The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-12-01
MANY MONTHS OF
WORK FACE 66TH
CONGRESS TODAY
Lawmakers Recovering After
Short Recess Have Much
to Consider
RAIL LEGISLATION FIRST
Cummins Bill Will Come Up
For Discussion Early
Tariff Revision
RAIL LEGISLATION FIRST

Washington, Dec MANY months
work on a great variety of important
subjects, international and domestic,
were before the 66th congress today
when 1t met for it's second and "regu-
lar" session, which was expected tc
close only with the presidential cam.
paign next fall.
Members of both senate and. house
returned to work with only ten days
rest since the adjournment of the ex-
,traordinary session which ended Nov.
10 when the peace treaty failed OF
ratification in the senate. Because of
the extra session the opening day lack
cd much Of the usual hustle attending
the launching Of new session.
LITTLE DELAY EXPECTED
With the congress already "in har.
ness" and with much Legislation ready
for immediate consideration, little de-
lay in the beginning Of work was ex-
pccted. Calling of senate and house
rolls for quorums, appointment Of com.
mittees to notify the president and
each other that Congress again was
ION the Job" we're among the custom
ary opening formalitics.
Besides legislative recommendations
President Wilson's message was ex.
pected to deal with international re.l-
tions and particularly With the treaty
Of Versailles. While early ratification
Of the treaty with compromised recer-
vations was expected by many SEMI
tors, with hopes of action before the
new year, leaders believed The issues
involved would be carried into the
presidential campaign.
Politics is due to play a large part in
the events Of the new session, The last
before the nominating conventions
next summer and the final campaign
in the fall. Leaders prOpos, to have
Congress recess for the conventions
and work through afterwarl into Oc-
tober. N! fG.
RAIL BILL EARLY HIDhER
Enactment of legislation is expected
to begin Immediately. Tho senate to-
day had pending, with privileged
status the Cumnlins railroad bill with
its provisions against STRIKES and for
return Of the railroads to privaIe OWE
crship. In the House, the bill I" re
strict, immigration and pro 4aida for DE-
portation Of alien radicals; was first ol
the calendar. The touse probably viii
be occupied largely with the apropria.
ton bills for many weeks and leaders
hone to enact several measures before
the holiday adjournment, tc begin
about Dec. 20 and continue to Jan. ;.
Long debate on the railroad bill il!
the Senate was anticipated and Leaders
had little hopes Of IT'S enactment be-
fore Jan. 1, the date on which the
President has said the roads would DC
returned to private operation. A tem
porary resolution continuing guaran
tced compensation for the carriers un
til permanent legislation is completed
will be passed if necessary.
Among the measures expected to be
completed this month are the oil, coal
gas and phosphate land leasing bill
and the Tdge measure authorizing
formation Of corporations to finance
American export trade. Both bills arc
now in conference.
TREATIES PLENTIFUL
Besides the treaty Of Versailles, sew
eral other treaties are pending and
promise to evoke long senate debate
Three treaties, one guaranteeing as
sistance to France in event of Germa!
aggression, that establishing Polanc
and defining the Rhine frontier anc
the long-pcnding $25,OOO,OOO Colombian
pact, are pending before the foreign
relations committee.
The peace treaty with Austria alst
is expected to be ready for transmits
sion by the president soon. The com
mittee also has before it the resolution
Of republican leader Lodge proposint
that Congress, by concurrent resolution
declares the war with Germany ended
This will be fought vigorously by thu
administration. Early action on tn.
French treaty is not planned by thu
committee majority, but the Polisl
treaty, the leaders say, will be pressed
Among other important internationa
matters pending or in prospect are thu
house bill to repeal the Canadian reel
rrocity treaty and commercial cOnven
tions and trade extension arrangements
with the allies, the enemy countries
and other nations.
On the legislative calendar are man,
measures already passed either by sen
ate or house They include bills estab
fishing q federal budget system, pro
viding a, permanent shipping polio!
regulating cold storage of food prod
nets and providing for development o
waterpower.
TARIFF REVISION
Fiscal legislation promises to hav,
n prominent place in the work Of con
gress. General tasiff revision ant
modification OF the international rev
cnuc laws are planed before the poll
tical campaign. Repeal Of many wa
taxes will be proposed and anti-dump
ing bills to protect American manufac
turcrs are pending. Permanent arm!
reoreanizations policies, incorporatin,
the moot question of universal train
ing, soon are to be brought out by tn,
Senate and House military committees
while the committees must pass on ;
new building program and on bills in
creasing the navy's personnel and it
pay.
Prominent among the other measure
to be taken M are those dealing wit
radical aliens and anarchists and th'
high cost of living. Lenders also plal
to give attention to means Of avertin!
industrial strikes by federal mediatio,
or other methods. The Lane-Monde;
1,;l, o,,,t,od,,,no Snorotorr, Tono,c ,,10,