The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1913-12-19
CONGRESS- IS OPENED
SPEAKER CLARK AND VlCE-PRES-
IDENT MARSHALL CALL The
HOUSES TO ORDER.
MANY MEMBERS ARE ABSENT
Ambitious Program Is Laid Out for
the Nations Lawmakers, and They
May Be Eusy Most Of Next Year
Women Fill Galleries.

Washington, Dec. AT the stroke
OF noon gavels sounded in senate and
house signalling the opening OF the
second, or first regular. session of the
Sixty-third congress
The familiar figure OF Speaker
Champ Clark was seen in the house
chamber. In the senate Vice-Presi-
dent Marshall called the senators TO
order. This was the first regular ses-
sion of congress in many years which
was ushered in under entirely Demo
cratic auspices-with Democrats in
control Of the house and senate and
a Democratic executive in the White
House.
AS is usual on such occasions, the
galleries were filed, there being
brilliant display Of millinery and win
ter fashions by women spectators.
The diplomatic galleries in both
houses were we'll filed, diplomats of
South America and Central America
predominating in the attendance.
In the house the blind chaplain of
that body. Rev. Henry n. Couden, de-
livered the invocation, after which a
few new members were escorted to
the speakers desk to take the oath
OF office. This ceremony over the
house proceeded to embarrassing rou-
tine business Routine business and
preliminary skirmishing over the cur
rency bill occupied the attention OF
the senate
Subjects They Will Take UP.
Many members, who were detained
here during the summer and autumn
months. have not returned yet, some
declaring they would remain away un-
til after January 1, SO as to be al
home for the holiday season. They
think little important business viii
be transacted until after the begin
ming of the new year.
Although the program had not beer
definitely formulated, members lool
forward to tackling one Of the mos
ambitious legislative tasks that con
gress in long time has attempted
Here are some of the subjects Of legis
lation that the new congress will take
up:
Final action on the currency bill.
Antitrust legislation.
Rural credits.
Naval program.
Passage Of dozen appropriation
bills.
Train safety and safety on tn
ocean.
Regulation of the shipping trust.
Final action on the reports of lobb
investigating committees.
The cost of living problem.
Legislation to protect women work
ers.
River and harbor budget.
Legislation looking to the buildin
of a government railroad in Alaska.
May Have to Consider Mexico.
Another important matter which
is believed will engage the attentio
VI congress is discussion of the Me,
lean problem. However, this q
ponds on the action of President Wi
son. There will be no action relat.v
the president gives it his approval.
to Mexico most members think, unles
Congress will be on the job unit
about December 10, when an adjourn
ment will be taken over the Christina
holidays until January D. Appropri;
ton bills will be under considerable
within a week or two, it being the e.
pectation that the District appropri
ton bill will be the first one consi
cred. Many members predicted ths
congress would be in session durin
the coming summer and perhaps u
til the autumn.