGRESS FACES
MANY PROBLEMS
.uoR1 SESSION PROMISES TO az
ONE OF THE BUSIEST IN
HISTORY OF NATION.
oo.t.War Issues Sure to Demand Larue
Share Of Solon's Attention, the
Problem Of Reconstruction Be-
ina One Of Most Pressing.

Washngton.-The program provis.
4onolly laid out for the coming session |
~ congress indicates that in the three |
,uonths between December 9 ana
March both the senate and the house
.ri,I have about the busiest time In
their history. In addition to the reetl-
,ar appropriation measures which
have 10 be passed, (here are bound to
crop up any number of issues grow.
.pp out of the war and the peace con.
ference that will crowd the session
full of events that will attract the
public interest.
The biggest legislative issue that
will come before the congress will be
the problem Of reconstruction and the
legislation that may be required to
make it effective. The president has
indicated he does not favor the ere
ation of special commission, bur
would prefer to have the problems of
reconstruction worked out by war
boards already constituted, to which
he could transfer what authority might
be needed 10 proceed.
Nevertheless. the Republicans in the
senate are committed to Il program Of
creating six joint congressional com
mittees each of which is to have di-
rection of all legislation ON a particu-
lar subject involving the reconsiruc-
ton settlement. If by any chance ac-
ton on the subject should be delayed
until the new congress comes in, the
Republicans would be able to force this
program through, although they prob
ably will not be able to pass it over u
veto by the president.
The revenue bill, which has been hang
ing fire in congress since early in May
will be before the senate early in the
session, according to plans of the SEN
ate finance committee, which has con-
cluded its work on the measure. The
bill is due for Il prolonged fight in the
senate because Of provisions fixing the
maximum amount of revenue TO be
raised in the 1920 collections. These
provisions were put into the bill by
the solid vote of the Democratic mem
bers of the committee over the oppoSi-
ton of the seven Republican members.
The Republicans take the position that
such measure is unfair to the new
congress, in that it seeks to tie the
hands of the Republican ma jority a
year in advance of the time when the
bill becomes effective. They will fight
tba In, -. hn
tent of holding up its passage in order
to make an extra session of congress
unavoidable.
The appropriation measures, which
during the war period were passed al
most without question and merely
upon the recommendations Of the
heads of departments, will be subject
ed to the closest scrutiny. Both repre-
sentatves and senators are deter
mined to force strict economy upon al
the departments Of the government
and they will prune the appropria
tons in every direction whenever pos
sible.
The issue of government ownership
undoubtedly will be in the foreground
In the coming session. The lines fol-
this battle already are being draw
between administration officials wh'
believe that the railroads, telegraphs
telephones, express companies ant
cables now under the control of the
government should be retained. an(
these who are flatly opposed to gov
ernment ownership or control in an!
form whatsoever.