Evening star., 1921-10-30
What Congress Is Doing
The Senate.
ny G. GOULD LINCOLN.

The tax-revision bill still clogs
the legislative ways of the Senate.
Notwithstanding the efforts of the
republican leaders to hurry the
measure to a final vote during the
last week. However, considerable
progress was made with the bill,
and 1t is hoped to dispose of 1t
before Saturday. The so-called
compromise plan of amendment
SO far has been successful. The
fight of Senator Smoot of Utah
for the adoption of his substitute
measure, including the manufac-
turers' sales tax. is still to come.
1t has gained many adherents. but
those in charge of the bill insist
that it will fail.
AS soon as the tax bill is out
Of the way, the prohibition forces
are counting upon getting the
conference report on the anti-beer
bill before the Senate for action.
They have prepared petition for
cloture, in the event they are not
successful in obtaining an agree
ment on a day to vote hnally on
the measure. Although it requires
tWo-thirds of those present Votlns
in the affirmative to bring ABOUT
cloture, the supporters OF the anu
beer bill are confident they can
obtain cloture if it comes 10
showdown.
The administra tion's railroad
funding bin ana the foreign loan
bill are pressing for attention IN
the Senate,.too. Many OF the re-
publicans are earnestly in faVor
of having the foreign loan bill
considered prior to the opening OF
the international conference on the
limitation of armaments. II pos
sible. But if that were done, IL
would mean laying aside the anti.
beer bill and the railroad bill
temporarily. Those who favor thf
plan believe that it might be emS
barrassing to have the foreign
loan bill under consideration in
the Senate while the representa-
tives of the debtor nations were
considering limitation of arma-
ment at the other end of Pennsyl-
vania avenue.
Hearings have been under way
during the last week on the in
dustrial strife in the coal fields
of West Virginia, before the
Senate committee on education and
labor. and on the American oc-
cupation of Haiti, before Senator
McCormick's committee. The lat
ter committee has decided to visit
Haiti to continue its work of in
vestigation.
Another effort to obtain soldier
bonus legislation at the present
session has been launched by
Senator Reed of Missouri. demo-
crat. who has offered an amend
ment to the pending tax-revision
bill. providing soldiers bonus.
But it is expected TO fail.
The Senate District committee
had arranged to hold hearings, be-
ginning Tuesday. on suffrage for
the residents of ,ne District But
owing to the fact that the tax
revision bill is demanding the at
tention of all senators. it was de-
cided to postpone these hearings
for week.
The joint congressional aom-
mittee on public schools of the
District began its investigation of
existing conditions with District
Commissioner oyster and Superin-
tendent Ballou of the public
schools before it. but abandoned
the hearings until the tax bill
should be disposed of. Senator
King of Utah, whose demand for
an. investigation of the schools
was at the bottom of the present
inquiry. plans to ask that school
architects and school officials of
other cities be called before the
committee to give it the advantage
of their studies an work.
The case of Henry Lincoln john
son of Georgia, appointed recorder
of deeds for the District. may be
given consideration this week.
Senator Jones of Washington,
chairman of the subcommittee in
charge of the nomina ton. is eX-
pected to return in a day or two.