Semi-weekly herald., 1913-04-07
SIXTY THIRD CONGRESS
READY TO ASSEMBI.E E

WASHINGTON, D. c., April s..
Many members of both houses of con-
eress arrived today and by late TO-
morrow night practically the COM
piete strength of the Sixty-second con-
gress will be in the city. At noon
Monday more than half thousand
senator's and representatives will be
assembled in the capitol at the open
ing of the extraordinary session called
b, President Wilson to revise the
tariff.
The political compilations of the two
branches of congress will be as fol-
lows: House-Democrats, pol; Re-
81; Progressives, Progress
4sive Republicans and Washington par
kty men, At. Senate-Democrats 81 /;
Republicans, ID; Progressives, l.
For the first time in many years the
Democrats will have a working ma
jority in both branches. And for the
first time there will be an organized
. third party in the house, a party nu-
merically small, it is true, but one
that is expected nevertheless to play
a conspicuous part in the proceedings.
By reason of the change resulting
from the election last November, many
new faces will be seen at both ends
of the capitol. Of the 291 Democrats
in the house, 103 will be new mem
~l .rt1 &bo
ways of congress. There will be 144
Republicans and Progressives, and of
these fifty-five will be freshmen. Equal
in proportion will be the changes in
the senate, where many veteran leg
islators will be missed.
The capitol is spick and span in
readiness for the session. In the short
interval since the adjournment of the
Sixty-second congress a small army
of employees has been at work re-
pairing and refurnishing the two
chambers and the host of committee
rooms in the main building and the
two immense office buildings. The
most notable change, of course, has
been the substitution of benches for
the time-honored swivel chairs and
desks in the house.
The opinion is gaining ground that
the session will devote itself almost
wholly to the tariff and that all Other
matters acted upon will be of minol
importance. Of course, when con
gress is once opened any measure
may be brought forward by any mem
: der of either branch, but the success
of enterprises not vouched for by tn
president and the leaders of his part
would be very doubtful. Early e.ctio
is desired by the Democrats i'm re
CARDS to the currency and other re
forms, but with the main task o
tariff revision likely to occupy tn
most of the summer it grows more an
more apparent that other matters O
Importance will of necessity be LEI
over until the regular session in Dc
cember.
President Wilson and the leaders Q
his party agree that the work Q
revising the tariff must not be don
in hurry. They feel the great ps
triotic responsibility resting upon tn
Democratic party, aside from the pc
litical consequences of congression;
action. They appreciate the fact ths
auch action as may be taken in n
II viaing the tariff involves the prol
Terity of American manufacture
amounting in value to more than $40
O00,OO0,0O0 year and may affect tt
welfare of more than seven millior
of wage earners.
Nothing will be done hastily, Their
fore, but every step will be take
cautiously and with full considerable
of the possible result. The aim I
the men who are leading and directir
the effort at tariff reduction is
secure the passage Of an act that wi