Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-11-15
RAIL LEGISLATION
PROBABLE COMING
SESSION CONGRESS

washington, Nov. 14-Possible adj
dition Of railroad legislation to the
ship subsidy and other administra-
ton measures on the program for the
coming winter in Congress was in
dicated today by White House de-
velopments.
President Harding was said to have
told White House callers that he in.
tended to press the ship subsidy bill
strongly in the House next week and
also through the Senate despite dis
couraging reports from Republican
Congressional leaders. The president
also made an appointment with
Chairman Cummins of the Senate
interstate commerce committee to
take up in few days the question
! of railroad legislation. Amendment
OF the Esch- Cummins law to
strengthen the railway Labor Board,
possibly by giving it power to en-
force orders upon railroad officials
and employees, was reported under
contemplation.
nv Ia NoiuShI lOody
plans for the opening Monday of the
extra session Of Congress. His OPP
ening message, which probably will
| be in the form of d personal address
! at joint session Tuesday, will be
| very brief, it was said. and will be
| devoted principally to the ship sub
sidy bill. The opening address also
is expected Sto urge speedy DISPOSE
ton Of appropriation bills with a
view to cleanup of all pressing
! business by March 8, and avoidance
OF an extra session in the spring of
| the newly elected Congress.
| The president, it was stated Off
cially at the White House, intends
to ask the House to take UP the ship
subsidy bill Immediately during the
! two weeks of the extra session pre-
! ceding the regular December session
and request will be made of the rules
| committee next week for a special
! rule to hasten the House vote on the
| measure. He is required under the
| law to submit the annual budget to
| Congress at the opening of the De-
cember session, and this may be the
vehicle for further recommendations
. as to other legislation such as that
touching upon railroad questions.
! Increasing difficulties for the ship
subsidy bill are reported by returning
| Republicans. The president was said
to have been told today by promin-
ent Republican leaders that there
was little, if any, chance of enact
ment Of the measure by March 8
! The executive, however. was said to
feel that he was in duty bound, with
his knowledge of the European and
| domestic shipping situation, to press
the bill with all possible vigor.
! The administration was said to
hope that notifications might rally
/ sufficient support to the bill in the
! Senate to remove some of the objec-
tons. One of the notifications re-
I! ported in contemplation is limita-
ton upon profits of ship operators
+! receiving government aid, provis-
ion similar to the railroad earning
| clause Of the transportation act.
reorganization of government de-
| partments is another subject of I'M
certain status in the legislative pro-
| gram TO rthe winter. While the
president has been planning to pre-
, sent recommendation of the cXccu-
tive commission on departmental re-
! organization to the Congress soon
after it convcnes, there is a possib
ility of delay.
! In addition TO the administration
program for the winter. there arc
prospective demands from the farm
group in both Senate and House for
initiation of farmers credit lcgisla-
ton to provide short term loans for
! agriculturists. This with many other
and individual Legislative demands
appear &C factors in the possible de-
velopment of a Legislative jam which
cannot be cleared during the coming
short session.