The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-10-08
REPUBLICANS
] TO CAUCUS

Washington, Oct. THE Repub-
lican members of the House of Rep
resentatives are to hold another eau.
Gus on November 10 to determine
what they are to do legislatively-
if anything-during the remainder
of the special session. The five
weeks interval, it is hoped, will fur
nish some suggestions to be present.
ed at the meeting that can be agreed
upon by all factions, and which win
have the approval of the party lead
ers in the Senate.
At that time, if their courage
holds out, the insurrectos who de-
sire the overthrow of Frank w. Mon.
dell, party floor leader, will attempt
that apparently impossible task.
They are expected to point out that
little legislative work has been ac-
complshed, and most of that recon-
mendations of the President; that
much of the tariff and revenue legis-
lation passed by the House after
many months travail is held UP in
the Senate, and, according to Sena-
tor Boies Penrose, "boss" of the G.
o. P, will continue to be until 1921.
The rebellious ones are likely to urge
that the House floor leader should
be in touch with the Senate Chief
tains so that time will not be wasted
on impossible legislation, and that
party boasts of achievements may
have a chance of coming true.
Present caucus plans, according to
gossip of Republicans, contemplate
discussion of what to do with the
railroads, involving a rehash of the
Plumb, Esch and Cummins plans.
and then "a decision to do nothing at
this session, despite the Presidents
warning that he intended turning
back the roads to their owners by
the first of the new year. President
wilson has repeatedly asked for leg
islation permitting this return and
protecting the public and the rail-
roads, but all indication point to
no action by either Senate or House.
II any real, beneficial soldiers
legislation gets through the House
this session it will be considered a
miracle by most of the members
Floor Leader Mondell is still at.
tempting to whip his party collea-
CUES into line for the kidnapped Mon
dell-Smoot soldiers land bill. but
his following is almost nil. The
meeting of the American Legion ar
Minneapolis, from which so much Is
hoped for in the way of suggestions
will not take place until next month
Meanwhile the House must "stall. y
but this has ceased to be a novelty
in the last five months.
There are few if any Congressman
whose daily mail is not filled with
letters from soldiers and sailors ask.
ing for appropriations or other leg
islation that will assist them in their
re-start in civil life with better
chance than when they took up arms
for their country. Many of these let
tiers are requests for cash bonuses.
some of the writers telling of immed-
late and pressing debts that they de-
sire to sponge off the slate, and init
mating strongly that they expect the
Government to act quickly so that
they liquidate promptly The Amer
lean Legion has, in a way, declared
against any cash bonus plan, but
has made no specific recommends
tions. This may be done at the
Forthcoming Menniapolis meeting
and that is what the Republican ma
jority in the House is awaiting.
As Senator Penrose has termed
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