The daily sentinel. [volume] (Grand Junction, Colo.) 1893-current, 1911-12-04
US CONGRESS
OPENS FOR
WORK
Big Days for Politicians. -Money Is
sues Are at Stake.-New Mem
beers Have Many New Ideas
on This Matter.
TARIFF QUESTION IMPORTANT.

Associated Press.
Washington, Dec. 4.-"The most
important session since the Civil
war" is the prediction made by many
democratic leaders for the first reg
ular session of the SiXty-second con-
gress, which opened today.
Stirring days ahead" are fore
cast by republican members, and on
both sides of the big party line mem
bers in the house and senate are
drawn up to fight out weighty prob
lens of legislation in session that
Will lead up to the presidential cam
paign of 1912.
OF importance as to the bearing 1t
will have on the approaching polit-
ical contest in the nation: of partic-
ular interest because of party differ
ences-regulars and Insurgents on
the republican side; reactionaries
and progressives among the demo-
crats-and of unusal Significance
because of the heavy legislative pro-
gram, 1t is at least certain that. there
viii be one of the liveliest sessions of
congress in many years.
With the gavels falling in the
mouse and senate at noon, the tariff
and the trusts stood out as the most
| important subjects for legislation
with big fight assured in both
horses. Many other great questions
'cntl ontng the congress, all of them
ID be approached vigorously. include
monetary reform, ratification of ar
bitration treaties with Great Britain
and France, and the loan treaties
with Nicaragua and Honduras: Alas
kan legislation, the election sena-
tors by direct vote of the people.
pension bills and the regular and
permanent annual appropriations, to
be under the direction this time in
the house by democratic committee.
| While the legislative struggles are
in progress, politics is certain not to
be oyershadowed. With the demo-
Gratis looking ahead with sanguine
hope for the triumph at the polls
next November, and insurgent re-
publicans striking out in earnest to
capture their party convention, If pos
slble; every move made in either
branch of congress from now until
adjournment will be Thoroughly CON
sidered from political as Well as leg
islative viewpoints. The political pot
in Washington viii soon begin to
boil, with the republican national
committee meeting here December
?, to be followed January by the
democratic national committee. Sc
lection OF convention cities, choosing
of committee chairmen who will
manage the big campaigns and plans
for the approaching party conventions
and the subsequent battle of the bal
lots VIII attract as much attention
from the nations legislators as will
the making of the nations laws.
To enliyen the political interest in
both houses there are candidates for
the presidency casting their shadows
across the horizon.
Champ Clark, the speaker of the
house, already considered among the
democratic possibilities, may at any
time make presidential pronounce.
ment to his colleagues: and Repre-
sentative Oscar w. Underwood OF
Alabama, the democratic floor lead
er. also is talked of throughout the
country as presidential timber.
In the senate. MIR. La Toilette al
ready has been proclaimed by pro-
gressive republicans as their choice
to wrest the nomination from Mr..
Taft.
In the house the political interest
Will be further complicated by the
attitude of Mr.. Bryan. who has quar-
relied with Mr.. Underwood and
branded him as a reactionary and
now criticizes Speaker Clark in what
many democrats declare is an effort
to cause breach between the speak
er and the majority leader of the
house.
The tariff legislative program will
follow the long awaited report of
the tariff board which is expected
to submit the result of its investiga-
lions on wool and cotton before the
The ways and means
committee of the house, however, un-
; der direction of Chairman Under