The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-02
Will be Marked by Passage Of
Large Number of Important
Bills---Democrats to Redeem
All Pledges.
Extra Session Which Ended
Yesterday Saw Great Mass
of Work Performed and
Campaign Promises Of Party
in Power Kept.
BY GEORGE III. MANNING.

WASHINGTON, Dec. line sixty
third session Of congress, which be.
gan at noon today without any un-
toward formality, is expected to cover
long period of hard work extend-
ing almost until next September, and
marked by the passage of a largo
number Of important bills which will
make 1t an easy matter for the Demos
Gratis to face the voters at the next
congressional election with the conf
dence gained by the knowledge Of
duty well performed and campaign
pledges well kept.
The session which ended today at
noon automatically saw the passage Of
the Underwood Simmons tariff bill,
and about five-sixths of the work
performed on the passage of the cur
rency bill. This will, in all prohabil-
tty. be completed before Christmas,
and will mark the passage of the two
largest bits OF legislation promised by
| the Baltimore platform.
Lack of Quorum.
/ The fact that there was not q
/ quorum in the house for several
weeks during the time that the senate
committee was holding hearings on
ance aside from the political capital
that the Republicans will attempt to
manufacture from it. The senate and
house was In session constantly, and a
quorum could have been quickly SEE
/ cured had necessity arisen, and mean
while the attention OF the country was
being concentrated on the senate COM
/ T7!tree, which WIS considering rn1
/ currency bill. and this condition OF
affairs was deemed the most advisable
In the interest of the people by the
majority of shrewd legislators.
Other measures that were passed
was the Oyernlan resolution taking
deputy collectors and marshais out OF
the civil service; two appropriation
bills that had run over from the reg
ular session: the Newlands laws for
mediation and Cancellation in labor
disputes, which averted the threat
ened strike of trainmen on Eastern
railroads last summer, adjustment OF
the United States Commerce court,
and the exemption of labor unions
from prosecution under the anti
trust laws
Read Message Today.
! President Wilson viii read his first
annual message to congress on Tues
day. at the Joint meeting OF the sem
ate and house in the house chamber.
In this address he is expected to gem
orally outline the legislative program
OF both houses for the term which
will end probably next September
This program Is generally expected
70 consist OF supplemental antitrust
legislation as it's principal item, in ac-
cordance with recommendations that
will be communicated to congress
later on by President Wilson. Bills
Will also be passed breaking up thu
present system of interlocking direc-
torates, diVorcing Industrial corpor-
atoms from transportation lines. and
laying down regulations for govern
mental supervision of the issuance OF
the securities of Interstate corpora
| tions.
Numerous attempts will, doubtless,
| be made to reduce the cost Of living
| from its present high plane. Scores Of
| bills on the subject have been pre-
| pared. and will be introduced In both
| houses during the first week OF this
new session.
| Vacations item.
| This Item Is providing very vexa-
| tious problem for the Democratfc
| party, and much attention ia being
| directed towards 1t by the Republic
cans who claim credit for the press
| ent high scale of wages. but decline
to shoulder the increased cost OF liv-
| ing.
| program for consideration are: Pro-
| posed government ownership or tele-
| graph and telephone lines, woman'a
suffrage, rural credits vocational
| education. conservation, governs
| ment ownership of Alaskan rail~S
roads, right of members OF con VI
| gress to serve on political commits
tees that solicit campaign contribu-
| tons. the Panama canal. the prop0.
| sal of England that the powers shall
| cease naval construction for year
| workmen's compensation, extension a.
| the parcel post system and good roadA
II Leaders Reticent
/ WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.--President
| Wilson'S complete domination OF hfa
party was strikingly demonstrated In
| the unwiliingness OF leaders In corr
gress to discuss the work of the new
| session that was called tn order to-
day, until the president has had hi
say on the subject in his annual mes
sage. s.
II In a general way 1t Is known. o.
course that congress viii be asked co.
| pass supplemental antitrust legiala~s
ton, and other measures of great in1sS
po~tance to the country rs WHOLE
II There is good reason to believe th4k
| President Wilson will urge extreme
L conservatism in the matter OF ant1>s
trust ard other legislation. ssa
Il Hope was expressed by leaders TO-
day that corporation legislation woul4
be held in allegiance until the senate
had passed the banking bill.
II The assembling of the sixty-thIr9
congress today was q tame affair. TtM9
Il formal opening will really take p1ac4
Il tomorrow when President Wilson WIZ
for the third time deliver an addro
4 to congress. The novely of the pre-
dent appearing before congress- ~
Joint session has not yet worn on. AN{
there lis a demand for seats In shN&$
houses for tarnorrow's session t1~
J foreshadows packed gaIlericA M