New-York tribune., 1918-03-04
lhe Week IN Congress
Railroad Bill
Is Prepared for
Final Passage
1t Will Be First of Many
Vital Measures To Be
Taken Up
Army Bills in Line
Congress to Pass at Once on
Plan to Draft Men Attain
ing Age of Fl
Army Bills in Line

WASHINGTON, March 3.-Final en-
actment Of the Administration railroad
control bill, substantially as proposed
by President Wilson two months ago,
occupies first place on varied pro-
gramme of Congressional activity this
week Senate and House confcrrees on
the measure met again tonight, con-
tident Of early agreement. Before the
week end it is deemed certain that the
legislation will go to the President for
his approval.
Next comes the Administration meas
ure to create a war finance corpora
ton, which probably will pass the
Senate early this week to be taken
up a few days later in the House.
Important amendments arousing con-
siderable opposition will be considered
tomorrow by the Senate, but the lead
ers expect its approval by an over.
whelming vote
Appropriation Bills Up
Accumulating appropriation bills are
to be given much time in both houses.
together with miscellaneous army and
yavy legislation. The annual diplo
matte and agricultural appropria-
ton bills are ready for the Senate to
begin work on as soon as the war
finance corporation measure is out of
the way.
The House is working on the legis-
lative, executive and judicial supply
measure. Tomorrow the Senate Ap-
proprlations Committee expects to COM
plete revision of and report the billion
dollar urgent deficiency BILL with sew
eral hundred millions of new war csti-
mates added.
Among the army bills which their
sponsors plan to press this week is the
War Department measure, unanimous
~ approved by the Senate Military
Commlttee, to provide for the regis
tratlon of men attaining twenty-onc
years of age since June last, and
changing the basis of draft from total
state population to the number of men
in class l
The Senate Foreign Relations Com
mlttee may recommend, during the
week. ratification of the treaties with
Great Britain and Canada for recipro-
cal draft privileges. Tomorrow the
Senate immigration Committee will
hear Representative Burnett, of Ala
bama, chairman Of the House Immigra-
tion Committee, on the "alien Stacker"
bill recently passed by the House
Moratorium Measure
The soldiers and sailors civil rights
or moratorium" bill, which has been
held up for several months. probably
will be sent to President Wilson be-
fore the end Of the week. The CON
ference agreement was adopted by the
Senate yesterday The House is ex-
pected to give its approval promptly.
Early agreement in conference also
is expected on the Webb export trade
several years, which would permit
American exporters to combine in for
eign commerce.
with the announcement of plans for
a new Liberty Loan next month and
Secretary McAdoo's desire for further
Legislation, Congressional leaders are
ready to expedite recommendations
from the Treasury If the interest rate
on the new issue is to be raised to az.
per cent an amendment will be re-
quired to the law authorizing sub
scrlptions, which fixed the maximum
rate at per cent
War Cabinet Bill Held
No important developments are cx-
pected soon in the dispute over reor-
ganlzatlon and coordination of the gov
ernments war-making machinery. The
war cabinet bill is still held in the
Senate Military Committee. and the
ovcrman bill. proposed by the Admin
istration to give the President greater
coordjnating authority, is meeting op
position IN the Senate Judiciary Com
mlttee, which meets again tomorrow
prepared to resume discussions.
The Senate Military Committee this
week plans to inquire further into
progress of aviation construction and
also INTO the honorable discharge from
the Quartermaster Generals Reserve
Corps of former Captain A. f. Pere-
less.
at the Hog Island Shipyar6 will be con-
tlnued next Tuesday by the Senate
Commerce Committee, which will hear
witnesses OF the American Tnterna-
tional Corporation in defence Of its
work ~ '''
To Press Alliance Inquiry
Continuation Of the INQUIRY into tho
National German American Alliance
also is planned tomorrow by the SEN
ate Judiciary Committee.
Several banking bills may be brought
before both Senate and House during
the week. Chairmen of the respective
committees especially desire early en-
actment OF measure to permit estab
llshment of branch Federal Reserve
banks in several cities.
The House was in session to-dav for
memorial services in honor of the ,ato
representative Ebcnezer Hill. Of Con-
ncctlcut, whose life was eulogized h..
many former colleagues. -
Internal Revenue Bureau