Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-06
Congress Can
Pass Only Few
Bills This Session

Bills This Session
/ washington, Dec. Up Con-
gress faces an impossible task at its
three months session beginning
Monday.
Leaders will count themselves
temporary tax reduction bill. the
rivers and harbors measure and the
dozen annual appropriation bills
necessary for the conduct of govern
ment affairs during the next fiscal
year.
Under its stringent rules, the
| house probably will have little diff
ficulty in continuing it's machine
gun fire Of legislation, but the jam
will come under the more deliber-
ate aim which the senate takes.
Even the supply bills are likely
to find the going slow in the senate
as they will be caught in the NAV OF
filibusters now threatened on several
subjects. Some of them no doubt
will fail IL proponents of farm legis-
lation insist on a special session of
the 10th congress to consider that
vexing problem.
With sentiment as to how the
taxpayers shall be given the benefit
Of the treasury surplus already
| sharply divided, the administration
ak credit or reduction proposal will
take up much time in both houses
and may well be used as a vehicle
to delay action on number of other
matters.
The recurring battle over prohibi-
ton will be fought on the senate
floor with the usual reverberations
in the house. Their forces aug
mented by recent prohibition refer
enda, the vets have served notice
that they will take advantage of
every parliamentary situation, rule
and procedure to block the admin
istration measure designed to make
the Volstead act more drastic.
The administration bill for the
leasing of Muscle Shoals will furnish
the ammunition for determined
fights in both branches of congress
with little prospect at present for
final action before the last tap of the
gavel at noon on March A, ending
the life of the 69th congress.
The Lausanne Treaty to reestablish
diplomatic and commercial relations
with Turkey is set down for Senate
consideration on January with a long
and bitter contrast in sight and with
a two-thirds majority necessary to
bring about ratification.
Since it will be taken up on De-
cember IA, under q special order, the
rivers and harbors bill, passed by the
House at the last SESSION, should be
put through the Senate before the
Christmas holidays However, OPP
ponents of certain provisions hope to
so load the measure down with OBJ
jectionable amendments that it will
, have scant prospect of final ena :
ment by this Congress-
Besides these five major subjects.
there is a raft of other important leg.
/ islatien. either on the calendars or in
conference. 1t includes:
Railroad legislation proposing con-
solidation of the carriers and the re-
peal of the surcharges on parlor and
sleeping car accommodations.
The four billion dollar French debt
settlement.
Legislation for radio control
The bill for construction of a great
government dam on the Colorado
River.
Measures to carry out awards Of
the German American Mixed Claims
Commission and for the return or
alien property.
The McFadden branch banking
bill
The truth in fabric bill.
A measure to establish foreign
trade zones at American ports Of en-
try.
i A bill to prevent the sale of cotton
and grain in future markets.
Legislation to promote the develop
lment, protection and utilization of
grazing facilities on public lands.
An act creating separate bureaus of
prohibition and customs in the Treos-
ury and another to put prohibition
field agents under the Civil Service.
The French spoilations claims.
Regulation of interstate and for
eign commerce in coal with a view to
bring about government supervision
in cases of emergencies.
| So far as the Senate is concerned.
there will be demands for number of
| Investigations some of which very
| likely will be authorized. Resolutions
proposing six inquiries are pending
| and a number of others are being pre-
! pared by senators.
| The special committee appointed to
| investigate senatorial primary and
| general election campaigns also may
| resume operations during the month.
| If not 1t will have its report ready
| within few weeks and Senator Reed,
Democrat, Missouri, the chairman, will
| press for action upon 1t.
This will bring up the cases of Sen
| ators-elect William S. Ware of Penn
| sylvania and Frank L. Smith of Illi-
| nois. Republicans, about whose rights
| to Senate seats question has been
| raised because of heavy expenditures
| in their primary campaigns.
Washington, D. c., Dec. 4.-tP)--A
| formidable budget Of international
problems awaits the attention of the
short session of Congress.
So far as the Senate is concerned
| the World court, for the time being,
is out of the picture. But the French
| debt agreement remains. China
presses into the horizon of the Senate
| foreign relations committee, whose
| chairman, Senator Borah, believes
serious problem Is taking shape in the
Far East Mexico and Central Ameri-
ca present a situation which may de-
| mand Senate action at any time
The Lausanne treaty with Turkey
Is the special order of business on the
| Senate calendar for January 5. The
| Borah resolution urging modification
| of the United States Russian policy
| comes over from the last session.
| Events in Cuba since the cession of
| the Isle Of Pines are to be subjected
| to American scrutiny under authority
! of a resolution by Senator King. DEM
| ocrat. Utah, directing an inquiry by
| the foreign relations committe of the
upper chamber.
| Disposal Of alien property seized
| during the, World War is the aim of