Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-08
Tariff Revision to Be the
Chief Occupation Of Both
Houses During the First
Period Of Special Sitting.
MESSAGE WILL BE
READ TOMORROW
Believed That Wilson's In
f1uence Will Be a Factor
in the Legislation; Demo-
Gratis Have Safe Majority

Washington, D. c., April T. The
sixty-third congress, the first in many
years with the followers of Thomas
Jefferson in a majority, began bust
ness at noon.
AS Speaker Clark dropped his gavel
Majority Leader Underwood dropped
the tariff revision bill into the hop
per and thereby officially started a
business that promised to keep con-
gress at work through the Washing
ton dog days" and we'll into August
Vice President Marshall called the
senate to order and administered the
oath to Senators-elect Sherman of
Illinois and Goff of West Virginia.
Clark IL Reelected.
The house of representatives Of the
63rd congress this afternoon reelected
Speaker Clark. He received 271 votes.
Jas. r. Mann of Illinois, republican re-
ceived III votes, and Victor Murdoch
of Kansas, progressive, received 18
votes. Four progressive republicans
voted for Representative Cooper of
Wisconsin. Mr.. Cooper voted for
Representative Nelson.
A revision of the tariff law; modi-
fcation Of the nation's currency sys-
tenn; proposals. for Philippine. inda-
pendence, for repeal of the Panama
canal free-ton provision, and for the
immediate construction Of government
owned railways in Alaska, are the
chief problems confronting the first
session of the sixty-third congress, be-
ginning at noon today.
Benches Replace Desks.
Scores of familiar faces were absent
in both houses In the house, the COM
plete change in the seating arrange
ments had made even old members
to the scene. In place of the
mahogany desks and swivel chairs to
which members had clung for many
years, stiff rows of leather-upholster
benches, arranged in semi-circles, fill
ed 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 effec-
tive March 4, brought in a larger pro-
portion of new members than have
in any congress of recent
years; and made more conspicuous
the absence, of old-time leaders, such
as former Speaker Cannon, John Dal-
zell of Pennsylvania, Nicholas Long
worth of Ohio, Samuel w. Mccall of
E. J. Hill of Connecti-
cut, and William B. Mckinley Of 1lli-
nois.
The work before congress today con-
sisted chiefly of organization business.
The senate had completed its organ
ization early in March, during the
special session called to act on Presi-
dent Wilson's appointments. Vice
President Marshall served, his early
as 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.
Wilson's Message Tomorrow.
President Wilson's message will be
read to both houses shortly after the
O0kluulu6 VI LAO oC60AOAA LSLAOAAo"" AAs
his call summoning the extraordinary
session Of congress, the president die
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 the new congress,
would urge action upon the tariff as
the first duty of the democratic ma
jorities in the two houses; but would
leave the way open for action on the
currency and other pressing matters,
If it is decided to take them up.
Democrats Have Good Margin.
Democratic majorities in both the
house and senate are considered
strong enough to carry through the
program Of tariff revision determined
upon by recent conferences, in which
the president has consulted with Rep
resentative Underwood and Senator
the tariff leaders OF the
two bodies. The democrats have ma
iority Of over 14O in the house, their
Of 288 being double the
combined strength of the republicans
and progressives.
In the senate the democratic
strength is 81, and the combined re.
publican and progressive strength,
is. This margin Is counted on to Sc