The Caucasian., 1913-12-02
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Until After the Holidays.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, Dec. 3.-fSpecial.9-h.
terest in the opening OF the regular
session Of congress was lessened on
account of the many months the spe-
cfal session has been sitting. AL
though the assembling of a regular ses-
sion is much like all that have gone
before, the first Monday in December
Is sure to bring out crowd, create a
sort OF congressional animation and
give the impression that the lawmak-
ers are going to start something"
1t has been unusual, and only in one
instance has it happened in half cen
tury, for special session to come
right smack up against regular ses-
sion. and that In itself made diver
sion worth the attention of the thou
sands who thronged the capitol on the
opening day.
Annual Message In Person.
President Wilson decided to deliver
bis annual message in person. which
makes the opening more interesting.
Three different times before the presi-
dent has appeared at the capitol with
a message which he called an "ad-
dress. 1t is somewhat different this
time, because an annual message has
always been considered q rather fear
some thing of thousands Of words of
dreary review of the years work in
the federal departments. The annual
message this year covers the subjects
which the president wants to impress
upon congress.
"There's q Reason"
determination of the president to adopt
the personal method of communicate
ing withs cefgress. For years it has
been jpke that senators and mem
bers sleet or desert the chamber when
the message of the president is being
read. 1t is not only q joke. but a fact.
that neither senators nor representa-
uves would listen to the long winded
messages which presidents have been
in the habit OF sending in to be read
at the beginning Of term of congress.
They have to listen while the president
reads q message.
Weeks. Work Ahead.
The senate long ago mapped out a
weeks work. It Axed time for
vote on the Hetch-E -Estchy water bill
for Dec. 8, and as there. has developed
a desire to debate the measure the SEN
ators have been getting ready to talk
about this grant to San Fgancisco.
Since the time was fixed for taxing
vote great deal Of opposition has
sprung up. and the opponents have been
making considerable headway.
; Clear Calendars.
The house does things differently.
When that body passes under the hands
Of real leadership It stays there. The
leaders told the committees not to re-
port bills. The Democratic caucus con-
6rmed that edict, and az result the
house, although It has been In session
since April Z, has not enough business
on the calendars to wad a gun or keep
the members busy for a day.
No doubt the embargo will be raised
and the committees win now begin to
work upon the important matters that
have been pending for a long time.
There are bills enough, goodness knows,
to make food for the legislative hopper
until another year rolls around-that is,
Il anything should happen to keep con-
gress II continuous session again.
Many Absent Members.
: Knowing that congress will not do
much until after the holiday recess,
those members who went away during
the last two months OF the old session
did not all return, nor will those who
were here remain long after answering
to their names. There is hint that
The coming session may be troubled by
lbsenteeism, but the temper of the
leaders Is such as to indicate that
means for compelling attendance will
be taken II absent members delay the
business Of the regular session.
Another investigation.
Beyond question there will be anoth-
er Investigation, this time into the
cold storage and high food prices. Be
fore the late Senator Hepburn Of Ida
ho closed his career he started an In
Vestigation into cold storage which
promised results Since that time
nothing has been done. The commit
tee which had 1t in charge has held no
the data he collected have
been ignored, and. In fact, nothing has
been attempted in the way of getting
action on cold storage by congress
Perhaps the present investigation may
bring results, but 1t takes persistence
q such matters to achieve anything
'eaily worth while.
Appropriation Billie.
The house will try to rush its ap-
,rOpriation bills, although there is
eally not much use In trying to hur-
y the session In that way. The SEN
Ito has enough business before 1t to
Keep Il going TOR several months and |