Omaha daily bee., 1919-03-16
Fate of Boys cover There"
Rests With Next Congress
Clyde D. Aitchison to Become Chairman Of Interstate
Commerce Commission Monday-Born in Hawk
eye State Aitchison Graduated From Hastings,
Neb, College-Was Correspondent of The Bee

fiscal year and the unexpended bal
ances of appropriations for 1919
will lapse back into the general fund
of the treasury At the end of the
fiscal year.
Much elimination.
There is much elimination and re-
elimination among those outside OF
congress as to who was responsible
for the delay and failure to pass the
great supply bills. For the last six
years "manana" has been the ap-
parent watch word of the party in
power. They have failed in each of
the. congressional finishes to get
money bills through, but the last
was the worst. Democrats know the
blame is on them because they were
the party in power and they should
have had their work up so that no
hlibuster could stop it.
Again there was no organized
hlibuster. Furthermore, the demo-
cratic leaders looked on the flibus-
ter with complacency. They had con-
tldence that when the republican
congress convenes the needs of the
government would be looked after
in time if the executive does not de-
lay calling a session too long.
Keeps 100000 Men Overseas.
But down at the bottom is this
thought which finds expression
wherever a group of representatives
or senator's gather. The plan of the
president as outlined by Senator
Hitchcock is to make the league of
nations a constituent part of the
peace treaty, thereby forcing its
adoption or keeping the 100000
men in France. They rely on the
prayers of mothers to soften the
hearts of senators to accept the
league in order that the boys NAV
be brought back. As nearly two
thirds Of the senate is against the
league as now proposed coercion Of
that group of men of that calibre
is to be no sport of kings or pres
idents. Congress controls the war
chest. 1t can appropriate money or
not. It can appropriate money to
keep the boys over there or bring
them home. They could meet the
scissors hold sought by the presi-
dent by the strangle hold they al
ways have in reserve.
House Organization.
It looks as if the house organiza-
ton will be accomplished. with lit
tie friction and general satisfaction.
There will be a genuine regret upon
the part of all who know the work.
ings of the house that the veteran
James R. Mann of Illinois, was not
elected speaker. 1t was thought by
some that his defeat would seriously
depress him, or that he might punish
his enemies, having by a bold mas
tertul stroke recovered command Of
the house organization. Nothing of
the kind has occurred, however.
Jim" Mann has shown himself a
good loser and all gold. He was
accorded an election as floor leader
by the committee on committees,
but as he had often expressed him
self previous to his selection that
his health was his first considera-
ton, he would be compelled to deny
himself the pleasure of directing the
republican forces in the lower
branch of the 65th congress. And
in consequence Of his declination,
Frank w. Mondell, the forceful and
tactful representative from Wyo-
ming, was given the coveted place.
McGreggor Heads Table.
But what matters it if Mann is
not floor leader? Where McGreg-
gor sits, there is the head of the
table. Where Mann is there will be
the majority leader if he sees fit
to assert his wonderful power.
Many of the new members came to
Washington with prejudice against
him. but they quickly recovered.
There is some talk of turning
over" the work of the committee