Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-02

legislative halls the titles Of governor
elect, respectively, of Ohio and New
York
Senator Crane Of Massachusetts,
long regarded as the republican whip"
of the senate, who also retired volun-
tarily; Senators Bourne Of Oregon,
Guggenheim of Colorado, Wetmore
Of Rhode Island. Curtis Of Kansas,
Paynter Of Kentucky, Gamble of South
Dakota, Brown Of Nebraska and many
others, democrats and republicans
alike, began today their last three
months of service, before voluntary or
enforced retirement to private life.
Sorrow for the late Vice President
Sherman overshadowed the spirit of
democratic triumph in the senate, and
tempered the spirit of greetings
among returning members. Custom
decreed that the upper house should
adjourn Immediately after meeting to-
day, out of respect for the memory of
the vice president; and in contempla-
tion of this, senators were early in
their seats.
WORK Is MIXED.
The outline of the winters work
seemed inextricably mixed, as senators
and congressman met in friendly con-
ferences, with the prospect of tariff
revision In the special session that is
TO assemble under President Wilson
next spring. In the senate republican
leaders we're slow to admit the certain
ty Of democratic control on all tariff
problems, even with the great increase
in membership that is to come with
the new congress.
The reassembling of the house drew
together a host Of men, long promi-
nently identified with republican affairs
in that body to whom the elections
had brought political disaster. Among
them were Nicholas Longworth of
Ohio, John Dalzell OF Pennsylvania,
Ebenezer ]. Hill of Connecticut and
John A Needham of California, all
members of the powerful ways and
means committee, and leaders in ad-
yoCacy and defense of republican
tariffs.
OF the so-called "old republican
guard" the force thai supported and
framed the Payne-Aldrich tariff law
in the opening of President Taft's
Representatives Olmsted of Pennsyl-
remain on the ways and means COM
mittee after March 4, Representative
Payne of New York and Representa-
tive Fordney of Michigan.
AS TO PROGRESSIVE INFLUENCE.
In the ranks of the last teTmers, -
also. were Representatives McKinlay,
/ Wilson, Foss and Prince of Illinois;
[ Representative Norris of Nebraska,
who is soon to step into the senate ;
| Representative Olmsted of Pennsyl-
vania, and Mccall of Massachusetts,
republicans, who were not candidates
| for reelection, and Representative
| Crumpacker, whose defeat in Indiana
gave the democrats a solid delegation
from that state for the next session
| of congress.
The extent Of progressive influence
/ in the winter session is the subject
Of general gossip at both ends of the
capitol. OF the strong insurgent re-
publican element in the house. which
/ has voted with the democrats upon
/ tariff measures during the last two
/ years. many will wind up their service
with this session. In the Kansas dele
cation, Victor Murdock was the only
so-called insurgent TO return to his
seat today with a title for two more
years. Representatives Roose, Young
and Jackson, all comparatively new
members, went down before democratic
opponents.
The presidents message is usually
the most important business on the
reassembling of congress. But as the
first day is marked by so much hustle
and confusion OF returning senators
and members, with their exchange
OF greetings. the delivery Of the mes
sage to congress, and its formal read
ing to both houses, usually goes over
to the second day. This will doubt
less be the procedure this year, sc
that the receipt and reading Of the
message will go over until tomorrow.