The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-20
Congress AdjOurning TOda!
First Republican in Six Years.
Present Session Was Called
May 10 by President.
IT OVERRODE VETO TWICE
Much Important Legislation
Was Passed During Session.
Appropriations TOtaled Over
8 Billion, Biggest for Army.

washington NOV. zU.-W ulI0 cOH-
sideration of the Treaty of Versailles
was the outstanding event of the first
session of the Sixty-sixth congress
the first in six years in which Repub-
licans have controlled both branches
considerable important legislation was
completed and many other measures
prepared for disposal when the regu-
lar meeting begins December first.
The session closing today was an
extraordinary one convened May 10
under a call cabled from Paris by
the appropriation bills which failed at
the session ending last March third.
Overrode Veto Twice.
Among the principal legislative
achievements were:
Submission of the woman suffrage
constitutional amendment to the states
for ratification.
The prohibition enforcement bill
providing for enforcing war time and
constitutional prohibition passed over
President Wilson's veto.
The act repeating the daylight saw
ing law also passed over the presi-
dents veto.
Providing for return of telegraph,
telephone and cable wire lines to
private operation.
Continuing government control of
dyes to January next.
Extension of the Lever food and
fuel control law to clotl and other
necessaries and penalizing boarding
and profiteering.
Granting permanent rank to Cen
eral Persh1ng.
Providing for demobilizing the army
to peace basis of approximately 300,-
600 men pending permanent peace
time legislationS
Authorizing completion of the gov
faf-- ont r-r,f 1.-Two, ~ sv, I1=
. Continuing war time passport re-
strictions so as to prevent an influx
of radical aliens.
Appropriated So, 900, ,OOO, 900.
Ten appropriation bills aggregat ting
about $4,000. 100000 also were passed.
They included 100000 for the
railroad administration, $772 100000
navy and a sundry civil budget of
S613.00O, 900.
The French treaty. providing an
American guarantee to assist France
in the event of unprovokea German
aggression was submitted to the sem
ate by the president July 29 after de-
mands from senate Republicans but
still remains in the foreign relations
committee.
Another treaty., the Panama canal
settlement with Colombia, proposing
payment of $25,000,000 by the United
States. also remains in committee.
Several imnortant legislative mec~
ures went over for final action at | :
regular session. The oil. coal, gas and
phosphate land leasing bill was passed
by both bodies and remains in con-
ference, as does the Edge bin author
izing organization of corporation to
help finance American export trade.
The Esch railroad bill passed the
house and will be taken up with the
senate interstate commerce commit
tees bill at the December session. The
house also passed and sent to the SEN
ate bills providing for development of
water power Projects for establish
ment of a federal budget system and
providing permanent government
shipping policy.
Passed Up Reconstruction.
Pressing reconstruction, questions
on which congress failed to act, in
clude:
Return of the railroads, reorganiza-
ton of the army on a peace basis, re-
peal of wartime luxury taxes, estab
lishment of a merchant marine policy,
opening of public lands for soldier set
tIement, development of water power
sites on public lands opening up of oil,
coal and phosphate lands, government
control of the meat packing industry
and revision of the court martial sys-
tenn.
When congress comes back Decem
Der 1, action on these measures will
still be blocked until the peace treaty
is disposed of. Senate leaders expect
to push for prompt action on the
treaty to clear the way for domestic
1aCis1a fi00