The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1918-12-03
CONGRESS WILL HAVE BUSY
TIME FOR WHILE.

WASHINGTON, December q
The program Professionally laid out
for the coming session of Congress
indicates that between December 2
and March a both the Senate and
House will have about the busiest
time in their history. In addition
to the regular appropriation measures
which have to be passed, issues grow
ing out of the war and the peace con-
ference will crowd the session full
of events that will attract the public
interest. ~
First of all will come the address
of President Wilson to Congress, which
probably will be- deiivred on the open
ing day. In this address it is expect
ed the President will tell of his plans
for the peace conference, the reasons
for his going and the things that he
hopes to accomplish while there.
After the President has gone there
is likely to be some open discussion
of his trip in both Houses. Senator
King, of Utah, has announced he will
address the Senate on the subject
shortly after the President has left,
and there may be others If the Pres
iident's trip abroad is criticized there
VIII NC IeJoihuCAS ny VIC AOoiuChIS
defenders.
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 that he does favor the
tcreation of special commission, but
would prefer to have the problems of
reconstruction worked out by the War
Boards already constituted, to which
he would transfer what authority
might be needed to enable them to
proceed.
Nevertheless, the Republicans in
the Senate are committed to a pro-
gram of creating six joint congress
sional committees, each of which is
to have direction of all legislation
on particular subject involving the
Reconstruction settlement. If by any
chance action on the subject should
be delayed until the new Congress
convenes, the Republicans would be
able to force this program through,
although they probably would not be
able to pass it over veto by the
President.
The revenue bill, which has been
hanging fire in Congress since early
May, viii be before the Senate early
next week, according to the Senate
Finance Committee, which has con-
cluded its work on the measure.
The bill is due for a prolonged
! fight in the Senate because of the
provisions fixing the maximum
lamount of revenue to be raised in
the 1920 collections. These provi-
Isions were put into the bill by the
solid vote of the Democratic mem
bers of the committee over the OPP
position 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
majority a year in advance of the
time when the bill becomes effec-
tive.
The appropriation measures, which,
almost the war period were passed
almost without question, and merely
upon the recommendations of the
heads of departments, will be sub
jected to the closest scrutiny. Both
Representative and Senators are de-
termined to force strict economy up
on all the departments of the Gov
eminent, and they will -prune the ap-
preparations in every direction
wherever possible.
The House Committee on Appro-
priations intends to summon all the
heads of the departments and require
them to tell where millions that have
been appropriated may be saved
Representative Sherley, of Kentucky.
Chairman of the committee, will in
troduce bill to repeal all unneces-
Isary appropriations. Sherley is serv-
ing his last term in Congress as a
result of the overthrow in the recent
election and he intends to devote
himself to enforcing retrenchment.
The issue of Government owner
fship undoubtedly will be in the fore
ground in. the coming season. The
lines for this battle already are be-
ing drawn between Administration
toficials, who believe that the rail-.
roads, telegraphs, cables now under
the control Of the Government should
be retained, and those who are fatty
opposed to Government ownership or
fcontfol in any form whatsoever.
- "a - "a
A 49,