Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-12-30
MUCH HEAVY WORK
BEFORE CONGRESS-
LONG SESSION" is LIKELY TO
BE LONG IN FACT DESPITE
PREDICTIONS or SEED.
CONFERENCE TALK EXPECTED
Leaders Will Try to Curb Extremists
VINO Discuss the international
Parley---Tariff Bill May Not Be
Passed Before Spring.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

4. ~>SS~N DSIOTG SQfIHAs
BY EDWARD B. CLARK
Washington.-It is probable that the
next army and navy appropriation bills
VIII not be given consideration at all
until there is definite knowledge OF the
results of the arms conference. Con-
gress wants to know, of course, just
what the future is to be of the armed
services before it votes the money to
keep them moving.
Members of congress have had little
rest since last April except such as
individual members could take when
either house or senate was marking
time waiting on action by one or the
other of the bodies AS usual one
hears at the beginning of the so-called
long session that there will be speed
in legislation and that the members can
make plans to go home, or to some
summer resort, early In the hot season.
Washington gets accustomed to
predictions Of fairly early adjournment
and knows how to discount them. 1t
may be, of course, that the great legis-
latiye measures which must be given
consideration at this session will be
cleared away quickly, but the records
of the past show that this is unlikely.
Everybody expects during the pres
ent session of congress that senator's
and representatives on many occasions
will air their particular views on the
arms conference. There are all kinds
Of opinions in the house and senate
concerning the conference and what
it should do and what 1t should not
do. There are extreme disarmament
men, there are limited armament men
in greater numbers and there are some
men who do not believe that even
partial disarmament at this time is
wise.
Will Try to Curb Extremists.
The Republican leaders, and the
Democratic leaders with them, un-
questionably will attempt to hold the
language of their party members in
check when they are talking on foreign
affairs. The great bulk Of the member
ship in congress is DESTROYS of sue
cess for the conference and therefore
the leaders do not wish to have some
few. extremists say things which pos
sibly may offend the foreigners and
may injure the cause of the conference.
1t will be hard work to keep some
Of the members quiet, or to make them
tone their remarks SO that they will
keep well below the scale of offense.
Since the armistice there have been
speeches in caparess which might
offend several of the foreign nations
which are represented here at the con-
ference, but foreigners to a consider
able extent have learned to understand
that what one man or ten men may say
in the congress Of the United States
does not mean that the congress says
it. or that the American people say it..
The question Of Panama canal tolls
will be answered at the present session
of congress, or at least it SO appears
today. The question-is whether or not
American vessels engaged in coastwise
trade shall be toll free when passing
through the Panama canal. There IS
strong opposition to this legislation,
for it is said to be counter to the pro-
visions of a treaty which is in exis-
tence. It has been predicted that the
tolls bill will be allowed to remain
on the table of a committee room until
after the conference has completed it's
deliberations and has made its report.
The nature of the reports of the con-
ference may have a bearing on the
tolls matter
Matters Under Investigation.
There has been a commission Of
congress at work for some time in an
enieavor to find out all that it Is
possible to find out about agricultural
conditions in the United States before
definite legislation is undertaken. 4
committee Of congress is studying rail-
road questions with view to framing
a report in behalf Of changes in the
transportation act. 1t is said that
legislation along railroad and agricul-
trTal lines will not be reached even
for debate purposes until somewhat
later in the season.
The finance committee of the senate
is engaged in study of the foreign
debt situation. 1t is believed COM
mission will be appointed to take up
the whole matter Of the Indebtedness
with the foreign nations involved and
to seek some means by which the pay
ment of principal with the interest OF
the war loans may be accomplished
without injury to credits.
Much has been written heretofore
about the tariff. 1t was promised, or
rather predicted, last spring that per-
manent tariff legislation would be en-
acted before the autumn came, but
autumn came and washington has had
ity first winter snow storm, and tariff
legislation still is in state OF abey-
ance. Notwithstanding the urging that
the administration has done, the tariff
measure may not see the light OF pas
sage until spring comes.
No Secret Deals in Conference.
Something more. than month OF the
deliberations of the arms conference
has passed and it can be said that
gratifying progress has been mace TO.
ward success and that one hope OF