Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-01-19
Congress Leaders Ap-
parently Are Sure
of Regular Supply
Measures Only
No Important Bill Yet Com
pleted With Congress at
Half Way Point of Session
Ending March 4-Senate
Will Tackle Isle of Pines and
Naval Bill This Week-Ap-
propriation NJ sure in
House

washington, Jan. 1S.-Congress, at
.ha halfway points of this session.
finds itself still engulfed in a mass of
legislative business that must be dis
nosed of before March 4.
Not one of the regular supply bills
has been sent to the president. In
fact, no measure of outstanding i'm
nortance has run the course of the leg
islative machine.
Leaders are satisfied. however, with
the progress made and are confident
that the supply bills will reach the
White House well in advance Of ad-
iournment. They still are dubious.
however, as to the fate of the Muscle
Shoals, postal pay and rate increase,
farm aid and other general legisla-
ton.
During this week the Senate will di-
vide its. attention between the Isle of
Pines treaty and the naval appropria-
tion bill, with fair prospect that a
vote will be had on each before Sat-
urday.
The program In the House is for
disposition of two additional appro-
priation measures, one for the inde-
pendents Offices and the other covering
the departments of state, justice. COM
merce and labor.
Except for a possible second de-
hciency and the regular mills for the
legislative establishment and the Dis
trict sf Columbia, this will clear the
calendar Of supply measures.
Three Of the regular bills have
reached the conference stage, but the
Senate still is to act on the budgets
Of the navy and the army in addition
to the other five that are yet to be
sent to 1t from the House. One ap-
propriation, the first deficiency, has
been sent to the White House.
The chief point Of difference now
between ths House and Senate is
Muscle Shoals. Leaders are trying
to iron this out before sending the Tn
derwood private leasing bill to confer
ence. Even If they reach an agree
ment. the legislation still will have
hard shedding, as Senate opponents
have indicated an intention Of renew
Ing their fight when the conference
report comes in with a view to pre-
venting final action at this session.
The postal pay and rate raise bill
will become the special order of the
Senate for next Thursday. with gen
eral assault on the rate provision
threatened.
Many amendments will be proposed
and protracted fight appears to be IN
prospect before the bill can be ad-
vanced to a poist for House cossider-
alton.
Aside from the Isle of Pines treaty.
other questions touching foreign re-
lations will engage the attention OF
the Senate. Senator Johnson. Repub-
lican. California. will press for early
action on his resolution calling Tor
copy Of the agreement concerning
payments of American claims out OF
German reparations allotments.
He and others Of the irreconcilables
are preparing to go very thoroughly
into the question whether this agree
ment does in fact take the American
government into the reparations set
tiement question.
American adherence to the world
court also is to come to the front VIII,
consideration by the foreign relations
committee at it's meeting Wednesday
Senator Shipsted of Minnesota, the one
Farmer-Labor member of that BODY
has given notice that unless propon-
ents take steps to obtain early Senate
action. he will offer a formal motion
to that end although opposing the
world court plan.