The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-07

| in SemlclrcleS, filled the mouse cnaIH-
| Der. The new bench system, some
| what 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 ABS, which became
| effective March 4, brought in larger
proportion of new members than nave
appeared in any congress of recent
years; and made more conspicuous
| the absence of old time leaders, such
as former Speaker Cannon, John Dali
| Zell of Pennsylvania, Nicholas Long
worth of Ohio, Samuel w. Mccall OF
| Massachusetts, f. J. Hill of Connect
| cut, and William B. Mckinley OF Hi
nois.
The work before congress today
| consisted chiefly of organization bust
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 general legisla-
tive work today The organization of
the house was expected to consume all
of today's session of that body.
Reading of Presidents Message.
President Wilson's message will be
read to both houses shortly after the
beginning of the session tomorrow. In
his call summoning the extraordinary
session of congress, the president did
not specify the purpose for which 1t
was to be convened. Members of
congress who had talked with the ex-
ecutive expected that the message,
prepared to greet this new congress,
would urge action upon the tariff as
d1IfIy of he a.
jorities in the two houses; but would
leave the way open for action on the
currency and other pressing matters, |
if it is decided later to take them up. |
Democratic majorities in both house |
and senate are--considered strong
enough to canrSSlthFaugh the program1
of tariff revision determined upon by |
recent conferences, in which the preS1- |
dent has consulted with Representative
Underwood and Senator Simmons, the
tariff leaders of the two bodies. The
Democrats have a majority of over
140 in the house, their membership of
2SS being double the combined
strength of the Republicans and Pro-
In the senate the Democratic
strength is 81, ana the combined Re |
publican and Progressive strength As.
This margin is counted on to secure
favorable action on the tariff unless
sectional interests of Democratic SEN
ators should bring about a combination
against certain features of the bill, in
which several Democratic votes might
be swayed from support of the meas
ure.
Three candidates had been selected |
to lead the three parties in the ballot
ing in the house today for the speak
Clark and the other officers who serv
ed the house in the last session was
assured.
Clark and Mann Named.
The Democrats had unanimously
endorsed Mr.. Clark, the Republicans
had again named James r. Mann of
Illinois, who has been Republican
leader, and the Progressives had
aligned themselves behind Repre-
sentative Victor Murdoch of Kansas.
The Progressive members appear
for the first time in the new congress
as a separate party in the conduct of
house affairs. Many Progressive
mem bers, elected in November, nave
act in concert throughout the session,
at least upon measures that may be
advanced as part of the Progressive
party's legislative program
pected, by Democratic leaders of both
houses, to be a potent factor in the
shaping of legislation throughout the
extra session. The president has
taken an active part in the prepara-
tory work of the tariff bill; and will
keep in close touch with the senate
and house through the consideration
of the tariff, currency, or other sub
iects that may be taken up during the !
session. He has made it known that :
he may frequently upset precedent by
the capitol, and seeking per-
sonal conferences with those active in {
the conduct of legislative affairs:
Important changes in the rules of
the senate will be brought forward
during the next few days. These
changes, as advocated by the new
Democratic leaders of the senate, and
approved by President Wilson, seek {
to prevent any concentration of power
IN the hands of a few senators, or of
committee chairmen-
Make Chairmanships Elective.
1t is proposed to make all chair
nanships elective; to give the mem
oers of each committee the right to
,au meetings without securing the
of the chairman; and to i
authorize committees to elect mem l
1ers of joint conference committees.
The latter provision if adopted will 4
cave to the full Democratic mem ber- 4
hip of the finance committee the Sc
ection of the three or five senators q
Who will confer with a similar house S
ommittee in the settlement of tariff
he tariff bill.
The probable length of the session I
hat begins today is uncertain. Actual
work upon tariff revision probably
will being tomorrow. with the consid- 6
.ration of the Underwood bill by the !
house members, in caucus.
Within a week it is expected that the Y
ariff debate will be in full swing in /
he house. Senate leaders do not ex-
beet the completion of tariff work
before late in July. Should currency
-eform also be taken up at the pres ]
wi al T