Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-03-11
WILSON PUTSBLAME
ON REPUBLICANS
Congress Quits in Filibuster and
President Is Rolled.
BIG RAILWAY MEASURE FAILS
"Senate Group" Must Bear Blame for
Governments Impaired Efficiency,
Says ExecutiVe-G. o. p. Tao
tics Affect u. S. Heroes,
Says Baker.

Washington, March 5.-Congress ad-
journed at noon in the midst of Re
publican filibuster in the senate that
killed a long list of important meas
ureS.
There was no turning back of clocks.
Democratic leaders realized the stu
alton was hopeless, and the gavels
ending the long war session and the
Sixty-fifth congress actually tapped at
noon.
No immediate shortage of funds to
care for the troops is in prospect.
Among the bills that failed was one
appropriating S75O,OOOO0O for the rail-
road administration,
| Failure of the army appropriation
bill and other military measures to
pass before congress adjourned leaves
the war department in a difficult but
not a serious situation" Secretary
Baker said.
i Mr.. Baker said his greatest regret
was that failure of the army reorgani-
zation bill meant that number OF
men of the army must remain in the
service for q longer time than would
have been necessary otherwise.
The presidents statement is as fol-
| lows:
"a group of men in the senate have
| deliberately chosen to embarfass the
administration of the government, to
! lmperil the financial interests of the
railway systems of the country and
to make arbitrary use of powers in
tended to be employed in the interest
of the people.
at is plainly my present duty TO
attend the peace conference in Paris.
1t is also my duty to be in close con-
tact with the public business during
a session of the congress. / must
make my choice between these two
duties and l confidently hope that the
people of the country will think that
l am making the right choice.
cit is not in the interest of the
right conduct of public affairs that l
should call the congress in special
session while it is impossible for me
to be in Washington because of a
more pressing duty elsewhere to CO.
operate with the houses
81 take it for granted that the men
who have INSTRUCTED and prevented
the passage of Necessary legislation
have taken all of this into considera-
ton and are willing to assume the
responsibility of the impaired eff
cheney of the government and the en-
barraSSed finances of the country
during the time of my enforced alb
sence."
The president gave none of his call
ers any intimation of his plans regard
Ing the disposition of the railroads.
Some senators advised him to return
them Immediately to private owner
ship, but the president received all
advice without comment
Lodge DepIores Fiibuster.
Republican Leader Lodge said that
three-fourthS of the Republicans sim
cerely deplored failure of the railroad
appropriation bill. The few Republi-
cans who insisted upon filibustering to
defeat the bill, he said, were beyond
control"
"What goes by the name of debate"
said Senator Thomas (Dem.) "can pro-
coed without limit, and when season
ably interspersed with roll calls two
or three filibustering senators can
paralyze legislative functions. The
senate for the past three days has done
nothing but listen to multitudinous
words. The spectacle is humi1iating
one"
The long list Of measures that
legislation, and bills dealing with I'M
employment. labor, and illiteracy prob
lems; the oil, gas and coal land leas-
| ing and water-power development
bills; resolutions to terminate gov
eminent control of telegraph, tele-
phone and other wire utilities; the Sc
dition or so-called 'red-fiag'' bill; the
resolution to repeal the 10 per cent
| tax on semi-luxuries, and Secretary
Lanes bill appropriating $100,00O,OOO
| for reclamation of waste lands to be
| allotted to soldiers and sailors.
The scene in the house was quite
| different from that in the senate. AS
| Speaker Clark announced the end of
| the Sixty-fifth congress the Marine
| band played patriotic songs and men,
bers and the crowded galleries Joined
| in singing.
The last act of the house was the
unanimous passage of resolution, of
| fered by Republican Leader Mann,
thanking Speaker Clark for his liable
and impartial" work.
mo matter what its critics may
say" said Mr.. Clark in response, "this
congress has done more important
work than any two other congresses.
The Republicans acted as periodically
and as faithfully as the Democrats. 1
cannot express my gratitude. Good
| by and God bless you"
| Eord EanIe RnaT AnprovaL