The Oskaloosa herald., 1913-04-10
SPECIAL SESSION
OF 63O CONGRESS
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRACY IN
CONTROL OF BOTH BRANCHES
THE TARIFF WILL BE SLASHED
New Measure Today the Most Radical
Ever Before offered--ls Expected
To Pass House Early and Be
Forced Through the Senate.

i
new tariff bill, more radical in its
reduction than any ever before offered
was introduced in congress today
The bill has the approval of President
Wilson and is expected to pass the
house with ease and will be forced
through the senate. IL is even more
drastic than ever and Chairman I'm
derwood of the house committee on
ways and means says it will reduce
the high cost of living 1t gives
free raw wool, and tears to pieces the
notorious Schedule X, cuts the cost
of sugar and provides that it shall
go on the free list at the end of three
years. The cotton schedule is cut,
iron and steel products are slashed;
meats, -four, bread, etc, are cut to
nominal price. AS general thing
the tarin on necessities is reduced to
nothing or almost nothing, while the
tariff is allowed to remain upon lux.
uries to make up for the loss in reve-
nue.. The chemistry schedule is
slashed and so is the tariff on bricks
and tile, asphalt and glass. The me.
tallic schedules are cut to pieces.
The Extra Session.
With Progressive Democracy in full
control, the ranks of the Republicans
depleted and their old leaders gone,
the opening of President Wilson's
special session of the 63d Congress to-
day, was eloquent of transition from
Nineteenth to Twentieth century pc.
litical government. New forces were
on the ascendant; new phrases passed
easily from tongue to tongue. New
measures and new viewpoints favored
by the older men were in harmony
with the confident claims of the new
men fresh from the people, who
crowded the House benches and filed
in the Senate picture. ..
| Yet the ceremonial with which the
House began its sittings was as old as
its tariff problem. The formal pro.
cedure that was in vogue when Henry
Clay was on the floor served by mu
tual consent today. The crowds that
filled the galleries from early morn.
ing to witness the show were able to
predict and nod recognition at each
step. "
Popular interest conferred in the
house of representatives where Rep
resentative Champ Clark, Democrat,
was reelected TO the speakership
shortly after the session opened. Rep.
resentatives James r. Mann of ILL
nois. Republican. was placed in nomi-
nation for that Office by the minority.
He received rousing demonstration,
but was Overwhelmingly defeated.
Other officers selected by the house
were as follows: Clerk, South Trim
BILE of Kentucky; sergeant-at-arms,
Robert E. Gordon of Ohio; doorkeep-
er, Joseph j. Sinnott of Virginia; post.
master, William NJ Dunbar.
! No election of officers was held in
the senate that body having been or
ganized before its adjournment on
March H.. -..
The converting of congress today
was auspicious in Democratic his.
tory. 1t marked the first time in near
ly score of years that Democrats
have had complete control of the SEN
ate, the house of representatives and
the presidency.
Convene Promptly at Noon.
The presidential proclamation d.
rected that both houses convene at
noon and promptly at IL o'clock the
gavel of Vice-President Marshall fell
in the senate. A new chaplain, Rev.
F. J. Prettyman Of Washington, de-
livered the invocation. The roll Of
senators was called in the usual way
and committees appointed to notify
the house and the president that the
senate was ready to transact bust
ness 1
In the house Clerk Trimble ascend
ed to the speakers rostrunl and di.
rected the reading of the presidents
proclamation. He was accorded a
noisy reception. The proclamation
was read and Trimble announced that
In accordance with precedent and the
constitution 1t was necessary to call
the roll of the new house by states.
The house chamber had been
equipped with benches instead OF the
old style desks and looked much like
the English commons. While the role
was called members jokingly asked
each other how they liked the new
seats and the old timers tried to hg-
ure out how they could ever get used
to this radical innovation.
After the roll call the election OF
speaker took place.
Speaker Clark Delivers Address.
Speaker Clark said:
Gentlemen of the House of Repre-
sentatives: Profoundly grateful for re
election to the speakership, the high
est honor which you can bestow, I
am proud that II was preceded by a
unanimous nomination and is accom-
panied by the personal friendship and
good wishes Of all the members with
out regard to political afiiliations.
Your Endorsement OF my conduct
during my frst term IN this high sta.
ton by giving me second Is more
precious than rubIes.
"A hope 70 discharge the important.