The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1912-12-04
LAWMAKERS ON
THEIR JOBS AGAIN
Final Session Of SlIty-second
Congress Opened Monday
USUAL SCENES At CAPITOL
Adjournment Taken In Both Houses
After organization-Llttle Leslsla.
tion Of Importance on the Program.

tion OF Importance on the Program,
At the stroke OF IL Monday the
Sixty-second congress convened for
the short session, which will extend
until President-elect Wilson takes the
oath of Office on March next.
Senators and congressman began to
gather at the capitol long before the
hour of convening, as is their custom
on occasions of this kind and the
scenes on the floors OF the two houses
were similar to those in former years.
The Democrats were enthusiastic, the
overwhelming victory in the recent
election giving them plenty of reason
for feeling happy. The Republican
members wore smiles, too, and did not,
by their features at least, show that
they minded their defeat in the least
and good naturedly accepted the
banterings OF their Democratic breth.
rem.
The eyes in the crowded galleries OF
the house followed closely the going
and coming of Uncle Joe" Cannon,
Nick" Longworth and others, who to-
day begin their last session as men,
bers OF the lower legislative body.
These old timers were caught in the
landslide and for two years at least
after the Sixty-second congress ad-
iourns sine die they will be retired
TO private life.
Since the death of Senator Frye,
president pro tenn OF the senate. that
body has been unable to select a sue
cessor. Senators would not ven
ture opinions as to the outcome OF the
struggle over a presiding officer. SEN
ator Galinger and Senator Bacon have
acted alternately as presiding officer
by unanimous consent. Senator Bacon
was on the rostrum Monday and will
act as presiding officer until Dec. 1s
by an agreement made last August.
While the tariff question is not
scheduled for consideration this win
ter the three months of the short ses.
sion will be crowded with legislative
work. In addition to the annual grist
Of appropriation bills congress will be
forced to dispose OF a quantity OF gen.
ersl and special legislative matter left
pending with the adjournment of the
long session in August
During the early part OF the session
the house will be busy shaping the
appropriation bills, while the senate Is
iisposing of the impeachment trial Of
Judge Robert w. Archibald OF the COM
merce court, set to begin tomorrow.
Several important measures will be
pushed for early action in the senate,
among them the resolution OF Senator
Works OF California to limit the presi-
dent to a single six.year term; the
sheppardKenyon bill, prohibiting the
shipment of liquor into prohibition
states; and the vocational education
bill OF Senator Page OF Vermont. The
Dill Of Senator Borah creating a de-
partment of labor is also scheduled for
sarly consideration.
The department Of labor bill has
passed the house, but that body would
still have to act upon the vocational
educational bill and the six.year presi-
Dental term measure IL they passed
The senate. The prohibition liquor
measure will be pushed in the house
by Representative Sheppard OF Texas,
who will succeed Senator Bailey in the
next congress.
Energetic efforts will be made in
both houses to secure legislation
amending the Sherman antitrust law
and limiting contributions to political
campaign funds. The house judiciary
committee Is under instructions to
conduct an investigation into viola
tions of the Sherman law with view
to preparing legislation.
Senator Kenyons bill amending the
Sherman law, which has been before
The senate interstate commerce COM
mittee, undoubtedly will be brought
up for early action in the senate.
Meantime the committee headed by
Senator Clapp probably will formulate
measure limiting campaign contTbu-
tions, based upon its extensive investi-
cations. Several bills on this subject
are pending in both house and senate.
Efforts will be made in the session
to repeal at least part OF the
Canadian reciprocity tariff agreement.
In addition to these measures the
calendars of both house and senate
are crowded with bills of more or less
Importance, most of which will die
with the passing of the Sixty-second
songress without even having been dis
cussed seriously.
An unusually large number OF out
siders are in Washington. The an
nouncement by Chairman Underwood
Of the ways and means committee
that hearings will begin Immediately
after the holidays was a signal to all
the Industrial interests and to I'M
borters to hurry to Washington and
make their plans to be heard.
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