Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-03-04
r always Go Back to
Owners by April
Many Bills Die.

Washington, March 4.-Cous
gress adjourned at noon TO-DAY
in the midst OF q Republican
filibuster in the senate that
Killed long list Of important
measures. Among the bills that
failed was one GpDropFtating
75G,OGO.OO0 for the railroad ad-
ministration, without some cd
ministratiOn leaders say The
railroads must he returned 90
their owners before The middle
OF April
There was no turning back nf
clocks. Democratic leaders realized
the situation was hopeless, and ths
gavel sending the long, great var
session and the siEty-tfth congress
actually tapped at noon
Just before adjournment Presi-
dent Wilson in his capital office.
authorized final notice to the Re
publicans that their efforts to force
an immediate session had failed
that he was mistaken in his deter
miuation not to call congress until
his work at the peace conference
was done.
Great War Congress
Adjournment marks the passing
Of Democratic control at the can
ital The congress that passed at
poon began IN April, 1917, passed
the German war declaration, and
its almost continuous sessions have
been marked by unprecedented leg
islation and controversy
Big bills that failed included both
the army and navy appropriation
measures. Only two important
measures that ran the gauntlet OF
the last As hours of flibustertng
we're the Victory Liberty loan bill
and the billion dollar wheat guar
antee bill
TaFk Forces Roads Return
Congress went into the final hours
Of it's closing session today with
the Republican fhbusrer against
general legislation completely out
of control and with leaders OF both
sides conceding that the general
deficiency bill with $3.50 600. 900 for
the railroad administration would
fail in the face of unrelenting oh
struction from a small Republican
group. Some spokesmen Of the Rd
ministration said failure Of this
measure necessarily would mean al
most immediate return Of the rail-
roads TO their owners, because the
government could not retain and
finance them without the appropria-
ton.
Funds Exhausted BY April
BY the middle Of April. il was
said. the railroad administration s
present funds would be exhausted
and only an extra session before
then could make it possible TO con-
tinue government operation of the
roads pending remed al legislation
which all interests have urged.
There was still hope among the
Republicans that President Wilson
could he forced to call the new
congress soon. but after a confer
en- early today between the presl-
dent and Democratic Leader Mar
tin. it was stated Mr. Wilson had
reiterated his determination to
have no extra session before his re
turn from France
Viii Not Cali Extra Session.
President Wilson. during a dia-
cussiOn of the legislative jam with
Democratic Leader Martin early to-
day, was said to have reiterated
his determination not TO call an
extra session of congress before he
returns from France.
While the White house confer
ence was in progress, Senator Sher-
man was on the floor Of The senate
announcing that the sDeech he be
gan at 7:30 o'clock this morning
would be continued until adjourn
ment If necessary TO Kill the def
cheney m aasuro
Repub Chiefs Shairy.
Senator Lodge OF Nassa chusetts
Republican leader, and other who
usually direct the movements OF
the Republican side. we're repre-
santed as desiring to see the rail-
road appropriation hiI pass, but
unable TO check the fiibIster which
originally started against the biz
general appropriation bills which
have failed.
President Wilson arranged to 20
to the capitol at II o'clock TO sign
measures that might get through
before the finish. He was prepared
to 20 direct from his capitol oflca
TO the station 10 take the train for
New York. on his wav back to
France and the peace conference
Just before the pr sident left the
White house the statement of his
final determination not to let fail
ure Of important bills change his
decision against an early extra ses-
sion was of1c allv cor frmed.
Many Names N0i Passed On.
After this conversation Senator