Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-25
CROWDED DOCKET
AWAITS CONVERTING
OF NEW CONGRESS
Peace Treaty, Domestic
Questions and Army and
Navy Legislation on CaIen-
dar for Session


WASHINGTON, Nov 24.-A crowd
ed docket will confront congress
when it convenes in regular session
one week from today. Included on
the program are the German treaty
and the League of Nations; the Lodge
resolution declaring the war ended,
half a dozen other treaties growing
out of the war, the Mexican situation
and many reconstruction. questions.
Domestic matters pressing for the
attention include return of the rail-
roads,, development of the merchant
marine, legislation to stamp out
Bolshevism, reorganization Of the
army on a peace basis, establishment
Of the naval policy, tariff legislation,
development Of public lands and nat
ural resources, encouragement of
Americanization and appropriation of
several billions Of dollars to run the
government through the fiscal year
beginning July l., 1920.
In addition to chis program con-
gressmen must participate in the
political campaign which will get I'M
der way soon after the Christmas
holidays. One-third of the senate and
Ilk6 C1ALAIG 1OuSO VI ICpI CSSI Id lives
must stand for reelection.
Domestic questions facing the new
session when it meets next Monday
shaped up today as follows:
Railroads: President Wilson is
expected to return the railroads to
private owners January 1. Legisla-
ton must. be ready to govern their
operation under private control. The
house has passed the Esch bill. The
Cummins bill containing the anti
strike clause which the house re-
jected, comes up in the senate i'm
mediately at the opening Of the ses-
sion. The two houses are far apart
and long negotiations to adjust their
differences are probable. If a law
cannot be put through by January
1, a temporary measure probably will
be passed to continue government
guarantee earnings under private
control until permanent legislation
Is enacted. The Plumb plan for
control of the railroads largely by
employees themselves appeared to be
dead for the present. Labor will
fight the senate's plans to include
a provision in the railroad bill max
ing rail strikes or the advising of
them a crime.
Americanism and Bolshevisn1:
Scores of bills have been introduced
in both houses aimed at red agita-
ton and Bolshevism. Most are in
committee. The senate has pend
ing, however, one report out with
the approval Of the senate judiciary
committee by Senator Sterling, of
South Dakota, designed to punish
a.. No. o14r, H.
writing or circulation Of radical lit
erature advocating violent overthrow
of the government. Bills to deport
radical aliens and to require all I'M
migrants to learn English within five
years after arrival are pending. Sew
era1 Americanization bills are also
pending, some appropriating federal
funds in cooperation with states and
private employers to provide teach
ing of English to non-English speak
ing workingmen. Naturalization
laws will be made more strict.
Appropriations ana "H. G. t."
Appropriations: Thirteen regu-
lar appropriation bills must be pass
ed before July to run the govern
ment through the following fiscal
year. These include the bills for
the army, department of agriculture,
District of Columbia, Indian appro-
priations, navy, sundry civil ex-
penses, postoff1ces and post roads,
Notifications, legislative, judicial and
executive expenses, general defici-
encies, diplomatic and consular ap-
propria lions, pensions and the mill
tary academy at West Point.
High Cost of Living: Several
high cost of living measures passed
the, last session, but an extension
of the Lever act will be considered
soon after congress convenes, a bill
for regulation of cold storage, which
has passed the house will come up
in the senate, and numerous investi-
cations still pending will probably
result in further definite proposals
to reduce the cost of living. Bills
to regulate the meat packing indus
try will be pressed.
Army and Navy: Complete new
peace-time policies for national de-
Tense yet are to be worked out. Mill
tary committees Of both houses are
considering universal military serv-
ice, the size of the peace army and
encouragement of aviation. naval
committees will have to decide
whether the United States will rely
on heavy dreadnaughts combined
with light and swift cruisers or on
the new composite ship combining the
weight of the dreadnaught with the
speed Of the cruiser. The size of the
navy also will have to be decided
upon, Indications are that if the
League of Nations is finally rejected
the administration will urge a large
army and navy.
Labor: With elections approach
ing there is expected to be much
talk about labor. Anti-strike legis-
iation, proposed in the Cummins rail-
road bill, will be bitterly fought in
the senate. The house has already
voted down such a proposal. Com
pensation and training Of persons
injured in industry will be consid-
cred as will minimum wage legisla-
ton for government employees and
encouragement of home building by
working men.
Merchant Marine: Efforts to keep
America among the foremost mari
time nations will be made through
legislation to encourage ship build
ing, protect coastwise trade against
foreign competition and to keep
American built vessels under Ameri-
can registry. Legislation to continue
the shipping board as an advisory
and co-ordinating agency is pend
ing.