Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1913-04-24
Washington News Letter.

The first session of the Sixty
third Congress got under way
promptly at noon April 7th, in
the special session called by the
President. The House was call
ed to order, and Champ Clark re-
elected Speaker, receiving 205
votes, while Representative
Mann, republican, received Ill,
and Victor Murdoch, progressive,
10. Speaker Clark's son, Bennett
Clark, was appointed parlimen-
tartan to assist his father.
The President announced that
he would read his message, and
resolutions were passed for a
joint session, not however until
Senators Lodge and Williams
had INDUCED in criticism of the
innovation. But, undaunted by
the criticism, President Wilson
personally read his message from
the Speakers rostrum, calling
upon Congress to apply remedies,
even though heroic, to cure ex-
listing evils.
The revival of this old custom
of Washington and Adams Gre
ated a great sensation. The u.s.
ual reading of a Presidents mes
sage is a most perfunctory and
uninteresting performance. AS
printed copies of the message
have been furnished to Senators
and Representatives, they pay
little OF no attention to its read
ing by the clerk. The reception
Of Wilson'S message was differ
ent. His presence gave dignity
and Importance to the occasion
and the message was what j
l.eaeht-te bean impressive inau
guration of the session.
The President has taken sucl
an active part in the new tariff
bill in conjunction with Chair
man Underwood, it has come t.
be called the Wilson-U underwood
bill. By it duties will be slashe,
upon the necessiaries of life food
stuffs, clothing material, an,
practically everything that en-
tiers into the establishment an
maintenance of the average HON
being placed on the free list O
materially reduced in duties
There WILDE a loss of about $50
600, 600 in revenue to the govern
ment. To make up this deficienc
the bill provides an income ia
of per cent on annual earning
exceeding S4, 900, called an il
come tax. In addition, income
from $4,000 up, a "surtax" c
from / to 8 per cent is levied.
In addition to his activities
proposed legislation, Presider
Wilson has expressed himself
favor of the open caucus and say
that he will advocate it on eve
occasion. By throwing caucust
open to the public the opportun
, ty for secret chickering's ar
trades among the legislators
done away with.
{ With the announcement of tn
y ratification by Connecticut, Il
t 36th State, making three-fourtl
: OF all the States, of the amen
, ment authorizing the direct ele
q ton of Senators by the peopl
e nothing remains to be done no
). except its PRONUNCIATION by Il
Secretary of State as the Is
8 Amendment to the Constitute
1 of the United Stetes.
S Senator Bristow wants deci
p ions of the Supreme Court I
e viewed by the people, and +
t this purpose he has reintroduc'
: his amendment authorizing 20
y gress, when the court declares
law to be unconstitutional,
e let the people vote whether tn
n want the decision of the court
e the act of Congress to stand
e the law.
n lnnumerable requests ha
lie come to Congressman to vote
l. protection on articles produc
lie by industries in their district
re to which many replies have be
IL sent that the industries of Il
a. country are strong enough to
II business proftably without 9