The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-09-24
CONGRESSIONAL
MILL STARTS
GRINDING
Both House and Sen
ate Reconvenes To-
Day But House Will
Do No Business I'm
till October 9TH

Washington. Sept. 20.-Congress
will reassenble tomorrow noon, af-
Yer a recess since August "a, with
a full program for the remand
er of the extra session which may
lapse into the regular December
session.
Activity at first is to center in
the senate which will consider the
tax revision bill; the peace treaties
with Germany, Austria and Hun
gary; the anti-beer, railroad debt
funding, the allies debt refunding
and other bills. The treaties are to
be transmitted by President Hard
ing tomorrow and are to be press
ed at once.
The house will reconvene under
a gentlemen's s agreement to trans
act virtually no business until Oc-
tober 4. Comparatively few rep
resentatives We're in Washington to-
night and the leaders were not ex-
pected until next month. The bill
to reapportion the house member
ship is slated to be taken up when
the house begins work.
Presentation to the senate Of
the peace treaties with the reve-
nue. bill was expected to be the
principal event tomorrow although
leaders tonight indicated a posi-
bility that the sessions tomorrow
might be perfunctory and business
put over one day. Death OF house
members during the recess, it was
said, might, out of respect cause an
Immediate adjournment Of both
senate and house.
Vice president. Coolidge was
here tonight ready to open the SEN
ate. but the house will be presided
over by Representative Walsh Gre
publican) Of Massachusetts, in the
absence of Speaker Gillett, who will
not return before October. The
house agreement provides for three
day recesses until October 4.
A definite legislative program for
the rest OF the session is to be ar
ranged soon by Republican steer
ing committees whose members
will, confer with President. Hard
ing. The tax bill is to have sem
ate precedence. according to pres
ent plans, although debate on it
rs not expected to begin until next
week. g,
In view, however, of the admin
istraton desire. to press the peace
<,.oo 1, Ia u
night that the tax bill and the
treaties might be considered vir-
-tuaiIy simultaneously by discussing
the treaties during lapses of debate
on the tax bill Republican lead
ers, it is, understood, intend to
have the treaty debate after action
by the foreign relations committee
in executive session, but efforts to
open the doors are planned by
Democrats and by some Republi-
cans.
The anti-beer bill also is to be
pressed at once, according to Sen
ator Sterling (Republican) Of
South Dakota. who is in charge
of it. AS the conference report
was adopted by the house just be-
fore the recess, the bill has parlia-
mentary priority In the senate even
over the tax bill or the treaties.
After disposal of the tax bill. the
senate finance committee is to re-
sumo work on the suspended tar
iff revision measure, but with little
prospect of final enactment before
early spring.
The railroad debt funding bill is
to be urged at the first opportunity
in the senate. according to Repub-
ican leaders. It passed the house
just before the recess.
On October 10 under formal
agreement entered into last month.
the senate will vote on the Borah
bill to restore to American coast
wise vessels free tolls privileges in
the Panama canal
Much senate and some house dis
cussions of questions involved in
the armament conference are in
prospect.
Good roads legislation is in con-
ference with final action on the
Townsend-Dowell federal aid bills
expected next month.
The joint congressional COM
mittee investigating agricultural
relief is to continue hearings in Oc-
tober.