Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1911-12-06
CONGRESS BEGINS
REGULAR SESSION
Leaders Predict That 1t viii Be
Busy and Interesting.
LAWS AND POLITICS MIXED
Proceedings May Make and Unmake
Presidential candidates-Trusts
and Tariff Occupy Chief
Place.
By GEORGE CLINTON.

Washington, Dec. 4.-Congress has
started once more to travel the path
of busy and interesting regular ses-
sion.
The two words busy and inter
esting" as a forecast of the proceed
ings are used on high authority. In
the rush of the opening the comment
of the leaders was brief.
1t will be an interesting session
Senator La Toilette.
1t will be a busy session.-Speaker
Clark.
The lower house of congress today.
for the first time in many years at
regular session, is in control of the
Democrats. 1t may not be necessary
to remind the country that the last
session was a special one convened
by the call of the president, and that
it's time was given up largely to the
discussion of two subjects, the tariff
and reciprocity, subjects so nearly
akin as to be almost one flesh.
House and senate claimed the pres
ence of nearly full membership when
Speaker Clark and Vice-President
Sherman gave the authoritative
thumps of the gavel, and the authori-
tative words that consideration of leg
islation was in order.
This Session Is Critical.
The galleries were filled with sight
seers, for an intense interest attaches
to what is to be done at this session.
1t may be that presidential candidates
will be made or unmade by the pro-
ceedings A slip of the tongue Of
some party leader may do damage be-
yond repair to the party's prospects.
President Taft from this hour will
watch the proceedings of house ard
senate with keen and at times anx-
ious eye. If tariff legislation based
on the reports of the tariff board be
passed, the president will hold that
his vetoes of last summer have been
indicated and will feel perhaps that
the prospect of reelection has been
cleared of overhanging clouds.
AS for the Democratic leaders, they
seem to be determined that if the tar
if boards report on wool is in &C
cordance with the information gained
by members Of the ways and means
committee, WHICH, of course, is dom
mated by the Democrats, legislation
based on the boards report must be
passed. The party leaders, however,
seem to be determined that if the
tariff boards report has in it a suspi-
cion of leaning toward the side of du-
ties which are too high, a bill cutting
those duties shall be passed and sent
over to the Republican senate for
commentator or condemnation.
Trust Problem to the Fore.
No sooner had congress opened
than the trust matter again put its
Interrogation to the lawmakers. Sew
eral bills have been drawn already
which represent the varying views OF
what ought TO be done to the Sher-
man law. This matter will be thrashed
out thoroughly before June comes, and
with the tariff it will occupy the CHER
place of interest and debate.
House Leaders Are Primed.
Representative Underwood, Demo
crat, of Alabama, the leader of the
house Democracy and chairman Of
the committee on ways and means, is
ready to combat on the tariff and the
trust questions, and other questions
for that matter, James r. Mann, the
floor leader of the Republican minor
ity.
In the senate within a day or two
the controversy will start anew over
the election of a president pro tenn
Senator Frye of Maine. who held the
Office for many years, resigned it at
late day in the extraordinary session
Mr.. Frye has since died
The senate is Republican in its ma
jority, but it is divided into two fac
lions, regulars and insurgents, or if
you will, reactionaries and progress
sives. Senator Gallinger Of New
Hampshire is a candidate of the stand
patters for president pro tenn. Mr..
Gallinger is opposed by the progress
siyes, but they are not willing to vote
for Democrat, and today an attempt
is being made TO compromise on
Republican senator who will be CRATE
full to both factions of Republicans
The two senators most prominently
named as compromise candidates are
Nelson of Minnesota and Lodge of
Massachusetts.
EMPEROR FRANZ JOSEPH ILL