Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-18
BY N. O. MESSENGER.


YER since President Wilson
~ called the extraordinary ses-
sion Of Congress people have
been .on the alert for it's as
Bembling, keenly alive to the mo-
mentous questions which they well
understood awaited the decision of
the national assembly.
Hardly a high school pupil, read
Ing daily newspapers, but under
stood them. The plainest man in
the street"-and in this country it
is ofttimes this unpretentious indi-
vidual who keeps closest tabs on
governmental affairs. as congress-
men know-could tell offhand what
big problems confronted the incom-
ing Congress. clamoring for imme-
date solution.
So, imagine the gossip in the street
when, upon the eve of the assem-
bling Of what should be-taking into
account the issues-one of the great
est Congresses in the history Of the
nation, all that could be heard from
the councils of the incoming law
makers was a lot of tea-kettle SIM
merings of whether this or that fac
ton of democrats was to control that
party; or whether because one SEN
ator disliked another senator the
whole normal and ordinary course
of procedure was to be upset in the
organization Of the Senate. Or.
furthermore, whether the question
Of one number or another number of
men should constitute steering COM
the Organisation Of the House when
the main thing the country is wait
ing for is for the House to organize
and start the appropriation bills on
the way.
Disappointed? OF course, the OBJ
servers were disappointed. Figure it
out for yourself: here they had been
looking forward to Congress getting
down to business at once and do the
primary housekeeping duty of be-
ing "a good provider." supposed to be
the essential and. indeed, not to the
mentioned nor discussed. detail of life.
And NJ for the big issues. they could
not contemplate any delay in going at
thsm
II ID known. of course, that the rail-
way disposal question is one of the
~ m o st imminent
DANl<s TO AID domestic PRO b.
oFi RAiLRoADs. lens. to be solved
% only by Congress.
Wheh the last Congress adjourned it
left the railway naturalization in
eha3ge of the roads snd without
lnenky to run them. This was not be-
caa9e Congress had Anything against
the railroads. but because for certain
other reasons Congress had to ad-
jourjh without providing for the gov
ernlpent's adopted '.war baby" Which
factI will pr6bably be taken into con-
side3ration as an sexample when the
sueietion of government ownership
comics up.
Wien. somebody had to care for
Un3ie Sans adopted child. The
baAks came in and. while being
.arained to the limit. almost, for the
victory loan. found enough to supply
tho little stranger. But. as the de-
minds ran up into SO many hundred
millions. and as the losses of the
rohds under government ownership
infrease. there approaches a time
when the banks cannot go any far.
tBer. They have been voicing pro-
tests. modulated. of course. to their
dhe appreciation of certain condi-
taons, but enough at that to arouse
unblic interest in their plight
However. those earnest persons
whose thoughts were .centered in
Aarly disposition by Congress of this
bne of the many great questions inn
pingjng 50 sharply. failed to take
account Of the precedent questions as
10 who shall be chairmen of certain
$ommittees. and whether one faction
of democrats or republicans shall
have the shade the better in the or
sanitation Of the houses and the COM
mittee.
The question is asked by the i'm
patient ones outside the ring where
the battle Is
EAcrIoNAL FIGHTS going on what
WEARY PUBLIC. does does it
matter. anyhow,
about this organization, beyond
whether 1t is democratic or repub-
lican. according to the majority in
the House and Senate? They ask if
1t Is not q fact that when questions
of great Importance come up they
will be settled in the final Analysis by
majority vote. whether a party
issue or subject for individual judg-
ment?
The public appears to be somewhat
impatient Of the finely drawn di-
visions among the factions and in
s!stent upon organization and earnest
consideration at an early date of the
freat problems impending. II one can
Judge by the expressions by and
large.
X y X X
Goodness knows, there are enough
of the great problems demanding and
requiring solution
ZIG AND VITAL at once to awe