The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-17
Ground Work Said to Take
Entire Subject Out Of the
Presidents Hands.
WEEKS PLAN S.ENLARGED
Six Joint Committees, With
Republican Majority for
Each, Are Proposed.
Special Despo,cA to THE suv.


reconstruction problems Of the Govern
ment will be inaugurated next week
, The groundwork for the battle already
has been laid and the plan In fact all
drawn up awaiting only the ratification
OF the Republican conference OF the Sen
ate.
Instead OF the Weeks resolution TO-
appointment OF a Congressional commit
tee of twelve members, the membership
divided equally along political party
lines and equally between the Senate
and House, six committees with special
lied duties are proposed. Five members
OF each committee will come from each
branch Of Congress and three will be NJ
the majority party. This plan was
drawn up In the form of a substitute for
the Weeks resolution and Senator Weeks
has accepted II. A conference OF Repuh-
lican Senators will approve IT early next
week
The Senate Judiciary Committee start
ed work to-day on the Overman reso-
luton to provide for the appointment OF
a reconstruction commission of five mem
bers, all to be appointed by the President
without consulting the Senate A sub
committee of five was appointed to con-
slider proper action on this resolution and
report It back to the full committee.
This subcommittee is headed by Sen
ator Overman IN. c. Of course and
COnB1gtS OF THESE bendtOTo III tuuitiO'i
Walsh (Mont.) and Hoke Smith tGa)
Democrats; Cummins Uowa) and Pom
dexter (Wash)
Smith May he Won over.
There is a possibility that the Repub-
licans may not have to fight as hard for
their Ideas as they now appear to have
to. The Republican members OF the
Judiciary subcommittee are also mem
nd n
committee reported by the Republican
conference to draw UP a proper substl-
tute for the Weeks resolution. The Re
publicans expect Senators Overman and
Walsh to follow exactly what the Ad-
mnistration desires in regard TO the re-
construction problems, but Senator Smith
Is one Of the few Democratic Senators
who Is opposed to the tendency to strip
Congress of its powers. now that tho
fighting Is over. and keeping up the prac-
tice of putting large powers in the
hands of the President.
II Senator Smith can be won over 70
the Republican plan for Congressional
reconstruction committees the Judiciary
Committee will follow the action OF the
subcommittee and the Senate will fol-
low the Judiciary Committee. In this
fashion the Republican plan will win IN
Congress and will have the guise OF an
Adm inistration measure to some extent
The substitute for the Weeks reso'u-
q \ provides that the six committees on
reconstruction shall be selected Jus: a.
the committees OF the Senate and House
are now selected. In brief, The commit
tees would have these duties:
The Joint Congressional committee
upon the rehabilitation OF the army ana
navy 20 investigate and report on the
employment of soldiers and sailors in
civil pursuits. the allotment OF lands 80
them and legislation to properly care
for war sufferers generally.
The Joint Congressional committee
upon foreign trade and commerce TO in
vestigate and report on proper import
duties the development OF new markets,
combinations to increase American
selling facilities, necessary changes IN
banking facilities. the supply and con-
troll of raw materials and the production
of new articles of commerce and the
merchant marine generally. including
the ACCESSIBILITY of continued Govern
ment ownership and operation.
The joint Congressional committee upon
interstate transportation to investigate
and report on the permanent relation Of
the Government to the common carriers
the advisabllity of continued Govern
ment operation. the proper extent OF
Government regulation OF railroads, the
rate question and fair dealing 10 thu
capital invested, the proper relation be.
tween the railways and inland waite
transportation routes and wire COMMIT
nicauon.
The Joint Congressional COMMITTEE
upon domestic business to investiga'
and report on the extent. il any, to
which laws relating to trusts and Coz
porations should be revised what CO,
operation should be permitted business
to increase efficiency and reduce co..
to meet foreign competition, the Questior
of Government loans 10 private ente'
prises and Government supervision g
capital issues.
Opposing OF Labor Problems.
The Joint Congressional committee
upon employers and employees to i0-
vestigate and report on the conclia.
ton OF labor disputes, the substitute
of women for men in industry. the re
| lation OF men and women in similar
industries, the organization OF pPrma
nent employment agencies the distrihu
ton OF labor. labor housing and TIE
| freedom OF labor and OF capital In ~
relation TO trade unionism and wages
hours and conditions OF employment
| The Joint Congressional committee
upon natural resources to Investigate
and report on encouraging private Ell.
| terpri0e in development OF resources
OF the public domain. the means OF
checking the tendency toward urbaa
population. Government loans to farmers
distribution OF food products. timber
problems, production and distribution
OF mineral resources. and the develop
ment and control OF water power.
| Any OF lese committees would ho
! empowered Hlso to take up any othes.
subject Will, Il hnds 10 be lnseparahly
connected with its work, especially tie
rehabilitation OF war commissions. ad-
mlnistrations, bureaus and other civilian
war agencies, and TO adjust the forces
which are employed In them to private