Evening journal., 1919-07-05
REPUBLICANS RUSH
WORK OF CONGRESS
Record Of Achievement
Made During First g Weeks
ConstructiveEffort
NOW READY FOR
THE MAINPROCRAM
BY JoHNsNURE.
n The Tvcnhg journal

W NaAllAAaN1A IAfH n 60
Congress in the sH week in which il
has been at workhas made a record
OF achievement ~ business has been
little more than fairly begun. The
task OF enactingi legislation for the
reconstruction priod has been well
started but the greater part OF that
opened both Hoses have been compel
task remains tfbe performed.
since MAY ifwhen the extra session
cd TO devote ne greater proportion OF
their time q the appropriation bills.
This has bee the case also with part
OF the impdant committees. Passage
OF the Necessary appropriation meas
ures prioro the beginning OF the new
fiscal yearias in itself been an echieVe-
ment OF ] unusual nature. However,
the consieration OF these measures has
made n npOssible thus far TO consider
the greer share OF the program Of re-
construion lawmaking The House
and Seate will now take up the main
part o this program.
Fnds have been made in some
ouarrs TO get the House to take a
serie OF recesses over prOtractcd
nerb while the Senate would concern
Use with the peace treaty. The
Hose leaders hold the view that this
Ndd mean much delay in the long
m, in the enactment OF needed legis-
laon and hence will go ahead.
trough the week Of July there Will
Jasllght lull and after that a number
I measures OF the first class will be
jressed. Ever since the committees
we're organized the most important OF
them both in the House and Senate.
except as they have been occupied
with money bills, have been at work
and they have made a great deal or
progress toward the shaping up OF
bills which has not appeared upon the
surface.
Excellent Bepinning.
Republican leaders feel that they
have made an excellent beginning IN
such things as the passage OF the ap-
preparation bills with enormous re-
ductlons in the estimates made by the
departments. in the submission OF the
suffrage amendment. in the restoration
OF the wires 10 their owners. and in
several other directions that might be
mentioned. They have set out frank
" 10 demonstrate 10 the country that
a Republican House and Senate are
prepared 70 give the public program
OF constructive legislation. For polit-
lcsl reasons. certain elements OF the
minority are much more than willing
10 do an they can 10 throw obstacles
in the path Of the Republican pro-
gram. So far they have not been able
10 do IL successfully and there is not
much reason to believe they will be
able 10. It is. OF course. well under
stood that some important elements
on the Democratic side are likewise
showing a real interest in the enact
ment Of constructive laws and are un-
willing 10 play that sort or politics
which would tend TO delay or hamper
essential legislation.
The Greatest Problem.
The greatest problem OF domestic
legislation ahead OF this session OF
Congress. is the enactment OF a law
fixing the policy as 10 the railroads.
When the session opened. many mem-
hers were skeptical in view OF the mag
nit,ide OF the proposition whether
law could be put through In the extra
session and were inclined TO believe
nofhinr final could be done before
newt winter. A good deal Of prelim-
t,s~y attention has been directed 10
80 rsiIroad question among members
- ,be senate and House Interstate
commerce Committees VINO are l,ost
keeplv interested in ihe SUBJECT, lnSs
have come TO the conclusion NOV v.S
mat a railroad law can be passed lhis
session but that it can be passsd Wel'
IN advance OF the date named by tle
president for turning back the ralroau
n-operties. Senator Cummlns, chaii-
man OF the Senate Interstate Commit
teo who has chosen suD-colnmlilee
,o work ont a railroad bill, is optlIh-
istic over the passage OF a measure ny
nsvt october. Representative Escl'
chairman Of the House Interstate Com
,,,orce Committee. Is hopeful mat thls
- bo dome and expresses the utmost
.onodence thai there will be new
'.oiirosd law m the statute books De
go tbs fine named by the President
.o- t,rninr back the roads. Presi-
A., Wilson has repeatedly indicated
~ n,,rnose Id restore the roads at the
'nT Tbe - House Interstate Commerce
cororoit,ee has taken up the program
~ railroad hearings and after near
,nos have been finished will fornu-
iate IFS re,ort TO the House. lhe i bscl,
btn viii M used as a basis for report
nv the committee although u Is ilAeS
81 he maerially changed. representa-
five EscI said:
Laws WI BE Ready. In,
''ST "Tbs hearings. I should say, VIII
,rohaby require a month. After that
.bey vii be studied and bill VIII De
,snor,d 10 the House. II Is not un-
i,iloI,,that we will he able to pass
hm u the middle Of the coming fall.
In an event. by the time the Presi9ent
turn the roads back at the emo OF ulls
caledar year there VIII be legisisuVn
IA leal with the future OF tne rall-
roas. My plans as embodied IN tle
hill have introduced Will simply DC
usd by the committee as the basis TOT
hlrlngs and for the preparation OF
n is not unlikely that the House
ommittee on Interstate Commeroe
nd the Senate Committee on inter-
tate Commerce will make their re-
norts about the same time. IL IS nat
iJrally to be expected that the House
hill and the Senate bill Will differ ma
terlally and it will take some time 10
iron out these differences in conference.
The most reassuring phase Of the mat
ter is that there Is very strong ue
sire in both Houses to get the railroad
question out Of the way and not allow
n 10 hang fire any longer than apso-
lutely necessary.
Water Power Measure.
WAFER power legislation which forms
another valuable part OF the program
g.. his session has a start In the