The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-12-10
CONGRESS- HAS
STARTED WORK
First Legislative Session Under
Tdft's Administration
RESPECT FOR THE DEPARTED


resentatives De Almond and Las
sitter Honored-President's Message
Presented to Both Houses-New
Members Sworn In-BaiIey Wants
the Senate to Hold Night Sessions
Economy Will Be the Watchword.
Congress assembled in it's first gen.
eral legislative session since w. H.
Taft became president.
On the floor of both houses a re-
newal of friendships among senator's
and representatives took th~ place of
interchanges on partisan or political
matters.
Following time-honored custom.
both houses adjourned soon after their
converting at noon out of respect
to the memory of those members who
have died since the last session.
One senator and two representatives
have crossed the great divide since
Aug. 8 last, the date on which the spe-
cial tariff session of this congress
ended.
Senator Johnson of North Dakota
died several weeks ago, and his sue
cessor already has been chosen and
probably will take the oath of Office
tomorrow. Fountain i. Thompson of
Cando, N. D., the new senator, is a
Democrat, although his predecessor
was Republican. Senator Thomp-
son was appointed by North Dakota's
new Democratic governor to fill out
Johnson's unexpired term, which ends
Jan. 1, 1911.
The deceased representatives are
David A. De Almond of the sixth Mis-
souri, district, who met tragic death
in fire which destroyed his home at
Butler, Mo-, only a few days ago, and
Francis r. Lassiter of the Fourth Vir-
ginia district.
Tuesday was devoted in both houses
to the reading of President Taft's first
annual message to congress.
The swearing in of Senator Fountain
L. Thompson and of Representative
w. w. McCredie of Washington and
w. J. Moxley of Illinois, who have been
chosen to those positions since the adj
journment of the special session, was
conducted just before the presidents
message was read.
Senator Bailey of Texas has aston
ished the senate with the unique sug-
gestion that he would like to see that
body hold night sessions, leaving the
day to be devoted to individual bust
ness by senators. He declared his pu,'-
pose of attempting to have sessions
convened hereafter at 2 o'clock
Two resolutions were introduced in
the house calling for an investigation
of the sugar trust. One was offered
by Representative Campbell of Kansas
and the other by Representative Gar
ner of Pennsylvania, both Republicans.
Notice has been given by other mem
bers that they are preparing resolu-
lions.
Representative Ellis of Oregon was
barely saved from being elected from
the chamber. Ellis was without his
whiskers.
Cannon got cheer in which the
Democrats and insurgents Republicans
0AO hOC Pol IlSlpoCC " uOCdUlS uG-
gree. He smiled at his granddaughter.
Miss Virginia LsSeure who was looking
on from Uncle Joe's private gallery.
The main purpose of the president
and the congressional leaders will be
to keep down expenditures Taft has
already made it known that he will
make no recommendations in regard to
amending the antitrust law until the
United States supreme court disposes
of the appeal from the opinion of the
United States circuit court of appeals
that the Standard Oil company and it's
affiliated concerns constitute combi-
nation in restraint of trade.
While it is too early to make pre-
diction with any certainty, the pros
poets of the enactment of a postal saw
ings bank law are not promising. The
administration is in favor of the Gre
alton of postal savings banks. The
suggestion has been made, however.
that this matter should be deferred
until after the monetary commission
submits its report which probably will
not be until the third session of the
present congress in December, 1916.
There is a suspicion that the leaders
are in favor of this program of post
ponement.