Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-12-11
SIXTY-F|RST CONGRESS
.a~A
CONVENED ON MONDAY
---------------~
Gavels OF vice-President Sherman
and Speaker Cannon Fell.
ADJOURNED AT ONCE OUT
OF RESPECT TO The DEAD
Republican Insurgents Have oirded
Their Loins to Do a Lot Of insuro-
ine--Not Very Bright Prospects For
Any Real Big Legislation.

Any Real Big Legislation.
Washington. ID. G. Dec. 6--At noon
today the gavels OF Vice President
Sherman and Speaker Cannon fell,
and the Sixty-irst Congress was for
mally opened
There was nothing in Washington
last night to indicate that Congress
was on the eve of assembling for an.
other session and only the continuous
stream OF people down the avenue to-
wards the capitol today indicated that
something out OF the ordinary was &C.
Ing on.
Usually on the night before tho
opening day the lobies of the princi-
pal hotels are crowded with senator's
and representatives and a host OF
other people who come and go with
the national legislature.
But few representatives were
around the hotels last evening and
there was an entire absence Of those
scenes which heretofore have made
1t apparent Washington would have
Congress on It's hands the next day.
AS a matter OF fact, the first regular
session OF the Sixty-first G ngress.
which was called to order at noon and
soon after adjourned out OF respect To
the dead, will probably do less in the
way of constructive legislation than
ear The ranfYhitaan In.
surgents are girding up their loins to
do lot Of insurging, but their activ-
ity will doubtless result In nothing
more than words. The regulars are
amply prepared to stife anything that
has the appearance of general legisla.
ton. The more the insurgents indulge
in heated conversation the more the
regulars will enjoy 1t. Talk will kill
time, and the assassination of time
Is the real, II moi the ayowed purpose
OF the Sixty-frst congress.
There is real grief in evidence
among the members Of the House %
day over the death OF Congressman De
Almond. The terrible fate which
overlook The Missouri statesman has
cast gloom over the democrats, who
have lost their ablest leader, and this
sorrow is shared by many OF the re-
publicans.
Although President Taft has lot OF
suggestions for Congress to consider
that consideration is almost certain
to lose the name of action The
passing of appropriation bills where
and when they will do the most good
is the program OF the regulars, who
are anxious to return to their home
10 lcok after political fences. The hot.
test fight in years Is In prospect, and
the elections next fall will doubtless
result In placing many members on
the rol lsof the dead ducks" The
democratic members think they have
a chance to capture the House. and
while the republicans are not unduly
fearful, they are not going TO take any
chances with important legislation
which might prove unpopular.
1t is not likely that anything sur
prising will develop IN President
Taft's message. In his recent tour
he outlined his policies quite thor
oughly and these policies may be de-
scIibed in word as Rooseveltian
tempered by the wide difference in
temperament between the present and
former presidents.
One CT his most important recon-
mendations to "clfnch the Roosevelt
policies" will be for the establishment
OF court OF five members to expedite
litigation over the decisions OF the In
terstate Commerce Commission Tn
der the new recommendation the Pres
ident will seek to establish court
OF experts. When the Interstate Com
MERGE Commission holds that a rae
is unreasonable, this court may decide
upon reasonable rate without delay
with no appeal on the part OF the rail
roads except to the Supreme Court.
There will also be recommendation
In the message that the Interstate
Commerce Commission have super
visory power over the issuing OF stock
and bonds by interstate railroads. Mr..
Taft will suggest a reorganization of
the bureau Ct corporations, the Inter-
state Commerce Commission and the
Department of Justice.
The narrowing of the scope of the
Sherman antitrust law Is another
recommendation that will be charged
with the possibility OF trouble in Con-
grass. Mr.. Taft viii recommend that
its application be limited to combina-
lions and conspiracies to suppress
competition and establish monopolies.
The message also viii contain a
recommendation for legislation relat-
ing 10 the issuing CT injunctions. The
President VII make several definite
suggestions for the continuance and
extension OF the administration con-
seryation and reclamation policy. He
win urge the establishment of postal