The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-04-17
DEMOCRATIC HOUSE AT WORK
ON NUMEROUS BILLS OF VAST
IMPORTANCE.
MAY Be A LONG SESSION
Congress Likely to Be in Session All
Summer-Champ Clark Has a His
toric Gavel From His Home
State.

Washington, d. c., April 16.-The
president of these United States has
congress once more upon his hands"
and unless all signs fail, he will have
congress with him all summer, for the
democrats, now in power for the first
time in sixteen years, have outlined
most ambitious program. They
have promised, so far as the house is
concerned, remedial legislation affect
ing the tariff; the passage of reso-
luton submitting to the states for
ratification a constitutional amend
ment providing for the election of
United States senators by popular
vote; the enactment into law of a
bill providing for the publication OF
campaign contributions and disburse
ments before election; the admission
of Arizona and New Mexico as states,
and finally the ratification of the Ca
madam reciprocity pact. This pro
gram, outlined by Speaker Clark, in
a very dignified and high-minded
speech, received sa1vos of applause
from his democratic brethren on the
opening day of congress and empha-
sized the unanimity which has char
acterized the action of the majority
since their assembling in the capital
city of the nation to look after the
peoples business. Two sentences
from Mr.. Clark's speech tell the char
acter of the man who now wields the
gavel in democratic house, and who
stands sponsor for the reforms
pledged to the country by the demo-
Gratis in the last national compaign.
mo man is fit to be law -giver for a
mighty people who yields to the de-
mands or solicitations of the few hav-
ing access to his ear said Speaker
Clark, "but is forgetful of that vast
multitude who may never hear his
voice or look into his face" The 9TH
er sentence, quite as strong and ev
cry bit as statesmanlike, was Mr.
Clark's utterance: "He serves his
party best, who serves his country
best"
Judging from the number of bills
introduced, looking to the improve
ment of particular rivers and streams
throughout the country, and which
have been referred to the rivers and
harbors committee of the house, Their,
will be lots of work before the COM
mittee when it begins consideration
of the annual river and harbor bill
Legislation of river and harbor
character is not expected, however,
at the present session of congress.
Speaker Clark, in his speech at the
opening session of the house having
been specific in the legislation to be
enacted during the extraordinary ses-
sion and which did not include men,
tion of any appropriations for water
way improvements. The national riv-
ers and harbors congress, which has
persistently urged congress to adopt
the annual feature of river and hor-
Dor bills, realizes that there is still
much to do in the way of education
to the end that the precedent of an
nual bills be established Although
annual appropriations for waterways
and harbors have been urged by for
mer committees of congress dealing
with the subject, its accomplishment
rests with the 62nd congress. and to
bring this desired end about the ma
tional rivers and harbors congress
will bend every effort to show con-
gress that economy lies back of the |
legislation now going on for improved |
waterways.
Speaker Champ Clark Is the posses
sor of gavel that has a romantic
history attached to it, but according
to some of the speakers democratic |
associates, is suggestive of ghost in
habited regions and 'spooks." Accord |
ing to the history sent along with the
gavel, it is made from weod taken
from the apron log of an old mill dam
in Rails county, Missouri. which Mr..
Clark calls the great Mesopotamian