Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-12-05
CBy Associated Prss.)


CBy Associated Prszs.)
WASHINGTON. Dec. A-Both houses
of the "a congress convened at noon
today. Practically every member Of each
house was in his seat The galleries
we're crowded and hundreds OF people
we're unable TO gain admission.
The expected speech OF Representative
Litueton. of New York. regarding the
steel trust question. was the sensational
incident featuring the opening day or
congress.
NEWSPAPERS BARRED.
There was a furry In the house Just
before IL was called 70 order. caused by
the distribution OF copies Of local news
paper which featured news OF a mass
meeting At which Representatives Little
ton and Young were attacked by Henry
B. Martin. OF the so-caIled American
Antitrust league.
copy was laid on the desk Of each
member or the house
Instantly Mr.. Lhtleton Indignantly
rushed 70 the speakers ONCE and de-
u1aaded 10 know BY what right these
copies had been allowed distribution in
the house chamber. The copies were or
dered Immediately gathered up and taken
from the chamber.
AN OLD TIMER GONE
Speaker Clark looked over the crowd
before he took his place.
Il wonder where ne is" he murmured.
gazingly intenIly at the big clock oppo-
site the speakers table.
-Whor' asked a clerk.
An old regular" answered the speak
er. He's a colored man He has sat
next 10 the clock at the opening OF con-
gress for every session in the last Is
years. he must be dead"
The senate was IN session only seven
teen minutes. A committee was APP
pointed to notify the president that the
senate was IN session
HOKE SMITH SWORN IN.
Hoke Smith and Obediah Gardener,
the new senators from Georgia and
Maine respectively. were sworn into
once and Charles Curtiss. of Kansas.
was unanimously elected TO serve as
president pro tempore until next Tues
day. December IL. to permit Vice Presi-
dent Sherman TO attend the funreal or
Mrs. Sherman's mother In Utica N \.
On motion OF Senator Bailey the daily
hour OF meeting was fixed at 2 O'Clock
and the senate adjourned until that
time tomorrow.
The most important session since the
civil war" Is the prediction made BY
many Democratic leaders for the first
regular session OF the ed congress which
opened today.
stirring days ahead" are forecasted
BY Republican members. and on both
sides OF the big party line members In
the house and senate are drawn up TO
fight out weighty problems OF legislation
in q session that will lead up TO the
presidential campaign Of 1912.
OF importance as to the bearing II
viii have on the approaching political
contest IN the nation, OF particular IN
terest because OF party difrerences-reg-
u1ars and Insurgents on the Republican
side; reactionaries and progressives
among The Democrats-and Of unusual
significance because OF the heavy legis-
Iative program. II Is at least certain
that this win be one OF the liveliest
sessions Of congress in many years.
TARIFF AND TRUSTS.
With the gaveis falling In the house
and senate at noon. the. tarin and the
trusts stood out as the most important
subjects for legislation with a big fight
assured in both houses. Many other
great questions Confronting sis congress.
all OF them 10 be approached vigorous
" include monetary reform. ratification
OF arbitration treaties with Great Bit
with Nicaragua and Honduras Alaskan
legislation. the election CT senator's by
direct vote OF the people. pension bills
and the regular and pernlans III annual
appropriations. 70 be under he .lirec-
ton this tiTue In the house by a Demo-
cratic committee
POLITICAL STRUGGLES.
While the legislative struggles are in
progress, politics is carrsin not to be
overshadowed- With the Democrats
looking abe. with sanguine hope for
triumph at the polls next November and
insurgent Republicans striking out in
earnest to capture their party conven-
ton. II possible; every move made in
either branch OF congress rom now I'M
I'll adjournment win be thoroughly con-
sidered from political as well as legis-
latfve viewpoints. The political pot in
washington viii soon begin to boil.
with the Republican national committee
meeting here December - TO be fol-
lowed January by the Democratic ma
tional committee Selection Of conven-
ton cities. choosing OF committee chair
men who viii manage the big campigns
and plans for the approaching party
conventions and the subsequent hattie OF
the ballots viii attract as much ate
zion from the nations legislators as
viii the making OF the nations laws.
To enIiven the political interest in
both houses there are candidates for
CONTINUED On rage SIX. Column %