The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-08
UNUSUAL ACTIVITY
MARKS OpEN|NGOF
THE EXTRA SESSION
Session Enlivened by Pro-
gressive Organization
in House
SUFFRAGE PETITION
ADDS TO NOVELTY
Decision of WiIso <rAppear Before
Both Houses g aTariff Issue
Evokes , Discussion
in 20 sssnats
THE % CONGRESS.

matorit rules committee re-
jecting su. stitute offered by pro-
gressives.
Passed joint resolution for joint
session of House and Senate Tues
day at 1890 p. IN.
Representative Levy of New York
introduced a currency reform meas
ure
More than 1000 bills, public and
private, introduced by various mem
bers.
Adjourned at 5:s5 p. m, until noon
tomorrow.
Senate:
Currency reform measures intro
duced by Senator Jones and SEN
ator Weeks.
Hundreds of miscellaneous bills
and resolutions presented.
Senator Root reintroduced bill to
repeal the free tolls provision of
the Panama canal act.
Adopted joint resolution for joint
session of House and Senate at
1890 Tuesday
Adjourned at $50 p. m. until noon
tomorrow.
Washington, April 7.-Congress, opening
in extraordinary session today under
democratic domination. was enlivened by
the activities of a healthy youth, the
progressive organization in the House,
and an invasion of petition bearing suf-
fragettes. But even these novelties were
overshadowed by preparations for the
event of tomorrow, when President Will
word of mouth to the nations law
makers.
Victor Murdock, leader of the new pro-
eressive party in the lower branch, aided
by his small band of followers, attracted
unusual interest, at the very outset
stirred up a fight over the seating of
Representative II. Olin Young of Michi-
gan. The heralding of the coming of
the President of the United States, how
ever, was the principal subject of official
and unofficial disciission, The Senate.
hesitated when resolution adopted pre-
viously by the House providing for
Joint session tomorrow to listen to Presi-
dent Wilson, was presented for its con-
sideration. 1t was a stunning proposal.
Not in the lifetime of any veteran states
man present had such a thing even been
considered. History, they supposed, had
closed on that custom a century and
more ago. First an effort was made 20
have the resolution lie over under the
rule, but Vice President Marshall ruled
it was a resolution of the highest privi-
iege.
Doubts Wisdom of Move
Before it was adopted Senator Williams
Of Mississippi deprecated the Presidents
decision to enter the halls of Congress
and speak his mind to the peoples
representatives. He expressed the hope
that such an event never would occur
again in the administration. He doubted
the wisdom of the move. averring that 1t
could not aid In bringing about the legis-
lation for which the people were clam
oring.
In the House the resolution was adopt
ed without debate as soon as Majority
Leader Underwood introduced it, There
plans for the Presidents welcome took
on a gala aspect. Members scrambled
for the special tickets to the galleries
which were issued for tomorrow the oc-
casion being looked forward to as an
epochal event in the history of the adj
ministration
Organization of both houses was partly
concluded today, the Senate having little
to do but to mark time. Speaker Clark
was reelected over James r. Mann (re-
publican), and Victor Murdoch (progres-
sive), and other officers of the House
also were reelected. The progressive
strength was tested on the speakership,
Mr. Murdoch receiving Is votes. The new
party. however mustered more votes
later in the fight on Representative
Young when it attempted to prevent his
taking the oath of office by resolution
introduced by Representative Hine-
haueh of Illinois. Democrats, led by Rep
resentative Fitzgerald, and republicans,
marshalled by Leader Mann, Joined
forces in sitting upon the new partly or
ganization the four recognized third or
garition in the House for 80 years, and
Mr.. Young was sworn in. A contest or
his seat by w. J. Mcdonald, progress
sive, is to be considered later by the elec-
tions committee.
Progressives Undaunted
The progressves were not daunted by
their first defeat, and when Representa-
tive Henry of Texas brought in resolu-
ton for the adoption of the rules of the
asst Congress, they We're again fighting.
carving out the pledges of their keynote
speech by Representative Chandler of
New York. that they proposed to fight ev-
erv inch Of their ground for progressive
urjrciples and legislation. They succeed
ed again in obtaining recognition, but IN
the end the democratic rules prevailed.
The Senate debated the concurrent res
hear President Wilson'S message for near
lv an hour No senator of the dozen who
spolse on it opposed the passage. but sew
eral on both sides of the chamber ex-
pressed regret at the departure from the
Jeffersonian custom of sending in writ
fen messages Technical objection to it's
adoption at todays session, except by
unanimous consent was made by Sena-
tor stone. supported by Senators Lodge
and Smoot Senator Williams made the
speech uphoding the value OF the Jeffer-
son precedent, and Senator Lodge was in
olined to agree with him. Vice President
Marshall practically ended the debate by
ruling that the resolution was of the
highest privilege and therefore the sub
tect for action without unanimous con-
sent at once Although several senator's
smoke against the Vice Presidents ruling
and for a few minutes an appeal seemed
certain. II was not taken and the reso-
luton was adopted without dissenting
vote
Senator Bacon has asked that the
resolution be adopted. Senator Lodge
said ne was not opposed to its pass
age. but reviewed the history of 1.-THE
procedure in the days when Washing
ton and John Adams delivered their