The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1911-04-06

democrats Still at Sea as to
What Legislation They
Will Advocate.

,a,,fnp Clark il Now in the Speakers
chair and for a Very Brief Period
The Democrats Are HAPPY
md Harmon on Hand To Help
Them steer the Old sfuIe-Ffght
over Tariff Legislation.
Washington. ID. C.. April 4.-The
S.z.y-second Congress met in extra
ordinary session to-day. What the
se~sIcn will bring forth in the way OF
regtglation, or when IL will adjourn.
se-e matters on which no one In
Washington cares 10 venture an opin-
.DH.
The Democrats took full possession
.. the House and put Champ Clark,
o< Missouri, in the Speakers chair. In
his speech accepting the honor. Dir.
TX warned the Democratic MEM
..- that the eyes of the country
ere upon them; that the party was
r. rial, and that IL had an oppor-
,.nity for the first time in sixteen
years to 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 hover
I'd about the Capitol, and there is no
question but that maneuvers for po-
Htical advantage will play an impor-
raut part in the affairs Of the House
and the Senate during the next few
months.
Bryan and Harmon Fishing.
William ]. Bryan, Of Nebraska, and
Governor Harmon, of Ohio, were
prominent figures on the floor Of the
House during the opening ceremonies
and both shared in the Democratic
demonstrations that marked the day.
Had Governor Woodrow Wilson been
present, the list Of generally accept
ed Democratic Presidential POSSIBLE
tiles would have been complete. The
Senate's opening was sedate as usual.
And while the leadership of the up
per branch of the new Congress re-
mains in Republican hands, the
change in the personnel of those as
suming command was almost as
marked as in the House itself. AL
drich, Hale, Beveridge and dozen
others of both the regular and pro-
gressiVe factions of the majority were
missed.
President Taft's message, dealing
with Canadian reciprocity alone, will
be read in the two houses of Con-
gress tomorrow. 1t was with the
idea of securing action on 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 ses-
sion. They declare they are not
alarmed at the threat of the Demo
Gratis to hold back the reciprocity
agreement until action is secured on
general tariff bills.
The differences of opinion prom
ises soon to bring the two branches
into sharp conflict. A legislative
deadlock is freely predicted and the
length of the session seems now to
depend upon how long the Demo
the Republican Senate with general
legislation bills.
From political standpoint it is
likely that one of the most impor-
tant things the Democratic House
will be TO order a thorough investi-
cation of the various departments
and branches of the Government SER
vice. The Democrats claim that there
have been no such investigation fol-
twenty years and that much good
campaign material as we'll as much
saving to the people will result from
them
The session of the House to-day
was devoted wholly to the work OF
organization The adoption of the
new rules was put over until to-mor-
row. The Republicans under the new
leadership of Representative Mann
OF Illinois, will make their first fight
on these. The Republicans resent
the action of the Democrats in in
! ereasing the membership of various
House committees without increasing
percentage of minority representa-
ton.
The Republican insurgents in The
House indicated their purpose o.
continuing to act independently b.
declining to vote for Mr.. Mann fol
Speaker and by giving their supper
10 Representative Cooper, of Wis
consin.
Inc insurgents gained a membel
When Representative Theron Aiken
OF New York, was elected as an I'm
dependent Democrat" and heretofor,
carried on the Domnorofio rolls oac