The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-04-07
IN SPECIAL SESSION ON THE
CALL OF PRESIDENT TAFT,
TO PASS RECIPROCITY.
DEMOCRATS RULE HOUSE
First Caucuses Of Both Parties Arc
Vigorous and Harmonious-Mann.
of Illinois, Leads the House
Minority.

Washington, D. C.-The interesting
SITUATION or democratic house and
a republican senate meeting to con.
slider a Taft administration measure
directs unusual attention to the con.
vening of the s~ixty-second congress in
extraordinary session. The politica
complexion of the two branches of con.
gress is as follows:
House democrats, 22S; republicans,
100; socialist, ]; vacancies, 2, the
ninth Iowa and the second Pennsyl-
vania districts.
Senate, republicans, so; democrats,
Al; vacancies, ], from Colorado.
The roll calls in the two branches
show some remarkable changes from
the last session. In the house the
democrats will show a gain of fifty
o u members, and the republicans a
loss of ~fifty-five, the socialist member,
Victor Berger, of Milwaukee, account
ing for the difference in the equation.
Fifty Republican Senators.
Instead of the fifty-nine republicans
who occupied seats in the senate on
March 4, there will be only fifty to-
morrow. The ranks of the minority
Will be increased from thirty-two to
forty-one and to forty-two when the
vacancy in Colorado is filled. There
was one vacancy in the last session,
caused by the death of the late Sena-
tor Hughes. of Colorado
The senate republicans just now are
without a caucus chairman. Senator
Hale was the chairman, but he will
not be in the congress-. At the
caucus Senator Cullom, of Illinois, will
be chosen chairman by reason Of
has declined on account of i'll health.
ne is the senior republican in the
senate. Senator Gallinger, OF New
Hampshire, will be made chairman Of
the senate committee on COMMITTEES.
Representative James r. Mann. of
illinois, will be the minority floor lead
er. receiving the complimentary yote
OF his party for speaker.
In harmony and with vigor, the
democrats went at their caucus work
of organization.
The first act of the caucus was to
issue directions looking to the abolish
ment OF about one-fourth of the pa
tronage jobs of the house, saving
thereby $120,6SO; di~scontinuance of
six committees at a saving of $12,OJ
and abandonment of the practice of
allowing employees a months extra
pay, saving $4,000. This is a total
saving of 1882, $50 of last years total
expenditures for house employees of
about $7S0,OO0.
A legislative program was adopted,
which is expected to confine the activi-
ties Of the coming extra session of
congress to popular election of sen
ators, Canadian reciprocity, tariff re-
vision, investigation of governmental
departments, congressional reappor-
tionment, statehood for Arizona and
New Mexico, general deficiency appro-
priations. District of Columbia legis-
lation and publicity of campaign con-
tributions.
Important changes of the procedure
and a general reorganization will re-
suit from the action of the Democrats.
The power of naming committees was
definitely taken from the speaker by
the rules and lodged in the house it.
self. Committee members are to be
elected by the house not only in the
first instance, but also in the filling of
vacancies.
The important changes in the rules
under which the new congress will
operate are:
The selection of COMMITTEES by the
house.
A provision to prevent filibustering
under the rule giving authority to dis
charge committees from consideration
of bills.
A provision permitting amendments
appropriation bills whenever those
amendments will result in retrench-
men of national expenditures.
Authority for bills toe ONE up twice
for passage under the unanimous con-
sent privilege.
The caucus was presided over by
Albert S. Burleson, of Texas. as
and W. A. Ashbrook, of
Ohio, as secretary.
South Trimble, OF Frankfort, KY,
was unanimously elected clerk. U. S.
Jackson, Of Indiana, was elected SER
seant-at-arms. Joseph J.. Sinnott, of
Virginia, was elected doorkeeper.
William M. Dunbar, of Augusta. Ca,
was elected postmaster. Rev. E. Cou-
len, the blind chaplain, was reelected
reclamation to his position.