The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-04-16
CONGRESS
MAY MEET
IN MONTH.
Extra Session Might Convene
May IL, if Peace Plans Fol
low Hoped for Sched-
ule.
MESSAGE ON THIRTEENTH
Presidents Return to Capital VIII
Find Him Faced With Most
Difficult Tasks Of
Career.
MESSAGE ON THIRTEENTH
IBy Robert J. Bender, United Press


IBy Robert J. Bender, United Press
Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, April 16-President
Wilson's return home next month will
find him faced with some Of the most
difficult tasks of his political career.
His present plans promise him little
rest until the peace treaty with the
league of nations covenant embodied
is ratified by the senate. AS nearly
as can be assured in the more or less
unsettled state Of things, his program
will shape UP about thus:
He will remain in Paris to sign for
the United States the peace treaty
with Germany. He is extremely de
sirous of doing this If agreement is
reached promptly.
He hopes to sail early in May and
PLANS to announce the date of the
extra session of congress just previous
to sailing. If he can leave Brest as
early as May 8, an extra session call
fo1 May 10 is expected. Allowing for
nine days on the ocean and day for
OF ganization of the new congress, the
president would be able to deliver his
message May 13 (his lucky number).
But his sailing is expected to be
delayed until the middle of May,
making the extra session call more
likely for May 19 or 26.
He plans to write his message on
the peace treaty while on the ocean
enroute home. Whether he will de-
liver two messages, one on the peace
treaty Immediately upon his return
and a second one on the state OF the
union shortly afterward, has not
been decided.
1t appears likely he will deliver
both at the same time as department
heads-Secretary Baker, Daniels,
Lane and Chairman Hurley, Of the
shipping board--have promised to
have proposals for the army, navy,
interior and merchant marine pro-
grams, respectively, ready when con-
gress reconvenes.
Immediately after delivering his
message to congress, the president
plans now to go to the country direct
and appeal for ratification OF the
treaty, including the league Oh
nations covenant. This trip, as now
contemplated, will embrace tour
that promises to extend to the west
coast and cover particularly those
states which have sent to the senate
men who are opposing or are luxe
warm on the league proposition.
AS for domestic egislation-army,
navy, shipping, wire and railroad
control-the president is expected to
'leave it to congress" In his last
message he stated that If congress
did not offer some solution of the
railroad problem he would present
lv" have to return the roads to their
private owners.
If is known that the president has
felt with republicans in power the
hest course would be to give them
vast freedom in working out their
own solutions of the domestic prob
lens, The country would then be
able to Judge which party best
handled legislation while in power.
In addition to the tangled skein OF
wire and railroad control, the presi-
dent will have the war time prohi-
ti,,on bugaboo on his shoulders when
he returns.
with both the internal revenue
bureau and the department OF justice
declaring enforcement OF this prom,
bition measure which goes into erect
.July 1, is not in their hands, the
president probably will be called
upon to delegate authority for en-
forcing it.
II is effective until rehabilitation
is completed. The presidents friends
have said that he will not move to
stop it's going into effect (unless con
eress acts in the interim) until de
mobilization has been completed.
This is expected to be accomplished
sometime in September.
Where the president will land upon
his return home. has not yet been
decided.
It is believed by his friends that
(Continued on page a.