The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-12-08
CONGRESS BEGINS
ANOTHER SESSION
Champ Clark Makes Prediction That
Session viii Last Well Toward
Next Fall.

Washington, Dec. 4.-The first reg
alar session Of the sixty-second con-
gress will be convened at noon today.
Practically every member will be in
his seat and the galleries as usual will
be crowded. Legislative machinery is
in readiness for long session. Speak
er Clark and other leaders having pre-
dicted that adjournment may not come
until after the national conventions of
the two big political parties have been
held. This has not happened since
1888.
Hotel lobbies last night were filled
with groups in which members of the
two houses were conspicuous. There
were hosts of other out of town folks
among them, the usual contingent
drawn to Washington during con-
gressional session by curiosity or in
connection with pending legislation
Today's opening will not only be the
start of a congress in which party lead
ers will struggle for party vantage at
the polls next November, in dealing
with tariff trust and other big prob
lens, but it will initiate the brilliant
winter social season at the nations
capital.
when you contemplate all the i'm
portant legislation to be considered,
said Speaker Clark yesterday, you
are forced to the conclusion that con-
gress will be in session until well into
the summer if not until fall"
while no definite programme as to
tariff bills in the house has yet been
framed" said Democratic Leader I'm
derwood last night, sit is certain the
democratic caucus will unanimously
approve immediate action by the ways
and means committee. The committee
will welcome the report of the tariff
board on the taxtile schedules, but 1t
will not delay action for any great
length of time if the boards report is
held back.
"Of course the principal schedules
to be revised or reduced will be wool,
cotton, iron and steel, and possibly
sugar. The order in which these will
be taken up will be determined after
consultation with the members of the
democratic majority.
GAS to the sugar schedule, concern
ing which there was much discussion
but no action in the extra session the
ways and means committee will look
forward to the report of the special
committee of inquiry into the Ameri-
can Sugar Refining company. This re-
port, it is expected, will contain rec
concentrations bearing on the sugar
tariff"
Upon the attitude of this ''insurgent'
republicans will depend the legislative
accomplishment of the senate. They
hold the balance of power as between
the regular" republicans and the dem
ocrats and without their acquiesence
nothing can be done by either of the
parties
Some of the regular" republicans
who hope to formulate tariff legisla
ton along republican lines claim thai
the "progressives" are committed tC
the support of the tariff board. In
surgent" senator's, however say they
expect to draw their conclusions from
the boards figures when submitted.
All factions indicate that there is NJ
disposition to surrender independence
Of action on tariff questions and few
profess belief that the federal board
findings will be followed blindly.
Little in the way of actual legisla
ton is likely until after the holiday re
cess. The urgent deficiency appropria
ton bill will be rushed through tC
meet emergency needs of the govern
ment and consideration of the othe
big supply measures will begin. Boil
political parties will seek advantage as
might accrue from an economy pro
gramme. There will be a big rivers
and harbors appropriation bill-popu
larly known along with the public
building bill, as the pork barrell"-
and hearings on this measure will be
gin this week.
Today's session of the senate will bt
perfunctory, the usual committees be
ing appointed to advise the presiden
and the house that the senate is il
session.
In the house interest will be focuses
on Representative Martin W. Little
ton of New York, who will defend him
sef against criticism as member o
the house steel trust investigating
committee. Democrats await th'
speech with concern because of tn
effect it may have upon harmony Il
the party councils, while republican
members eagerly await anything tina
i 1franrT