The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-13
SENATE HAS COST
PEOPLE $4,000
| EVERY WEEK DAY
Refusal to Pass Upon Treaty
Or to Pass Big Railroad Bill
Has Piled Up Costs Far Into
Millions of Dollars.

WASHINGTON, Nov. lathe failure
OF the Republican majorities in the SEN
ate n house of representatives to
either carry out their legis-
awe program or enact needful lepis-
tativn except when spurred and prodded
20 aTest2ent wilson, was the subject
" Two democratic addresses in con-
y gIess. Senator Joseph II. Robinson
polnted GU that but two important
measures had come before the senate in
me SIX months of the special Session
the reaty OF peace and the railroad bill
,,rInu INA no action had been taken
upon ietner. Representative James B.
Asweu cited official figures to prove
tnat the expense to the people OF Re-
puplcan lnacti0n is a minimum of 500
WV q DAY, or SO, 000, 900 already expended
the current expenses Of this special
Representative Aswell spoke of the
objectionable filibuster" by the RE-
puOllcans in the last congress which
prevented passage of many Important
lation. YES
Republican leaders, still eager to
ilaraSs the president, during two months
hoWled necessarily for a special session
~ congress" continued Mr., Aswell.
,They got 1t. They have had ii for
SIX months; they have done nothing and
row they cry quit. Is it any wonder
nat the president foresaw this situation
Aho appealed to the country for a Dem
ocratic congress to support him in pros
escuting the war and to hold the conf
nence of the country by enacting
stralghtforward, efficient legislation
nurmg the reconstruction period through
which we are now passing?
the country is now in ominous tur-
mol, lawlessness seeks excuses, bust
ness Is paralyzed and afraid and inter-
mai agltators would like to threaten or
ganized government. Yet the Republic
can majority, in full control of the or
~Ranization Of this congress, sits supine-
~ ~ without ~purposeful leadership.
Until the last day Of October, when
forced by public sentiment led by Dem
ocrats, they refused to stand up and
pc counted on grave public questions
vital to the whole people. Attacking
the administration and criticizing the
government have become the habits
which give hope, comfort and courage
to anarchy and Bolshevism.
AFRAID to move forward, the Repub-
llcan leaders fiddle way the time By
investigating everything that might
give promise of campaign material for
'd920, this being intended to divert public
attention from their own shortcomings.
Let the congress find out now how
much time and money are being squan-
dered upon these ponderous and noisy
investigations to find campaign thun-
der for 1920, when up to this hour they
have not revealed a single important
fact not already known.
"a. The country wants legislation on
lthe railroads, the merchant marine, the
control n development of our national
resources, our military and naval poll
cies. the regulation of immigration, the
stamping out of anarchy and Bblshe-
yisr1; the high cost Of living, the eX-
tension of motor truck mail service,
Highway construction and soldier relief
measures. The Democrats in congress
are eager for action, yet the Republican
majority refuses to act or permit ac-
ton, fritters away the time with ir-
relevant political matters to the dis
enlargement and disgust of the country.
Nothing has been lone for the returned
soldiers except what has been worked
put and accomplished by the depart
nnents OF the government under a Dem
cratic administration, for which the Re-
p%nblicans can in no way claim credit.
Three billion dollars worth of public
business is tied up indefinitely by these
war Investigations. The country de-
mands the disposal of motor trucks, au-
tonnobiles and other army materials
needed In civil life, yet the investigat-
ing committees are taking up the en-
tire time of 40 per cent of the forces of
the war department in answering ques-
tions and preparing data for the inves-
tigattng committees No Democrat or
department of government opposes the
most searching investigation In quest of
facts for the good Of the government,
but we demand that the country's pres
ent and future business also receive the
serious attention of congress"
Senator Robinson criticized the Re-
publican majority in the senate for fail
ing to enact any legislation, saying:
II believe in freedom of debate, ana
so long as any senator fairly believes
4 that he car impress his viewpoint upon
4 his colleagues debate may well con-
tinue, but day after day, week after
week, we have, heard the same argu-
ments repeated over and over. and
now in a few days the session will close:
and there is a probability that it will
expire without a single important act
having passed the congress"