The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-12-01
New Congress Has
Many Big Problems
CONTINUED from page one)

largely with the appropriation b1ll5
for many weeks and leaders hope to
enact several measures before the
holiday adjournment, to begin about
Dec. 20 and coAsinue to Jan. 5.
Long debate on the railroad bill in
the Senate was anticipated and lead
ers had little hopes of its enact
ment before Jan. 1, 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 leg
islation is completed will be passed
if necessary.
Among the measures expected to
be completed this month are the oil,
coal, gas and phosphate land leas-
ing bill and the Edge measure au-
thorizing formation Of corporations
to finance American export trad ;,
Both bill are now in conference.
Besides the treaty of Versailles,
several other treaties are pending
and promise to evoke long Senate de-
bate. Three treaties, one guaran-
teeing assistance to France in event
of German aggression, that establish
ing Poland and defining the Rhine
frontier and the long pendig So" ,0nC,-
600 Colombian pact, are pending be-
fore the Foreign Relations Commit
tee.
The Peace Treaty with Austria al
so is expected to be ready for trans
mission by the President SON. The
committee also has befor it the
resolution of Republican Leader
Lodge propCs'ng that Congress, by
concurrent resolution, declare the
war with Germany ended. This will
be fought vigorously by the admin
istration Early action on the
French treaty is not planned by the
committee majority, but the Polish
treaty, the leaders say, will be press
ed.
Among other important inter
national matters pending or in prs
pect are the House bill to repeal the
Canadian reciprocity treaty and COM
mercial conventions and trade eX-
tension arrangements with the Al
lies, the enemy countries and other
nations.
On the legislative calendar are
many measures already passed either
by Senate or House. They include
bills establishing a federal budget
system providing a permanent ship
ping policy, regulating cold storage of
food products, and providing for de-
velopment of waterpower.
Fiscal legislation promises to have
prominent place. in the work of
Congress, General Staff revision and
modification of the international re-
venue laws are planned before the
political campaign. Repeal of many
war taxes will be proposed and anti
dumping bills to protect American
manufacturers are pending. Perma-
emit army reorganization policies, in
cooperating the moot question of
universal training, soon are to be
brought out by the Senate and House
military committees, while the COM
mittees must pass on new building
program and on bills increasing the
navy's personnel and its pay.
Prominent among the other meas
ures to be taken up are those dealing
with radical aliens and anarchists and
the high cost of living. Leaders also
plan to give attention to means of
averting industrial strikes by federal
mediation OF other methods. The
Lane Mondell bill embodying Secre-
tary Lanes plan of farms for soldiers
and sailors also is up for passage and
Congress will attempt revision of
several standing laws and repeal of
the espionage and other war measures
Numerous Investigations also are
planned. Senate inquiries into Mexi-
can affairs and the coal, wheat and
sugar situations will continue while
the House will carry on its investiga-
tons of War Department activities.
New Investigations proposed in the
Senate include that into the print
paper situation and into charges by
Senator Watson, of Indiana, that So
cialists and radicals are in the employ
of the Federal Trade Commission.
The Senate Privileges and Elections
Committee plans to take up the con-
test filed by Henry Ford against the
election of Senator Newberry, Re
publican, of Michigan.
Senate democrats are to hold con-
ference this week to elect leader to
succeed the late Senator Martin, of
Virginia, with the contest apparently
narrowed to Senator Hitchcock, de-
mocrat, of Nebraska, administration
leader in the Peace Treaty fight, and
Senator Underwood, of Alabama,
former democrat leader in the
House.
Conferences of the Republicans and
the steering committees of both
parties, also are planned soon to fill
committee vacancies.