Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-08
What Congress Is Doing
Big and Pressing Tasks of Legislation Not
to Be Neglected Because of the Absence
in Europe OF President Wilson.

advocate return of the lines to prt-
vate direction and ownership. with
an increased modicum of govern
mental overseership and restrfc-
ton. There. it is pfophesied. will
come the rub; just how much gov
ernment-granted pooling and con-
solfdation. under government di-
rection, will be allowed, for that Is
what the railroad heads desire.
"NoTH1NG is too good for our
soldier boys" is the sentiment
which speeches and developments
of the week in Congress demon
strated to exist. 1t cropped out in
many expressions, from a propo-
sition to present them with their
uniforms and clothing accouter-
ments to starting sanitarium for
the treatment of tuberculosis pa
tients. The House took up the bet
ter part of the week discussing a
bill, which finally passed by
squeak, to construct sanitarlum
in Kentucky for invalids.
The squeak" was not on the
proposal to establish the institu-
ton. but over it's location in Ken
lucky. Community jealousies were
aroused; some sincere depreciation
of the selection from a hygienlc
viewpoint was uttered. In the heat
of debate the charge was made that
sectionalism figured. Over and
above it all. however, in the three
days debate sounded the dominant
note of gratitude for the services
of the men in khaki and blue and
a more than willingness to do any
thing in the world for their COM
fort. to show the ,country's appre-
citation of them. 1t was finally deter
torium should be determined by
commission. to be appointed by the
President.
GENERAL things occurred during
~ the week to show that Congress
is even now looking forward to the
handling of problems to follow the
war The development of the
American merchant marine and
promotion of foreign trade in
American carriers is one of the
subjects to receive early attention.
A resolution offered by Senator
Jones of Washington was adopted
tary of State to advise the Senate
as to what treaties may exist which
will prevent giving preference to
American ships in carrying imports
and exports land what is necessary
d be done to abrogate such trea-
ties" Another resolution was
adopted asking the shipping board
to report at once what legislation
may be necessary to insure the
maintenance, development and OPP
Grafton of a merchant marine
under the American flag. The run
ming start which was obtained in
the rehabilitation of the merchant
marine, under the emergency snip
construction program; is to be
quickened into a steady pace In
Congress- The fact is not over
looked that Great Britain already
is securing the world for shipping,
even seeking to purchase a mate
rial tonnage now controlled In this
country. with the object Of estnb-
trade on the seven seas. Congress
does not propose to permit the
United States to be relegated to
the position Of helplessness 1T oc-
cupied at the outbreak of the war
in the possession of a merchant
marine, it is declared by men in
position in that body.
* x
IF hope deferred maketh the 70
heart sick" the clerks in the
government departments who have
longed for the enactment of law
to retire the superannuated of
their number may be in for another
period of suspense. The majority
sentiment in Congress is believed
to be favorable to solving this
problem, at once humanitarian and
economic, of dealing with the
faithful servants of the govern
ment who have grown helpless
from age and long service. But
the fixing upon the method of
doing the thing which the majority
seem to want done again threatens
to delay effective action.
1t has pleased men from time to
time in Congress. and some men
public press, to disparage the de-
partmental employees and hold
them up as a favored class. Off
Gals and others who know the de-
partments realize that these gray
department walls inclose scores
and hundreds of examples of LIES
tragedies. women and men who
while serving the government have
not been able to save for the rainy
day. because they have lived lives
of sacrifice for others; noble wom-
en- and men who have sat at their
desks throughout the years that
opportunity was slipping away,
educating brothers and sisters,
caring for aged parents back in
the states" with no thought of
their own future; and others whom
necessity has held to the wheel
until it was too late to better their
condition in other avocations. and
who now confront the situation of
their earned dollars buying just
half what they would purchase be-
fore, with the hour staring them
in the face when they will be
physically unable to- earn them
longer.