The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-02-28

students of the various problems
which were to enter into a readjust
ment of all activities to a peace basis,
to be very complete and very definite.
Yet this bill is still being held in COM
mittee, the Democratic majority re-
fusing to take action upon the matter
or to permit the bill to be reported to
the senate without recommendation.
1t is intimated in well-informed cir
cles that the reason of this policy of
obstruction Gnstead of reconstruc-
tom is because the President does
not wish to have any legislative action
upon the subject of reconstruction for
fear it would curtail the unlimited and
autocratic powers vested in the execu
tive by the Overman law. This may
or may not be true but the fact re-
mains that the Democrats in control
of the senate have refused to act upon
Senator Weeks bill, and have also re-
fused to bring before the senate any
thing in substitution therefore.
Executive Does Nothing.
Meanwhile. if the purpose of delay
ing legislative action is to permit the
executive department of the govern
ment to work out the reconstruction
problems, the plan is not succeeding
because the executive department of
the government, in so far as recon-
struction is concerned. is displaying
the same masterful inactivity that the
Democratic congress is.
In the house the same policy is be-
ing pursued. Representative Zihlman
of the 9th Maryland district, intro
duced, early in December. bill which
was counterpart of the bill intro
duced in the. senate by Senator
Weeks. This bill was referred to the
Committee on Interstate Commerce
and there it remains, the Democratic
majority refusing to take it up and
make any report upon it. Congress
will expire March 4th, with both of
these comprehensive reconstruction
measures proposed by Republicans in
the pigeon-holes of the Democratic
committee.
One of the most pressing problems
of reconstruction is disposition of the
transportation systems of the
In his annual address to
just prior to leaving for
Paris to attend the peace conference,
the President said he had no program
to offer for the future of the railroads
but he hoped congress would formu-
late program during his absence;
that if it did not he would feel it to be
his duty to restore the railroads to
their private owners at compare
lively early date. The only Demo-
cratic program which might be called
a solution-although so to character
lze it would be minomer-was that
by Director General Nc
Adoo, prior to his resignation. This
was proposition to extend the pres
ent status of governmental control
for period of five years. This is no
solution-it is merely postponement
of the day when it will be necessary
to offer solution. but it is the only
concrete thing the Democrats have
offered relative to the railroads. On
the other hand, Senator Cummins,
Republican member of the
committee on interstate commerce,
and long regarded as one OF the best
equipped students of the railroad
problem. introduced concrete pro-
gram for the future operation of the
This was referred to the
on interstate commerce
and there it remains without any ac-
ton.
Obstruction But Not Construction
So, in like manner, might practi-
,ally every other problem of recon
struction be taken up and it be shown
hat the Democratic majority in both
The senate and house have not only
refused to bring forth any program of
heir own but have refused to act up
On concrete propositions offered by
he Republican minority that they
nave not only miserably failed to
initiate any constructive policies but |
hey have assumed the role of obstruc-
ionists to every reconstruction pro-
'osal Of the Republicans.
Not only that but the various execu-
i've officers of the government,
'lothed with practically unlimited |
power by the Overman law. are ap-
'arently making no Roadway in meet
ng the various critical problems
which have been forced upon the
COUNTRY by the sudden return of peace.
The War Department is in chaos
The Department of Labor is no bet