The searchlight., 1911-12-08
CONGRESS OPENS
LEADERS PREDICT THAT IT WILL.
BE BUSY AND INTER
EsTINo.
POLITICS and LAWS MIX
Proceedings May Mako and Unmake
Presidential candidstes-Trvsts
and Tariff Occupy Chief
Place.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington, d. C.-Congress has
started once more to travel the patti
Of a busy and interesting regular ses-
sion.
The two words busy" and Inter.
esting" as forecast Of the proceed.
ings are used on high authority. In
the rush Of the opening the comment
OF the leaders was brief.
II will be an interesting session.
Senator La Toilette.
II will be a 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 the
Democrats. 1t may not be necessary
to remind the country that the last
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 80 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-
tative words that consideration of leg
islation was in order.
This Session 10 Critical.
The galleries were filed with sight.
seers. for an intense interest attaches
to what is to be done at this session.
II 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 party's 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
il. to. decide not only on its probable
effect on the country, but its effect
on politics.
As for the Democratic leaders, they
seem to be determined that II the tar
in boards report on wool is in &C
| cordance with the Information gained
by members Of the ways and means
committee, which. of course. Is dom
mated by the Democrats. Legislation
based on the boards report must b,
passed. The party leaders. however
seem to be determined that II tn,
| tariff boards report has In II suspi
| cion of leaning toward the side of du
ties which are too high. bill cutting
those duties shall be passed and sen
over to the Republican senate fol
commendation or condemnation.
Trust Problem to the Fore.
No sooner had congress opene,
than the trust matter again put IL
interrogation to the lawmakers. Sew
eral bills have been drawn alread.
which represent the varying views o
what ought to be done to the Sher
man law. This matter will b
thrashed out thoroughly before Jun
comes. and with the tariff II will OF
cupy the chief place Of interest an
debate.
House and senate at the last ses
sion sanctioned a measure looking I
the popular election OF senator.
There is a difference between tn
house and senate as to the exact forr
which the resolution on the subjec
should take and 1t was left in confel
ence when the special session al
journed. The conference committe
will meet at once an6 attempt to a,
lust the difficulty and to make II POI
sible for the states tC decide quickl
whether or not the chinge in the forI
Of election of the members Of the VI
per house shall be male.
House Leaders A-e Primed.
Representative Underwood. Dem,
crat, of Alabama. the leader of tn
house Democracy ant chairman {
the committee on way. and means.
ready to combat on tn, tariff and tn
trust questions. and dher question
for that matter. Jane r. Mann. th
' floor leader of the Republican mino
ity. II will be Mr.. Unlerwood's dut
, and perhaps delight D try to max
, capital for his party in the comm
= presidential campaign, md a like dut
. and delight will attaci to Mr.. Mani
, who will employ his isual resource
:, fulness to do what he an to brighte
the presidential prospects Of his ow
party.
In the senate within a day or tw
the controversy will sart anew owe
: the election of a president pro ten
Senator Frye. of Maint who held th
office for many years. esigned il at
= late day in the extraordinary sessiol
Mr.. Frye has since diet
acnRE lNJO0SD N WRECK