Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-23

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2O.-Con-
gress closed down tonight until jan
uary for it's holiday vacation with
the usual travail of adjournment
congestion.
Under the Christmas urge more
business was transacted today than
often goes through in month.
left for action in January, however,
were many important measures, in
Guiding the Versailles treaty.
Closing hours of the senate were
enlivened by two moves toward a
compromise on t};a treaty, but the
question of ratification went over.
Trains leaving Washington to-
night were crowded with members
and their families homeward bound,
and nearly all business is to be suS-
pended until reconvening, January 5,
when congress is prepared for work
expected to hold it in session until
the presidential election campaign
| next fall The only activities plan
ned during the recess are private ne
gotiations for settlement of the
treaty controversy and conferences
on railroad legislation.
To obtain it's holiday recess, con-
gress today passed a score of bills
and resolutions, mostly of a minor
character. Among important actions
was passage by the senate of the
Cummins railroad bill and transmits
sion of the senate and house bills to
conference with view to enactment
early next month.
Congress also enacted and sent to
President Wilson the compromise
bill to continue government control
of sugar through 1920. Other major
measures enacted were the Sweet
bill increasing war risk insurance
allowance Of men disabled in the war
and the $33,0O0,000 urgent de-
ticiency appropriation bill.
A compromise with the Louisiana
sugar growers brought about final
passage of the McNary act. The
house in extending the boards pow
ers provided the licensing of sugar
dealers should continue also. To
this the Louisiana representatives
strongly protested, but finally agreed
TO a proposal that the licensing sys-
tenn as far as the domestic crop is
concerned shall end July l.
The board is ready to continue its
work, and the action of congress, il
is believed, will secure an adequate
supply of sugar. Power is given to
commander or purchase any crops
necessary to relieve shortages.
The house passed and sent to the
senate the alien deportation bill,
aimed at radical agitators, and the
senate ordered investigation by the
foreign relations committee of boil
shevik propaganda including activi-
ties of Ludwig c. A. K. Martens.
self-styled Ambassador" to this
country of the Russian soviet gov
eminent.
Legal requirements for transmits
sion tonight before adjournment to
President Wilson of measures COM
p1eted today delayed adjournment of
both senate and house until a late
hour tonight although business vir-
tually was completed and almost all
members left early in the evening.
While enrolling clerks worked at
top speed to complete bills for sigma
ture of the vice president and speak
er, the senate and house recessed
for dinner and only a handful of
members returned for the closing
gavels succeeding transmission of
the bills to the White House.
Over protest of Senator Gronna,
Republican, North Dakota, the SEN
ate agreed before adjournment to-
night to give the house water power
development bin right of way when
congress reconvenes January s. The
action was recommended by the Re-
publican steering committee and Sen
ator Gronna declared he was not
willing to be a rubber stamp for
. any committee"
The house will begin work on the
annual appropriation bills imme-
diately after the recess. These total
more than four billion dollars and
must be materially reduced, leaders
Of the republican majority in house
and senate declare. The task of
passing the IA appropriation ieas-
ureS will occupy the house we'll into
the first month of the new year.
The senate will return to resume
efforts to reach a compromise on the
peace treaty 1t will take up water
power legislation early in the new
year and following that it is expect
ed, bills to regulate the packing in
dustry will be disposed of.
In both houses an early start is
| hoped for on legislation reorganizing
the army on a peace basis. The house
military committee has completed
its bill and the senate military COM
mittee will spend the recess perfect