The Topeka state journal., 1919-03-05
BIC BILLS SLIDE BY
Unprecedented Situation Faces
United States Today.
Never Has a Congress Left So
Many Things UndOne.
e1I nlEpe eAN 1Q2 HARn Lit
SOLDIERS SAIL LORS HARD HIT
Provisions for Their Care Were
Lost in the Filiuster.
Railroad Appropriation Loss
Means No Improvements.

Washington, March with Presi-
dent Wilson and congress both gone.
the United States To-Day found itself
facing an unprecedented situation.
Never before in history has a con-
zress left uudone 50 much as the
Sfxty-fifth when il quit yesterday. the
Government officials are inteutIy
seeking some way TO prevent serious
consequences in more than one direc-
ton
First Money for the railroads:
By falling to pass the SiJO,0GOoo
railroad appropriation, the senate. accord
ing to railroad adminfstra tiOu officials to-
day made il necessary for the roads to
borrow money at high rates from private
sources until congress again coHvenes and
meets a S-;S1 000.00o deficiency Extensions
and bettermeuts in service will haze to be
foregoue for the present. officials declared
because there is no money TO provide them.
Second Bringing the soldiers home
In the army appropriation bill which
failed to pass there was an appropriation
Of S41I. 100000 for trauspOrra riOn Of the
army \ part Of this was for bringing
back the soldiers now in France. Congress
men today pointed OUT, however that the
return Of the army depends more on the
speedy finishing OF the work OF the peace
conference than On congressional apprU-
pEiatioRs.
Secretary Baker holds the view that con-
gress somewhat delayed the return of
troops from France.
Third. Provision for returning soldiers
The sixty fifth congress adjourned with
out making any provision for the futur re
OF the men returned from France. who may
not be able to return 10 their former occu-
patiOus- 1t failed 10 pass the S10.O00Go0
Lane bill providing for the reclamation of
land rs homesteads for soldiers. The only
material provision made for the men of
the returning army was the bonus OF $50
TO each officer, enlisted men and nurse
provided for IN the revenue bill
-Fh aF FFF--rr 20
The house passed a repeal Of the semi
luxury taxes in the revenue bill. but the
lI 5enaIe IaIlea 70 % aee on II rms leaves the
people TO pay 10 per cent on all articles of
clothing over 4 certain price and many
other semi uxartes" unless it is repealed
before July l
Fifth. Prohibition enforcement:
Present laws viii have TO be applied to
enforcemens Of war time prohibition which
ment legislation failed to- get thru the
senate Judiciary Committee senator shep-
pard- dry law author, said today. however,
that present laws should prove adequate.
Sixth. Unemployment;
This question was presented to congress
thru hearings before the senate educn ton
and labor committee at which graphic
figures were presented showing that the
unemp ploymeut condition existing to-day il
conditions run to form. be followed In a
few years by another wave OF unemploy-
ment senator Kenyon proposed a law to
provide a permanent means Of meeting thLs
ItuatIon- put L was assailed on the ground
: that irs 800 600, coo would be wasted Con
gresS uld nOEhlEE about unemployment ex-
cept to argue whether It was s-ue meH
were out Of work
seventh Army and navy policies.
The Republican fiIibusser was directed
largely against the army and navy bills
in the senate These would have settled
the peace time army and navy policies fol
a few years at least. and Republicans de.
ciared the right to do this theirs be-
cause they had been elected control th4
next congress.
! Secretary BHker said failure Of the army
/ measure means delay in rehabilitation be
l cause that bill provided for a volunteer
I army OF 10000 as a substitute for tbs
/ present drafted forces
The navy bill failure simply leaves tn,
| whole naval program and policy up in til,
/ air The three-year building program wa
I approved by the house. but the senate re
/ fused even to discuss It Navy officiaIi
! can't go ahead-
Eighth Railroad and wire policies:
The next congress also must decide thi
governments policy with respect to thi
government controlled railroads. tele
phones, telegraph, cable and radiO com
pdnies- With government ownership aHt
Z anti government ownership advocates
equally emphatic about what ought 10 b.
done nothing was done by the Sixty -fiftl
. congress, except the gatherfng Of a farg
amount Of valuable testimony on the rail
road question This Is expected to proTid
a basis for much work next session
| These ara the most important OF tn