The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-09
Without Ostentation Comes to
Capitol and Talks to
Representatives
ENTIRE JOURNEY
TAKES s. MINUTES
Speaker and Others Have
Some Difficulty in Find
ing Precedents, but
He Shows En-

WASHINGTON, April S.-For the
first time in more than H. years
president of the United States tor
day addressed congress upon subjects
of national policy, The custom es-
tablished by Washington. continued
by John Adams, and neglected by
Thomas Jefferson. and all his success
sors down to the present, has thus
been revived.
Simply and quietly, Woodrow VIII
son came to the house of representa-
tives, read his tariff message to the
two branches of congress sitting in
joint session. listened to their plaudits
for few seconds. and bowling gravely.
left the hall. and fastened back to
the White House.
The proposed innovation which had
had all political Washington by the
ears for the last forty-eight hours.
proved to be no shock at all, and folks
In the national capital. who have been
holding their breath for two days, are
wondering now what all the excite
ment was about.
Innovation TO Stay.
What is more, II President Wilson's
somewhat analogous preliminary
statement, which he uttered just be-
fore he launched into the twelve hun-
dred word message itself. is inter-
preted correctly, the innovation has
come to stay at least for four years.
As for the message itself, 1t was .
carefully phrased statement of the
position OF the chief executive with
regard to the work in store for the
extraordinary session Reform of the
tariff was given first place. of course.
The president added that no important
corollary to the changes in the reve-
nue. producing statutes was the re-
form of the currency system, and this
was accepted by the members OF both
houses as indicative of MFR, Wilson's
desire to have the extraordinary ses-
sion, If possible, take up currency and
banking reform as soon as the tarkx
is out of the way.
Capitol a Scene of Activity.
All the morning the capitol presents
ed a scene of unusual activity. A.
always the provisions of the galleries
of the house for seating the great num-
Der of people TO whom special tickets
of admission were issued, were wholly
inadequate, There We're twice as many
tickets as seats. AS result the
crowds admitted to the house wing
of the capital thronged the corridors
of the gallery floor. and at every door
necks were craued, while statesmen's
wives and friends trod on one an
others toes with good-natured reck-
lessness.
For two hours before the assem-
bling of tho house at noon, the gall
leries had been packed There WAS n
great majority of women. in the
crowd Bright spring millinery and
silken gowns presented a brilliant
background for the solemn color
scheme of the chamber
Only the executive gallery remained
unoccupied. Finally Secretary Of the
Interior Lane entered that reserved
space with a friend. and took a seat.
Then Dudley Field Malone escorted
former Governor Folk, of Missouri.
TO one OF the rear pews. Meanwhile,
the house waited.
Speaker "a Bit HAIRY.
The speaker was a bit hazy as TO
Just how things were going TO work
out. He seemed nervous, too. The
first buzz from the galleries came
when a slender young man walked
down the center aisle, and after bow
Ing linDsTiOuHiN aIouIiSta tiht ne iido
been delegated by the United States
senate 10 announce that the senate
had passed the concurrent resolution
of agreement to meet with the house
In joint session. OF course. everybody
knew this but nevertheless 1t was
worth some applause. Then Speaker
Clark began TO timber up.
I'm order to accommodate the MEM
hers of the senate the members of the
house will kindly withdraw from the
first two rows of 40 seats" he an
nounced in the well-known drawl that
has made him a headllner in the
Chautauqua circle.
The representatives crowded back
in fine disorder, hustllng to points
of vantage as best they might. Rep
resentatives Underwood, Mann and
Palmer, who were to be the welcoming
committee for the president, did not
participate III the scramble.
Dressed for Occasion.
Champ Clark was all .sdolied up's
for the occasion He wore his best
frock coat, and white waistcoat. His
scarf was of rich purple. and in his
buttonhole was big white carna-
ton After he had announced the app
pointment of the welcoming commit
tee, which was to- join similar conn
mittee from the senate. the Hon.
Champ seemed bit Mustered ~ to-
what ought to be the next move.
Are there any other featureSf*
he inquired. with smile. looking NJ I
Leader Underwood. Mr. underwooA