South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-01-01
Stormy Session Features
Rejection Of Peace Treaty

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8O.-The
Congressional year now ending will
go down in history as the year Of re-
lection Of the Treaty Of Versailles
by the United States senate, Just as
the year Of 1919 went down into
history as the year Of the Peace
Conference.
Despite the refusal of the senate
10 accept the Covenant as 'ineXtri-
cably interviewer" with the Treaty
of Versailles, and the failure of con-
gress to reestablish the country on a
peace basis. three measures of ar
reaching Importance to the dOmes-
tic future welfare Of the American
people were written into the sta
tutes by congress during the year Of
1920.
The three acts Of national i'm
portance were the Transportation
act, the Jones Merchant Marine act
and the Water Power act. Another
important measure passed during
the year and signed by the president
was the oil Land Leasing bill.
The army was reorganized. Eff
forts to amend the Nolstead prohibit
ton enforcement legislation were
defeated on several occasions. Adj
ditional provision was made for dis
house passed a bill providing for ad-
justed compensation for all veter
ans of the world war. Legislation
passed through both houses and was
vetoed by the president which
would have provided a budget Sys-
TEN for operating the government
Following the return of a state of
peace and the passing Of the war ne
cessity Tor the operation Of the rail-
roads by the government, the house
and senate took up the question or
drafting a transportation act which
was planned to provide for profitable
future operation Of the railroads and
| to protect the interests of the public
by more strict supervision OF the
railroad financial accounts.
TRANSPORTING ACT.
The Transportation act, which n
nally returned the roads 10 their pri-
vate owners. provided that rates
] should be fixed which would provide
an earning of per cent on the valu-
alton Of the road property and for
the return of the portion of the earn
| ings Of the roads above 8 Y per cent
20 the government as an assurance
against the possibility of unjust
profits.
The Transportation act also pro-
vided that all security issues Of roads
should be issued only with the ap-
proval of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. It continued the pay
ment OF the wartime guarantee 10
J the roads for six months after they
were released from government con-
/ troll 10 permit the Interstate Com
merce Commission 10 adjust rates TO
I present conditions Practically all
/ Of the provisions Of the TranspOTta
1 - l.
! OUR MERCHANT MARINE.
In considering the Merchant Mar
/ inc act the house hurriedly passed a
| measure which was practically tabled
when II reached the senate. The SEN
ate committee drafted a bill provid-
\ ing for an enlarged shipping board,
! increased Hlaries for the members
| of the board. for the operation Of
! the merchant fleet constructed dur
ing the war by the government until
| sales might be arranged 20 private
| operators, and for the liquidation Of
the affairs Of the Emergency Fleet
! Corporation.
Under the new act, which was
passed early IN the spring. the presi-
dent, In November. announced the
appointment Of the new board. The
N board has organized and has had
several meetings to determine its pol
civ. Vessels built during the war
must be sold only TO American pur-
chasers unless at least FIVE members
Of the board approve sale TO a for
eign purchaser and certify that IL
was impossible TO sell the vessel or
vessels in question TO an American
firm or individual
The object Of the Merchant Marine
act was 10 create an American feet
Of merchant ships as a permanent
institution.
PASS WATER POWER BILL.
For many years efforts Of western
mem bers OF the house and senate TO
have adopted legislation providing
FOR the development of the water
power resources Of the United States
were made useless by the votes Of the
/ conservationists in both chambers.
At the last session. during the clos
Ing DAYS OF the delegations the wa
ter power BIN, providing for the con-
structiOn OF water power projects IN
der government license and regu-
lation was passed.
The bin was not signed by the
! president before the end Of the ses-
sion and was believed 10 have died
Without the action OF the White
n House. Basing his action on the
n opinion OF the attorpRv-seneral the
president signed the bill later and II
became a law. The Water Power
Commission Is considering large
numbers Of applications for water
power permits and inquiries as &C
the operation OF the law.
STORMY TIME
The treaty had a rough path in the
senate during the passing year. i
was rejected and returned u the
Senate Foreign Relations Commit
tee and then returned 20 the floor q
meet a similar fate The documen
was returned 20 the presiden- and