The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-11-20
FAILURE TO GET
 RESERVATIONS
 CAUSES DEBATE

Washington, D. C., Nov. 2o.-The failure of the Republican majorities in the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives to either carry out their announced legislative program or en- act needful legislation except when spurred and prodded by President Wilson, was the subject of two Demo- cratic addresses in Congress. Senator Joseph T. Robinson pointed out that but tive important measures had come before the Senate in the six months of the special session-the Treaty of Peace and the final action had been taken upon either. Rep resentative James B. AswelI cited of fcial figures to prove that "the ex- pense to the people of Republican inaction is a minimum of $20,00O a day. or s3,0OO,o00 already expended in the current expenses of this special session.
 Representative AsweI1 spoke of the "unpardonable flibuster'' by the Re- publicans in the last Congress, which prevented passage of many important pieces of appropriation and other leg iSlation.
 Republican leaders, still eager to harass the President, during the two months howled necessarily for special session of Congress" continued MT. Aswell. '"They got it. They have had it for six months; they have done nothing and now they cry quit. Is 1t any wonder that the President fore saw this situation and appealed to the country for a Democratic Congress to support him in prosecuting the war and to hold the confidence of the country by enacting straightforward, efficient legislation during the recon c,fr- yofi iov7 +hrn1 1rcr1, i1I, are now passing?
 '"The country is now in ominous turmoil, law1essness seeks excusas business is paralyzed and afraid and internal agitators would like to threaten organized government. Yet Republican majority, in full control of the organizat ton of this Congress sits supinely by without purposeful leadership. Until the last day of Oc- tober, when forced by public senti- ment led by Democrats, they refused to stand up and be counted on grave questions vital to the whole people criticizing the Government have be- come the habits which give hope, comfort and courage to anarchy and Bolsh hevism.
 Afraid to move forward, the Re publican leaders fiddle away the time by Investigating everything that might give promise of campaign ma teria1 for 1920, this being intended to divert public attention from their own shortcomings. Let the Congress find out now how much time and 1 money are being squandered upon these ponderous and noisy investiga- tions to find campaign thunder for 1920, when up to this hour they have not revealed a single important fact not already known.
 / ''The country wants legislation on the railroads, the merchant marine, the control and development of our 1 national resources, our military and naval policies. the regulation of inn l migration, the stamping out of an- ] archy and Bolshevism, the high cost i of living, the extension of motor i truck mail service, highway construc- 1 ton and soldier relief measures. The Democrats in Congress are eager for action, yet the Republican majority , refuses to act or permit action, frit- | terS away the time with irrelevant po- 1 lst1ca1 matters to the discoura cement ! and disgust of the country. Nothing has been done for the returned SOL diers except what has been worked out and accomplished by the depart 1 ments of the Government under a
 
 the Republicans can in no way l claim credit.
 *'Three billion dollars worth of /! public business is tied up indefinitely by these war Investigations The country demands the disposal of mo- tor trucks, automobiles and other army materials needed in civil life, yet the Investigating committees are
 taking up the entire time of 4e per
 cent. of the forces of the War Depart
 ment in answering questions and pre-
 pairing data for the Investigating con-
 mfttees. No Democrat or depart
 ment of the Government opposes the
 most searching Investigation in quest of facts for the good of the Govern
 ment, but we demand that the coun- l try's present and future business also receive the serious attention of the Congress-"
 ! Senator Robinson criticized the Re = publican majority in the Senate fol
 falling to enact any legislation, say
 ing:
 CT believe in freedom of debate and so long as any Senator fairly be- ffeves that he can impress his view.
 point upon the colleagues debate may
 well continue, but day after day x week after week, we have heard tht , same arguments repeated over ant e over, and now in few days the ses :, sion will close; and there is prob . ability that 1t will expire without
 single important act having passed t the Congress"