The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-10-23
IN
 WASHINGTON TRY E0RADJOURNMcNT
Should Not Be Allowed to Quit However Until Some
 Bills Are Passed
RAILROAD TANGLE IS
 USED TO KILL TIME
La Toilette May Start Off Record Six-Day
 Filibuster

adjournment of the special session.
 but to do that and convince the
 country that it is justified. some Of the legislation that the President and
 the nation at large has demanded
 must be passed. As the Republicans
 have done nothing resembling this since the opening of the special ses-
 sion on May 19 the strenuCusness of
 their endeavors may readily be under
 stood.
 Notwithstanding the dilatory and
 obstructive tactics of the opponents
 of the Peace Treaty and League of
 Nations covenant under the general
 ship of Senator Henry Cabot Lodge.
 some of the Republicans profess to
 believe that this perpleX}ng problem
 can be got out of the way by No
 vember l. As Senator Lodge re-
 solutely declines to vote on anything,
 followers of Senate procedure fail to
 see his logic. Every long-winded op-
 ponent of the Treaty is being driven
 into the arena to kill time, and 1t is
 rumored that Senator La Toilette is
 to be given a chance at a six days
 flibuster, or much longer as he can
 stand.
 The House having failed just as
 dismally-its much vaunted pop
 gun" tariff bills being jeered at by
 Senator Penrose, G. o. P. Pooh Bah,
 as 'piecemea1 legislation that he
 will not permit to become laws-is
 turning in desperation to the Esch
 railroad bill. As the President ap-
 nounced his intention when the
 special session of Congress convened
 of transferring the railroads from
 government control on Jan. 1, it
 would seem to behoove Congress to
 3o hi ir +L,1
 total of the solution of this vital
 business problem at the present
 time.
 The Senate committe on Interstate
 Commerce has not yet reported the
 bill through although nearly six
 months have elapsed since Congress
 convened in special session for a
 special consideration of this among
 other pressing measures. True, the
 public report of sub committee
 permitted the chairman of the full
 committee, Senator Cummins, and
 others to crate a tgreat length, but
 so far action Is concerned, the
 Senate has done nothing. Neither has
 any intimation been given as to wher action will be taken, the usual vague reply being, probably not until the
 regular session"
 The House committee on interstate commerce is still struggling with the Esch bill, which Is expected to amend the present law relating to the return of the railroads along lines generally different from the Cumnins idea, the Plumb plan, that of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, that known as the Warfe1d Plan and all others evolved by stockholders, lawyers, theorists, labor leaders, etc. l,il not yet legitimately born-is being handled by sub committee, or manhandled, according to the point of view. Yet the Republican floor l leader Is quoted as saying that the l bill we be reported to the House 1 about October 20, and that 1t can 1 be passed and the House adjourn by 1 November 10, at the latest, This 1 would give a three weeks interval | until the opening of the regular ses- | sion of Congress on December l. 1 But most of the Republicans who are l demanding an adjournment complain l that three weeks Is no vacation. and l Is not even better than none at all l Hence the prediction heard on every l side in Washington that neither l senate-nor House will pass a rail- | road bill before January 1.
 | Reports from the subcommittee l handling the Eseh bill do not indi- i cate that it can escape from the | House inside the 20 days allotted to l it by the present unofficial schedule. | Neither Is the reports of the probable | fundamental points of the bill fndi- l cate that the House will adopt 1t un- 1 animously, or If that impossibiltty l was possible, that the Senate would | agree, 1t differing radically from tho | ideas of Senator Cunninsr
 1 It Is stated that the Esch plan in 1 its present state before the sub- l committee contains none of the radi- cal suggestions made for the chang I ing ef the laws governing the inter- 1 state Comm cree Cen1fni ssien basicai- | ly or fundamentally, It would in" | crease tfae powers of the Commission 1 and authorize 1t te initiate and make 1 maximum and minimum rates, both l fer rail and water carriers.
 With the approval of the fnterstat te | Commerce 6esanissiea it would be | possible te effect mergers of rail- roads, railroad earnings and equip l 1aent, however. But the Esch bill, 1 so far, dees net provide fer federal 1 incorporation OF goveFnnl ent guaran- | tees, ideas dear to the hearts or 1 many senators and representatives. Neither does it contemplate any | provision for compulsory arbitration | of labor disputes, or the penaiizing l of strikes or strikers, and 1t can be l seen that if the measure should l ezn erge from the House in this state l that Senator Cummins would have l considerable te say in the Senate The Esch bill, as so far developed, | makes no provision for regional com- 1 Inissioners or regional traffic districts, This summary of conditions will l give the public some idea of what the 1 Republican majority, elected on i pledges of administrative ability not I possessed by the Democrats, will have l to do before the first of the new 1 year, to say nothing of the proposed l adjournment because of '1he marc l labor" of the last six months.