The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1913-04-11
CONGRESS MEETS
in EXTRA SESSION

majority, began business at noon
Just as Speaker Clark dropped the
gavel in the House, Majority Leader
Underwood dropped the tariff rsvi-
sion bill into the hopper. thereby Of
ficially starting the business that
promises TO keep congress at WORK
through the Washington "dogdaysn
and well into August. The House re-
elected Speaker Clark. He received
271 votes, James Mann. of Illinois Ill
votes and Victor Murdock, progress
sive Is.
Washington. d, CA complete re-
vision of the tariff law; modification
of the nations currency system; pro-
posals for Philippine independence,
for repeal of the Panama Canal free
toll provision, and for the immediate
construction of goveynment-owned
railways in alaska, are the chief prob
lens confronting the first session of
the Sixty-third Congress, beginning
at noon today.
Summoned by President Wilson for
the express purpose of revising the
tariff, the new Congress faces extreme
pressure from the many quarters for
early action on the other subjects
named. Whether any of these other
than the tariff. will be taken up DUR
ing the special session depends upon
the progress made with the tariff re-
vision, and the success that may at
tend preliminary work upon general
currency reform bill.
For the first time in eighteen years,
Congress assembled with both it's
branches under control of the demo-
Gratis, and with a democratic presid-
ent to cooperate in shaping its pol
icies, and to approve its acts. The
Tariff law to be passed by the special
session that opened Monday will be
the first general democratic revision
of the revenue laws since the act of
August %, 1894, known to history as
the Wilson on-Gormanlaw,n - and which
President Cleveland allowed to be-
come a law without his signature.
Scores of familiar faces were absent
in both houses. In the House, the
complete change in the seating ar
rangements had made even old mem
bers strangers TO the scene. In place
of the mahogany desks and swivel
chairs to which members had clung
for many years, stiff rows of leather
upholstered benches arranged insemi-
circles, filed the House chamber
The new bench system, somewhat
similar to that of the British House of
commons, gives no desk space at
which members can write or worK
while in the House Chamber.
New members dominate the larger
House in the new Congress. The in
crease of the membership of the
House from 396 to 435, which became
effective March 4, brought in larger
proportion of new members than have
appeared in any Congress in recent
years; and made more conspicuous
the absence of old-time leaders, such
as Former Speaker Cannon, John
Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, Nicholas
Longworth of Ohio, Samuel w. Nc
Call of Massachusetts,, i. j. Hill of
Connecticut, and William Is. McKin.
ley of illinois.
The work before Congress Monday
consisted chiefly of organization busi-
ness. The Senate had completed its
organization early in March, during
the special session called TO act on
President Wilson'S appointments.
Vice President Marshall served his
early apprenticeship as a presiding
officer, and the Democratic leaders
took charge of the Senate, elected
officers and chose committees at that
session. and were prepared for gem
eral legislative work. The organiza-
ton of the House was expected to
consume all of Mondays session of
that body.
President Wilson'S message was
read to both houses shortly after the
beginning OF the session Tuesday.
In his call summoning the extraord-
mary session of Congress, the Presi-
dent did not specify the purpose for
which it was to be convened. Mem
bers of Congress who had talked with
the executive expected that the mes
sage, prepared to greet the new Con-
eress, would urge action upon the
tariff as the first duty of the Demo
cratic majorities in the two houses;
bur would leave the way open for ac-
ton on the currency and other press
ing matters, if it is decided later tc
take them up.
Democratic majorities in both House
and Senate are considered strong
enough to carry through the program
q tariff revision determined upon BY
recent conferences. in which the pres
q nj Il n -,