Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-07
ny J. FRED EssARY.

WASHINGTON July 6.-When Con-
gross acted upon the last Of the appro-
priation bills on July 2 that body es-
tablished record for expedition never
equalcd in any other session since the
beginning OF the government. 1t
drafted. brought out, debated and
passed measures appropriating more
than s3.0o0.ooo,o00 in less than thirty
days time. Concrctely. it made avail
able for public expenditure money at
the rate OF approximately 100000
600 day.
And IL ths House and Senate are
minded TO do It. they can easily clean
the legislative slate, enact all urgent
bills. ratify the treaty of peace and
adjourn the session by September /.
Leaders at both ends of the Capitol
are now working out program To-
that end. and If that program should
he followed the Republican leadership
in the new Congress will have an en-
yiable achievement to their credit.
They Will deserve and will receive the
applause OF the nation.
arc only two urgently important bills
10 be acted upon. The FIRST pro-
vides for the enforcement Of prohibi-
ton under the amendment TO the Fed
eral Constitution and the other Will
provide for the surrender by the gov
eminent OF the railroads now under
its control.
Prohibition Rails Creased.
Already Congress has lcgisiated
upon the return of the wire services
the immediate future upon the mer-
cnant marine question. 1t has carried
much general and needed legislation
In the appropriations bills. And II has
sands OF words discussing the peace
treaty even before that document
could be Officially laid before it.
lenEthen the presen, session OF Con-
gTess. The ways are carefully creased
for tho passage Of the Nolstead bill
It viii go through the House with
uaoed down W N cutrageously dras-
&c provisions the Senate will swallow
II whole Few legislators. whether
they be ~ct or cry, are eager 10 do
bate prohibition AT length.
This question has been nightmare
70 tonSress for the past twenty years
That body thought II had unloaded the
the constitutional amendment resolu.
ton, but 1t has found that the ca,
comes stalking back at every session
The present purpose is TO vote upon
the bill and get rid of a disagreeabl lie
visitor as soon as possible.
Blu. the passage of railroad bill
is not SO simple matter. The House
has been slow in framing It's measure.
with the result that the present con-
gressional leadership finds the Prcsi-
dent about to return. and yet no con-
s,ructive measure has been prepared
or presented under which the rail-
roads may be handed back. their In
terests safeguarded and the govern
ments investments in them protected
full month should be allowed the
Senate to debate the railroad bill
| TIE House will act within less than a
week.
business VIII Protest.
IT Is difficult to calculate in advance
upon the amount of time the Senate
NIL require for the consideration o,
agreed. contrary TO the advice of Sen
alto. Knox. that peace cannot he pro-
claimed until the ratification % that
measure. the pressure upon the Sen
ate from the country will be SO heavy
tiiat II will doubtless yield within 4
reasonably short time and call fo- a
vote. il American interests. for ex-
ample. lind that they are unable to
do business with Germany. although
all other allied powers are doing bus
mess with the late enemy. there will be
n mighty Elotea:.
Senator Knox holds to the view that
when any three allied powers and Ger
many exchange Publications. the treaty
becomes effective and a state of peace
Is assumed to exist affecting all the
powers involved. But the President,
who had a hand in drafting the treaty
and his associates who also had hand