The Washington times., 1921-04-11
SENATE FACES
|BUSYPROGRAM|
Foreign Affairs Will Occupy
Much Attention in Upper
Congress Branch.
BY j. BART CAMPBELL.
International News Servsce.

fNU"S ONHNsV1s
The Senate reconvened today with
tangle of foreign and domestic
problems to be unraveled by IL fur-
ing the long ,eventful weeks ahead
AS the gavel of Vice President
Coolidge, presiding officer of the
upper chamber, fell when the hands
of the ornate clocks of the, Senate
chamber pointed to noon. an IN
creased Republican majority and a
decreased Democratic minority pre-
pared for a stream Of Presidential
appointments
FOREIGN QUESTION PUZZLES.
Aside from consideration and con-
firmation OF appointments and the
speech-making characteristic OF Sem
atorial procedure, the Senate Is ex-
pected to walt so far as most domes-
tic matters are concerned upon the
House to exercise its prerogatiye of
originating tariff. tax and other i'm
portant Legislation.
While the House is wrestling with
domestic questions. however. II is re-
garded as highly probable that the
Senate will find plenty in the foreign
situation to keep IL well occupied in
tha immediate future.
II is anticipated that the fight over
ratification of the disputed Colom-
bian Treaty will be renewed shortly.
Its ratification, favored by President
Harding, is predicted, even by some
of it's Republican opponents. but there
are indications that Senator Borah, of
Idaho. and other Republican Senators
lined up against'it will force another
heated debate. this time probably in
open executive session, such as pre-
vented it's ratification at the special
session last month.
Another tempest impending is one
over the nomination of former Con-
gressman John J. Esch. of Wisconsin,
as a member of the Interstate Com
merce Commission. Opposition to
Esch's confirmation is being led by
Senator La Toilette. Republican, OF
Wisconsin. Esch's political foe. who
blocked IL when IL was frst sent to
the Senate by President Harding dur
ing last months special session.
NO MOVE FOR PEACE LIKELY.
Unless the President DEGREES other
wise. there will be no move by the
Republican leaders to bring about the
repassage Of the Knox peace resolu-
tion at this time. or until such line
as the German reparations dispute Is
settled. Several potential Republican
members OF the Senate Foreign Re-
lations Committee agree with the
President that to put the resolution,
which was passed Iby the lpst Con-
gress and vetoed by former-President
Wilson. through now would be ''in-
opportune."
The formulation and announcement
Of a definite and' final foreign policy
by the President and his advisers is
being awaited by Republican and
~
guised interest. and on the part of
some OF them with manifest concern.
The latter is especially true of those
Republican and Democratic Senators
''iyreconcilably" opposed to the Yer
sdilles Treaty and the League OF Ma
sailles covenant ''inextricably inter-
woven" with IL. in any form, or with
any modifications or reservations.
Republican, Senators who we've
cIassed as mild reservat ionists' in
the hght over the treaty in the last
Senate are. they say, not inclined t.
share the belief the "irreconcilables'
profess to entertain that the league
issue will not be opened up again.
and that the treaty. having been
"scrapped." is as good as dead.p One
argument advanced by the "irrecon-
cilables" to justify this belief is that
the President would not care to in
cur the risk of splitting his party
wide open" by suggesting that the
Senate accept a "re-written" Ver-
sailles and League pact.
One OF the first moves by the Sem
ate proposed by Senator Dillingham;.
Republican, of Vermont, is the re-
passage of the immigration restriction
bill former President Wilson vetoed ut
the close of the last Congress. II -
understood President Harding favors
the enactment of the measure into
law, and that Representative John
son. OF Washington. chairman OF the
House immigration and Naturaliza-
ton Committee, is willing to Sponsor
the Senate measure. which was sub
stituted for his own, so II may bc
re-passed quickly by the House.