Americus times-recorder., 1919-12-01
FIVE-BILLION
SESSION BEGUN
BY CONGRESS
Immense Estimate Sub
mitted By Glass On
First Day


ISOLATED Press. THE sixty-six con-
gress met today in it's first regular
session, which is expected to con-
tinue until just before the presiden-
tial election next fall.
There was a large attendance in
both houses. In accordance with an
agreement between the Republican
and Democratic leaders the usual for
mality of appointing a committee to
notify the President that congress
was in session was dispensed with be-
cause Of the Presidents illness and
a formal communication of notifica-
ton was drafted and dispatched in
stead.
The record billion dollar con-
crosses of ordinary peace times fad
ed into the past when Secretary of
the Treasury Glass presented the an
nual estimates, proposing appropria-
tions of practically five billions for
conducting the peace time activities
of the government for the next fiscal
year.
Big Program Faced.
Many months work on a great va
riety of important subjects, interna-
tional and domestic, were before the
66th congress today when it met for
its second and regular" session,
which was expected to close only
with the presidential campaign next
fall
Members of both senate and house
returned to work with only ten days
rest since the adjournment of the
extraordinary session which ended
November 19 when the peace treaty
failed of ratification in the senate.
Because of the extra session the OPEN
ing day lacked much of the usual
hustle attending the launching of a
new session.
With the congress already Gin har-
ness" and with much legislation
ready for immediate consideration,
little delay in the beginning of work
was expected. Calling of senate and
house rolls for quorums, appoint
ment of committees to notify the
President and each other that con-
gress again was son the job" were
among the customary opening for
malities.
Opinion on Treaty.
Besides legislative recommenda-
tons, President Wilson's message
was expected to deal with interna-
tional relations and particularly with
the treaty of Versailles. While ear
ly ratification of the treaty with COM
promised reservations was expected
by many senator's, with hopes of ac-
ton before the new year, leaders be-
lieved the issues involved would be
carried into the presidential cam
paign.
Politics is due to play a large part
in the events of the new session, the
last before the nominating conven- |
tons next summer and the final cam !
paign in the fall. Leaders propose to .
have congress recess for the conven-
tions and work through afterward
INTO October |
Enactment OF legislation is expect
ed to begin Immediately. The SEN
ate today had pending, with prlvlleg-
ed status the Cummins railroad bill
with its provisions against strikes ana
for return of the railroads to private .
ownership. In the house, the bill TO
restrict immigration and provide Tor
deportation of alien radicals was trst !
on the calendar. The house probably
will be occupied largely with the ap-
preparation bills for mlpy weeks ana
leaders hope to enact cTeral meas
ures before the holiday adjournment
to begin about Dec. 20 and continue
TO Jan. s.
Long Debate Expected.
Long debate on the railroad bill IN
the senate was anticipated and lead
ers had little hopes of it's enactment
before Jan. /, the date on which the
President has said the roads would
be returned to private operation. A
temporary resolution continuing
guaranteed compensation for the
carriers until permanent legislation
Is completed will be passed if neces-
sary.
Among the measures expected 70
be completed this month are the OIL
coal, gas and phosphate land leasing
bill and the Edge measure authorlz-
\