Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-12-07
CONGRESS OPENS
BUSY SESSION
Members will Study Every PROPOSE
ton From All Angles.
TARIFF AND TRUSTS PROMINENT
Galleries Filled With Spectators
Eager to Know Every Move Made
by All interests Decide
Presidential Candidates.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

1
Washington, Dec. 4.-Congress has
started once more to travel the path
Of a busy and interesting regular ses-
sion.
The two words busy" and Inter
esting" as forecast OF tine 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
It will be busy session. -Speaker
Clark.
The lower house Of congress today,
for the first time In many years at q
regular session, is In control OF Che
Democrats. 1t may not be necessary
to remind the country that the las
session was a special one convened
by the call Of the president, and that
its 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
ltativet words that consideration Of leg.
lslation was in order.
This Session 10 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 partys prospects.
Every man in house and senate will
be on guard over his tongue, and
every bit Of proposed legislation will
be studied thoroughly by the leaders
Of the party Of the member proposing
1t, to decide not only on its probable
effect on the country, but its effect
on politics.
President Taft from this hour will
watch the proceedings Of house and
senate with keen and at times anxe
lous 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
and wll feel perhaps that
the prospect Of reelection has been
cleared of overhanging clouds.
As for the Democratic leaders, they
seem to be determined that II the tar
IL boards report on wool is in ac-
cordance with the information gained
by members of the ways and means
which, Of course, is dom.
mated by the Democrats, legislation
BASED on the boards report must be
passed. The party leaders, however,
'eem to be determined that If the
artff boards report mas in It a suspi-
ion Of leaning toward the side Of
luties which are too high, a bill cut
ing those duties shall be passed and
ent over to the Republican senate
or commentator or condemnation.
Trust Problem to the Fore. rs /,
No sooner had congress opened
han the trust matter again put its
to the lawmakers. Sew.
'ral bills have been drawn already
Vi Oh represent varying views OF
Whit ought to be done to the Sher-
nan law. This matter will be thresned
ut thoroughly before June comes, and
nth the tariff it will occupy the chief
lace of interest and debate. ,,
House and senate at the last SEES
ion sanctioned a measure looking to
he popular election of senators.
here is difference between the
t ----------------