The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1909-12-10

FNIlSGO-SpCdHSI van
non and the Presidents Program
Congressman See Changes-The Al
drich Monetary Commission.
Washington, Dec. 6. - [Special] -
They're off! The first regular session
of the Sixty-frst congress is on the
job, and things will be happening from
this time forward. Uncle Joe and the
insurgents are watching each other
out of the corners of their optics,
Champ Clark is on the lookout for OPP
portunitieS to make trouble, and all
the properties and incidentals that go
to make up a well regulated session
of an American congress are in evil
dence. At high noon the gavel of the
speaker in one end of the big stone
building and that of the vice president
in the other fell as the beginning of
what may prove one of the most tur-
bulent and notable congresses of re-
cent times. With the Nicaraguan sit
uation before it, and many phases OF
the railroad question, the custom house
scandals, the Ballinger-Pinchot con-
troversy, postal savings banks, ship
subsidies, a growing treasury deficit
and the many other problems that con-
front every session, to say nothing of
the fight between the progressives and
regulars in the majority party, the
Sixty-first congress will make history
Uncle Joe on the Job.
There was one variation in the form
of calling the house to order. Usually
at the beginning of the first regular
session of each successive congress the
gavel is welded by the clerk, who
reads the roll of members as made up
by him and calls for the election of a
temporary speaker. In the present
case all these preliminaries were set
tied by the extra session, so that the
Hon. Uncle Joe Speaker Cannon did
the trick. The rules were also settled
by the extra session, and, while no
doubt there will be efforts by the in
surgents to change the rules, it will be
more difficult than if they were being
adopted de novo. Many of the commit
tees were also appointed at the extra
session, so that there will be little ex-
cuse for the usual do nothing policy of
the two houses prior to the Christmas
holidays. Ordinarily congress meets
on the first Monday in December, goes
through a few perfunctory motions
and practically adjourns till after
New Years. To some extent this time
killing habit will be followed now, but
with the Nicaraguan situation pressing
and a long winters work ahead there
is more of a disposition to get down
to business promptly.
Will Cannon Support Taft?
Owing to the presidents frank dis
cussion of his policies during his tour,
the questions to be considered by the
session are fairly clear and well de-
fined even before the reading of the
message. No little sensation was caus-
ed here a few days ago by the intima-
ton from Speaker Cannon that he
would support the presidents pro-
gram. On this point the insurgents
are frankly skeptical. If the intima-
ton is carried out, however, they an
nounce that it will be an insurgent
victory and will receive their hearty
support But. while the irrepressible
gentleman from Danville promises that
he will stand by Taft, he says with
many lurid adjectives that he is on the
warpath for the instructors.
End of the "Hencoop."
Two novelties faced congressman on
their return to the capital, one OF
them welcome, the other not so much
so. The pleasing innovation is the
presidents new Office building. No
longer is 1t the "hencOop," but is now
spread out over Roosevelts famous
tennis court and is building of some
size and architectural pretensions. The
change that is not SO welcome is the
order practically barring congressman
from the departments. Not only is the
old Roosevelt rule that all depart
mental information must come through
the department heads renewed, but
congressman are even excluded from
access to underofficials. This is the
occasion not only for picturesque Ian
guage on the part Of the offended
statesmen, but may cause a congress
sional inquiry. Free access to the de-
partments and to all the information
they contain has been 50 long con-
gressional prerOgative that it will not
be relinqulshed without a fight. The
Roosevelt order caused trouble, and
this new rule. whith is No. 1872. may
stir up a more vigorous variety Of
kicking than the other.
From jackson to Aldrieh.
While Il is almost certain that the
Aldrich monetary commission will
eventually recommend n central bank
Of issue. 1t is not probable that the
question win come before this session
for the reason that the commission
will not be ready to report. But,
whether acted on OF not, it viii be In
every ones thoughts. IL viii be seen
in the background as something i'm
pending and viii be the subject OF
anxious discussion. A long time has
elapsed since the administration Of An
drew Jackson. and 1t Is somewhat