New-York tribune., 1920-12-06
Congress to
Convene at
Noon To-day
tContiHusd from paqe orel

''c" - ana 4HuepeNNeNc bureaus and
commissions are declared to be much
heavier than they ought to be Roughly
they run TO s4,5OO, 100000. Senator
Smoot, who is an authority on appropri-
ations, would like to cut these to $780,
100000 if possible. In any event, he be-
lievcs they can be reduced to less than
$4,000, 100000. The House Committee or
Appropriations. through committees.
has been working for some days on the
Legislative bin, tie .undry civil bill and
me District Of Columbia nil. !. IS
expected ne Legislative aud -undiv civil
bills will soon be ready for th. consid-
GRAFTON Of the House, and il possible
the three bills just named VIII be passed
before the holiday recess. This recess
may be cut down to lew days instead
OF the customary two weeks.
The House program was outlined TO-
day by Majority Leader Mondell.
THE first thing to be DONE said
Mr.. Mondcll, "is to pass the apDro-
priatcd bills and cut them to the limit
consistent with Che efficiency Of ire
government. Tie seocrd is 10 set ali
she Important comni5toas to work. and
bearing in mind the need OF passine
tho appropriation bills by March 1. to
get as far as possible with other
legislation."
Nr. Mondell said that certain meas
urcs in the nature OF emergency meas
ures doubtless would be disposed Of.
The first important bill the House will
take up is the Johnson bill to restrict
immigration. Efforts will be made to
get this taken up as early as Tuesday,
but that may be impossible.
Bills Regarded as Pressing
Repeal OF the war laws will be
brought up in the House also at an
early date. a measure for such re-
peal will be hurried through. As soon
as the representatives from agricul-
tura states can agree on an emergency
farmers relief program this will be
dealt with. A budget bill Will probably
be passed, though some House mem
hers prefer to see this go over until the
Harding administration
1t is not Yet settled whether a bill
will be passed to change the basis of
representation consequent on the new
census or whether this will be DELAYED
until next spring. According to the
practice of recent years such a bin
would be passed in the short session of
this Congress.
AS to taxation and tariff legislation.
the program is not yet determined.
Chairman Fordney of Wavs and Means
is doubtful whether more can he d"ne
TINS session than TO have the Wavs
and Means Committee conduct hear
ings. Leaders say, botE: ii House and
Senate, that if the President would
give any indication he wound SIGN y
bill revising tax laws, and especially
repeating the excess profits tax and
making up for the revenue thercfrom
IN some other way, they would try to
act this winter On the whole, it is
doubtful if there will be any such
legislation. The hackers of the dye-
tariff bills now in the Senate will en-
deavor to pass them, but if passed
they are likely to be vetoed.
Chairman fess of the Republican
Congressional Committee declared
Congress would have about all it could
DO to pass the appropriation bills. He
said it would be necessary to "cut
them constructively." Mr. Fess said
heads Of departments were trying to
keep them UP to the present level of
expenditures and Congress could rot
consent to that, nor would the public
temper stand for it,
Packers Bill in Controversy
In the Senate, the bill to control the
packing industry is the unfinished busi-
ness. 1t will be brought up for dis
cussion, probably Wednesday. Dis
cussion will last number of days AS
soon as emergency agricultural meas
ures are shaped, efforts will be made
TO "sidetraek' the packers bill. This
Will lead 10 n bitter controversy. Sen
ator Kenyon, in charge OF the packers
bill, says he Will insist on a vote on
that measure. The prospects for the
packers are not bright.
The Senate, like the House, intends
TO cut the government expenditures as
far as possible. 1t will probably pass
a budget bill, and efforts wi be made
to pass an immigrant restriction bill
Opposition to immigration restriction
will be strenuous. AS to tax revision
Senate leaders to-day said they would
not act unless satisfied the President
would not veto a measure.
The House has already taken steps
to give the Appropriations Committee
jurisdiction over all appropriation
bills. Senator Curtis Will present
resolution in the Senate at the outset
0 the session for such a change in the
rules of that body as will enable the
Appropriations Committee to handle
all appropriation bills. This is intend
ed to accord with the principles of the
budget system.
SO far as the peace treaty and
League Of Nations covenant are con-
cerncd. the Senate will not take them
up. even should the President re
submit them. Much viii be heard in
the Senate, on the floor and about the
corridors and cloak rooms concerning
the peace programme under the Hard
ing Administration.
Republicans in the Senate will block
the confirmation Of most Of the Wilson
appointments which are sent in this
session, This VIII be done, in the main.