The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-05
Democrats1'a keFullPos-
session Of House at
Extra Session.
CLARK IN
SPEAKERS CHAIR
Shadow Of Approaching Presi-
dental Fight Hovers About
Capitol-Bryan and Harmon
Share in Democratic Dem
onstrations-Fa1niliar
Faces Missing.

Washington April i.-The sixty
second Congress met IN extraordinary
session to-day. What the session will
bring forth in the way OF legislation
or when II will adjourn We're matters
Of which no one In Washington cared
to venture an opinion.
The Democrats took full possession 4
OF the House and put Champ Clark.
of Missouri. In the Speakers chair
III his 'specch accepting the honor Mr..
Clark warned the Democratic mem
bers that the eyes of the country were \
upon them: that the party was on
trial and that 1t had an opportunity 4
for the first time in sixteen years to II
prove It's worthiness for a still higher
expression of confidence on the part
OF the American people.
Throughout the day the shadow OF
the coming presidential fight lowered
about the Capitol. and there is no
question but that manoeuvres for POI
nucal advantage will play an impor-
tant part In the affairs OF the House
and the Senate during the next few
months
Bryan and Harmon.
William Jennings Bryan. Of Nebras-
ka. and Governor Harmon, OF Ohio,
were prominent figures on the floor
OF the House during the opening cere-E
monies. and both shared in the Demo-
cratic demonstrations that marked the
day. Had Governor Woodrow Wilson
been present the list OF generally ac-
copied presidential possibilities would
have been complete.
The Senntc's opening was sedate, as
usual. While the leadership of the
upper branch of the new Congress re
mains in Republican hands, the change
In the personnel Of those assuming
command was almost .as marked as in
the House itself. ri y3t
Aldrich, Hale. Beveridge and a dozen
others of both the regular and pro-
gressivc factions Of the majority were
missed.
President Tafts message. dealing
with Canadian reciprocity alone, will
be read in the two houses OF Con-
gress Tomorrow It was with the
idea of securing action OH this agree
ment that the extraordinary session
was called.
The Democrats OF the House. how
ever. have formulated an ambitious
program. which includes the revision
of a number of the schedules OF the
Payne Aldrich tariff law.
Republican leaders OF the Senate
have announced that there shall be no
tariff legislation. AT the extra session.
They declare they are not alarmed at
the threat OF the Democrats to hold
back tho reciprocity agreement until
This difference OF opinion promises
soon to bring the two branches into
sharp conflict. a legislative deadlock
is generally predicted. and the length
of the session seems now to depend
upon how long the Democratic House
will continue to lombard the Repub-
lican Senate with general bills. III.
From presidential standpoint 1t Is
likely that one OF the first things the
Democratic House Will do Will be to
order a thorough investigation Of the
various departments and branches OF
the government service. The Demo
Gratis claim that there have been no
such Investigations for twenty years.
and that much good campaign mate
rial. as we'll as much saving to the peo-
pie. will result from them
The session OF the House to-day was
devoted wholly TO the work OF or
ganization. The adoption OF the new
rules was put over until tomorrow.
The Republicans under the new leader-
ship of Representative Mann. Of iii
nois, will make their first light OH
these. The Republicans resent the ac-
ton Of the Democrats in increasing
the membership of various House COM
mittecs without increasing the per-
centage OF minority representation Fl
The Republican Insurgents in the
House indicated their purpose OF con-
tinuing to act Independently by de-
clining 10 vote for Mr.. Mann for Y
Speaker. and by giving their Supports
TO Representative Cooper, or Wiscon- IS
sir.
4 New InsurEent.
The Insurgents gained member
when Representative Theron Akin. OF
New York. elected as an "Independent
Democrat" and heretofore carried on
the Democratic rolls, cast his lot with
them and chose a scat on the Repuhli-
can side. Representative Berger. ot
Wisconsin. the sole Socialist III the
House voted present" during tho
spe akership balloting. He also chose
n seat on the Republican side
Because" he afterwards explained,
II belong to the opposition"
The drawing Tor seats attracted keen
interest a page, blindfolded. sat at the
clerks desk and drew numbered mar
blcs from ballot box Each member
had previously oeen given a number In =
alphabetical order. AS the marbles 5
were drawn and their names called, 4
the members entered the chamber and
chose any seat that remained vacant
Because OF their heavy majority. Il
was necessary for thirty Democrats,
including many prominent ones. TO pre-.
empt strip OF seats on the Republican
side Four Of these are committee
chairmen--Sulzer. Foreign Affairs:
Lloyd Accounts: Johnson, District OF
Columbia, and Sparkman. Rivers and h
Harbors. Four others are members of
the ail-powerful Committee on Ways
and Means and Committee on Commit
tees--IIughcs New Jersey: Shackels
ford, Missouri Kitchin, North Cares