The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-03
The Fourteenth Extra Session
Meets to Consider Ratifica-
ton of Cuban Reciprocity
Treaty.
ORGANIZATION OF HOUSE
BY THE PARTY CAUCUSES
Representative Cannon VIII
BeSpeake= WilliamsSlat-
eda His Democratic Oppo-
nent.

When Congress meets next Monday TO
consider the question OF reciprocity With
Cuba, it will Be the fourteenth called
session In the history of the country.
The last previous called session was that
convened By President Mckinley on
1darch Is. 1897. tie result of which was
the passage of the Dingley tariff law.
Although the particular purpose of the
preset session is the passage Of joint
resolution to make effective the terms
of the Cuban reciprocity treaty passed
by the Senate last spring, there is moth
ing to prevent the taking up Of other
matters.
As this is the beginning Of new Con
Cress-rhe Fifty-eighth-it VIII be nee
essary for the House TO elect new OH
GERS.
THE PARTY CAUcUSES.
The Republican and Democratic eau
cuses for the nomir alton Of these on
GERS win be held on Saturday. The Re
publicans VIII meet in the hall OF the
House at noon, the Democrats In the
evening. The Republicans will elect a
presiding officer OF me caucus. to sue
ceed Mr. Cannon Of Illinois, who win be
nominated for Speaker. General Gros-
venor OF Ohio is believed to be slated
to succeed him. Besides the Speaker
ship, the other House Offices will be
hned The incumbents viii be chosen
10 sscceed themselves. They are: Alex
ander Mcdowell. OF Pennsylvania, clerk;
Henry Casson, Of Wisconsin. sergeant
alarms. r 3. Lyon. Of New York,
doorkeeper; Joseph c. McElroy. Of Ohio,
postmaster; the Rev Henry n. Couden,
OF MieE.gan. chaplain.
The Democratic caucus viii be presid-
cd over BY Representative Hay Of Vir-
ginia. There viii be a contest for the
norniration for Speaker. which carries
with Il the floor leadership. and Repre-
sentative williams Of Mississippi will
probably be chosen For the compli-
meut OF the Democratic nomination for
tn other Offices OF the House, the same
men viii probably be selected who were
giveL That empty honor two years ago
ez- Representative Kerr. OF Pennsylva-
MIA. for clerk; x-Representative Brook
shire, OF Indiana. sergeant-at-arms
CharIes Edwards. OF Texas doorkeeper;
James s. Jackson. OF Alabama, post
master. and the Rey. z 3. Basley. oi
Virginia chaplain.
The Republicans being in control Of
tt House. their ticket viii. OF course.
be chosen at the session on Monday.
Senator Frye of Maine will continue
as president pro tenn. OF the Senate.
MEMBERSHIP OF HOUSE.
The last House Of Representatives had
s57 members. The Fifty-eighth Congress
elected its members under the reappor-
tionment based on the Twelfth Census,
and the House will have SS6 members,
four Delegates from Territories and a
resident commissioner from Porto
Rico, who will have neither voice noT
vote, only a seat and the privilege ot
the floor.
There viii be 120 new House members
g. OF them Democrats and 66 Repub-
Hcans. Moreover. there viii be "a mem
t.4rs WI have served but one term. OF
part OF one term The political di sisicr
OF the House viii be 2os Republicans and
17s Democrats. In the civil war. 47 OF
them Fought In the Federal army and
80 on the Confederate side. Three were
brigad.er generals in the Northern army
one OF them was colonel IN the South
ern army.
In the Senate there win be Y new
n,Smbers. most Of whom. however, are
graduates or the House. or the entire
so Senator's. g have seen service in tht
lower branch. There Will be 81 RePub-
ncans in the Senate. OF the y new
members. are Republicans. and Dem
ocrats The average age OF the member:
OF the Senate IS little more than fifty
six years There Is one more than eighty
years hd-Ptttus. Of Alabama; there ar,
s between seVenty-five and eighty, and
between seventy and seventy-fve. Sew
enteen Senators are ex-governOrs o.
States; are former Cabinet officers
Elkins. Of West Virginia; Proctor o.
Vermont. and Aiger. OF Michigan
Twenty-Five served IN the civil war,
in both the civil and Mexican wars o
the 25. l3 stood with the North. y witt
the South Two Of them we're Uniol
brigadier generals. 3 held the same raai
IN the Confederate army.