The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-26

bv President Wilson when he returned
to Europe if he had left the affairs of
the nation in the hands of Repubh-
can congress.
Last fall President Wilson went to
Europe happy in the thought that ne
was to be constantly in touch with
weighty matters of domestic policy
But now reconstruction problems are
allowed to wait, Senator Curtis points
out because with a Republican major
ity in the senate and house, President
Wilson feels the demand for his time
in Paris No special session was call
ed because the president belieded it
his duty to be in close contact with
public business during a session OF
congress- ~
Extra Congress Badly Needed.
The freedom with which President
Wilson has pushed his responsibilities
to congress are pointed out by Senator
Curtis. The Kansan mentions the de-
mand for prompt return of soldiers.
needed tariff legislation, railroad ana
labor problems, appropriations and
other matters sidestepped by the pres
ident
Every one acquainted with public af
fairs must know that there should have
! beer an extra session of congress Sena-
tor Curtis declared. The president. when
he sailed for Europe in December last
left the country while congress was in ses-
sion, and said he would be in close touch
with congress; that the cables and the
that he should be happy in the thought
he was to be constantly in touch with
weighty matters of domestic policy This
| both branches of congress. On March 4
meets again the Republicans will have a
majority in both houses of congress. and
when the president sailed for' Paris in
! March. he stated that lit was his plain
| duty to be in Paris and thaS it, also
| his duty to be in close contact with public
business during a session of congress. So
| he refused to call an extra session. He will
| hardly he able to convince the peOple that
| it would be any safer to leave while con-
! gress WIS in session in December. January
| and February than it would in March,
| April and May. The cables and the wire
the congress is Republican. elected by
| the people. and all who read know why
| an extra session was not called.
| when the people realize that the gen
| eral deficiency appropriation bill carrying
over 500 million dollars. this measure to
| sundry civil. carry over $50 million dol
| lars: the District of Columbia. carrying
| Il million dollars: the Indian. carrying II
million dollars: the agricultural. carrying
81 million dollars; the navy. carrying 2S4
million dollars and the army. carrying
| over one billion dollars. failed of enact
| ment. and that these measures carrying
these vast sums must be considered and
| enacted before July 1. 1919. they will rea
| lie how greatly an extra session is needed
| "Rut an extra session is needed for the
/ consideration ana enactment OF recOnStruc
ton measures. for it is well known that
| the country is waiting to know what
| policy is to be adopted.
| only one bill was defeated bv fill
buster. and there was no party fillibuster
| en- it because the Republicans of the senate
| in conference had determined not to fill
| buster against appropriation bills. The
defeat of the deficiency appropriation bill
WAS brought about by four five senators
| for reasons of their own
Did Remarkably Well.
| is hot a1J 10,
| bills must originate in the house; and after
! they are acted upon in that body, they are
| sent to the senate and referred to the ap
| propriate committees, and it will be inter
| esting to note that with the congress end
pass the house until February 20; the agri-
%. the navy February 81. and the sundry
! civil did not pass the house, and, of course,
did not reach the senate.
when one recalls the large amount of
money carried in the various measures, the
| lateness of their consideration by the
khouse. and the short time there WAS to con-
slider them by the committees of the senate
J there will be no surprise that so many
failed of enactment. In order that they
| might be given proper and due considera-
| days before they did.
| There are many vital questions affect
| ing the various sections of the country
| which must be settled: and there should
| be hearty cooperation between the federal
the state and the municipal governments.
Inc discharge of the brave young men who
left home and dear ones. and who helped
| win the greatest victory ever won for
civilization, is urgent: The men are anx-
| ious to get back home: many gave up good
| places and will want them back. and 1
| think they should be discharged near their
| homes and not in the large cities. We are
| told that there more than $50 900
men looking for work in the larger cities.
Prices Must Be Reduced.
'The war taxes and war prices must be
| reduced. There should be Il change in the
| customs laws so as to compel importers
Of foreign goods to pay larger duties.
| ported goods which came intozthis country
| last year. there collected in duties only
| one hundred and eighty million dollars
the amount collected should have been
much larger.
The question of maintaining credits of
the employers is very important because
factories and various enterprises must be
kept busy in order to give work and good
wages to employees. and to furnish a mar
ket for the products of the country.
Then there is the question of food, rent,
hearing upon the welfare of our one hun
dred million people The country should
be placed on a normal basis, for with a
fair degree of stability business will be
able to take care of itself. War restric-
tons should be removed: all useless boards
and commissions should be dispensed with
all government creditors should be paid
| and private owners should be left to handle
their own business. There should be a
thing should be done that can be to pre-
| vent eXtrava gance and waste.
"One of the most important things to do
departments, pay the soldiers what is due
them. and then keep them paid. l had a
letter from one young man. a soldier in
| France, who had not been paid since last
June The war risk cases should be
handled without much delay.
The question of production and dis
be considered and solved. We should look
| after the promotion of our foreign trade