Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-15
mittee on appropriations has in the
past maintained the record of the
Senate for elaboration.

Probably the first test of the question
Of how, in the absence of the Presi-
dent, enactments
Tact nna Soon m of Congress are
Signing of Bills. into law will
come over a bill expected to pass soon
validating verbal contracts for goods
made between the departments and fur-
nishers of military supplies. The audltpr
for the War Department having held up
payment in such transactions, the de-
partment has sent bill to the Senate
to remedy the situation. Prompt action
is deemed necessary in order to relieve
manufacturers from threatened serious
financial loss. It is estimated that hun
dreds of millions of dollars may be held
back from trade pending the action OF
Congress, with consequent embarrass-
ment to firms where the sums involved
are large. The Senate committee on
military affairs found that the depart
ment in drawing the bill had widened us
scope to include subjects not germane
to the specific purpose and is now prun-
ing the measure.
The question, when it has passed both
houses, will be how soon can 1t become
law 1t is declared by senators learned
IN the ID" anu lllc SOIlSlltdllOii- ~ w
agreed among them. that the provision
of the Constitution by which bill be-
comes law within ten days after presen-
tation to the President, lacking his veto.
does not apply to the present state OF
affairs. They hold that sending the bill
to the White House, in the absence OF
it's official occupant, does not constitute
presenting the bill to the President.
They say that it will be necessary to
send the parchment copy to France for
the Presidents signature. He would
then cable announcement of the fact
that it had been signed, 1t is as
sumed. and the department could go
ahead with settlement of the contracts.
Representative Lufkin of Massachu-
sets preached subject in the House
which. it is
Barring of Aliens predicted. will
Is Now an Issue. creasine atten-
ton before the session closes, or in
the extraordinary session to come. He
has introduced a bill to suspend for
the period of two years all general
immigration into this country. He
assigned as justification for such In
hibition the necessity OF keeping out
ne OnlIeu oldlcS CIV
ments, now so dangerously active In
Europe, and also to maintain as near
ly as possible the high standard OF
living among the workingmen OF this
country. .-. A. s!?si+...s5.,
of the /. w. w. and at the socfalistic
classes abroad, whose practices now
approach anarchism. Congressman
foresee the possibility of a rush to-
the United States of the discontinued
and ne'er- do-wells of all Europe, un-
less the bars are raised. Poverty will
drive some of them. and the. worthy
of those would not be unwelcome. but
general discomfort and general cuss-
edness" are also expected to drive
others.
The question also comes up, it is
said. as to how welcome the enemy
aliens would be, and whether they
can be assimilated into the popula-
ton, in view of the horror with which
the deeds of some OF the nations are
Will the Americans want
some of the blood-stained hands of
it is asked.
Other bills affecting foreigners also
are pending in Congress. proposing to
deport some of the aliens already
resident here. who abandoned their
der to escape the draft. 1t is pro-
posed that they shall be sent back to
their beloved Netherlands.
X
There is an .outburst brewing in
Congress, which may break with vio-
lence pretty
Storm Is Brewing soon nd
Over Soldiers Pay. wind to wbis-
tie about the ears Of some heads Of
1t is over the arrears
of pay to soldiers, and the allotment
of soldiers pay to their dependent
relatives.
Complaints are pouring in and pill
ing up of cases Of hardships suffered
by the families of men who have not
been paid the sums set apart by the
plants are more acute than from the
boys themselves at not receiving their
own pay. In the House last week q
telegram was read announcing the ar
rival at hospital at West Baden.
Ind. of several hundred wounded
men. without cent. although they
had had money due them for months.
and Senate are in no mood to tenn
porize with any condition which
works hardship to the boys who have
been to France. They simply "go up
in the air" when they hear about
such things, and there was almost a
roar of rage in the House when that
telegram was read.
X X
Representative Mann took occasion
in the House the other day to make
this observa-
Faith in Loyalty ton: TN a
of House Members. sorn. ve.rs N
this House I have como to believe
firmly in the real earnestness Of pur-
pose, devotion to the right and the
unfailing and unflagging loyalty and
patriotism Of the entire membership
of Congress"
Mr.. Mann spoke from the plenitude
of observation and association ana
his words were barbed with truth.
No one can better testify to this than
the men of long service in the press
galleries of Congress. who are In daily
touch with the membership and know
what they are doing.
1t has been a long time now since
a. -