Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1919-11-24
Congress To Face Multitude
W Tasks After Convening
Next Mnday;; Disposition OF
Railroads Vital.
by Raymond Clapper /

tlons the Lodge resolution de, 2 n
the war ended, half dozen ys,.er
treaties growing out Of .he wn, tEe
Mexican sitration aad many re en-
struction problems
Domestic matters pressing for at
tention include return of the rail
roads, development of the merchant
marine, legislation to stamp out boil
shevism. reorganization of the army
on peace basis, establishment o. the
naval policy; tariff legislation, deve,-
opment OF public lands and natural
resources, encouragement of Aneri-
canization and appropriation of sew
eral billions of dollars 10 run the coy
ernment through the fiscal yea. be.
ginning July 1, 1920.
In addition to this program. COR
gfessmen must participate In the no.
htlcal campaign which will get under
way soon after the Christmas holi-
days. One third of the senate and the
entire house of representatives must
stand for reelection.
Domestic questions facing the new
session when it meets next Monday
' oAdpoo ult dS IOIOWSs
Railroads
President Wilson is expected to re-
turn the railroads to private owners
January /. Legislation must be ready
to govern their operation under pri-
vate control. The house has passed
the Esch bill. The Cummins bill con
tanning the anti-strike clause which
the house rejected comes up in the
senate Immediately after the opening
Of the session The two houses are
Tar apart and long negotiations to ad
just their differences are probable. ii
law cannot be put through by Jan
uary /. temporary measures probably
will be passed to continue government
!. guaranteed earnings under private
control until permanent legislation is
enacted. The Plumb plan for control
of the railroads largely by employees
themselves appeared to be dead for
the present
Anericanization and Bolshevism
Scores of bills have been introduced
In both houses aimed at "red" agita-
ton and bolshevism. Most are in com
nlittee. The senate has pending, how.
ever, one reported out with the ap.
proval of the judiciary committee, by
Senator Sterling, South Dakota, de.
: signed to punish sending of bombs
through the mails and writing Or cir
culating of radical literature advocat
ing violent overthrow of the govern
ment. Bills to deport radical aliens
and to require all immigrants to learr
English within five years after arriy.
al are pending. Several Americariza.
ton bills are also pending.
Appropriations
Thirteen regular appropriation bills
must be passed before July 1 to rur
the government through the followine
fiscal year. These include the bills fol
the army, department of agriculture
District of Columbia, Indian appro
priations, navy, sundry civil expenses
postoffices and post roads, fortifica
tions, judicial and executive expense.
and general deficiencies diplomat,
and consular appropriations pensions
and the military academy at Yves
Point
High Cost of/Livlng
Several high cost of living meas
ures passed the last session, but al
extension of the Lever act will be con
sidered soon after congress convenes
bill for regulation of cold storag,
which has passed the house, will com,
UP in the senate and numerous inves
legations still pending will probabi.
result in further definite proposal
to reduce the cost of living Bills t,
regulate the meat packing industr,
will be pressed.
Army and Navy
Complete peace time policies fo
national defense are yet to be work
ed out. Military committees of boil
houses are considering universal ser
vice, the size of the peace army ant
encouragement of aviation Naea
committees will have to decide whetl
er the United States will rely OF
heavy dreadnaughts combined witt
light and swift cruisers or on the ney
composite ship combining the weigh
of the dreadnaught with the speed o
the cruiser. The size of the navy viii
also have to be decided upon Indica
tions are that if the league of nation
is finally rejected, the administrator
will urge a large army and navy.
Tariff
No general tariff legislation is ex
pected until economic conditions re
turn to normal. Several bills for pro
lection of special industries such a
coal tar chemical glassware and peal
buttons have passed the house wit
little prospect of passing the senate
Higher tariffs have been approved b
the house on tungsten. zinc and mag
nestle ores. Repeal of the luxur
taxes failed in the house but repea
of the Canadian reciprocity act wa
agreed to by the lower body.
Labor
With elections approaching there
expected to be much talk about la
bor Anti-strike legislation. propose
in the Cummins railroad bill, will b
bitterly fought in the senate. TIL
house already has voted down such
proposal
Merchant Marine
Efforts to keep America among tn
foremost maritime nations will b
made through legislation to encourag
shipbuilding, protect coastwise trad
against foreign competition and I
keep American built vessels under Al
erican registry. Legislation to contint
the shipping board as an advisor
and co-ordinating agency is pending