The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-04-07
Summoned by President Will
son for Purpose of Revis-
ing the Tariff
DEMOCRATS CONTROL
HOUSE AND SENATE

Important Subjects Are Taken Up
Depends Upon the Progress That is
Made with Tariff Revision.
WASHINGTON, April IA com
plete revision Of the tariff law. modi-
tcation Of the nation s currency sys-
tenn; proposals for Philippine independ-
ence, for repeal OF the Panama canal
frcc-toll provision. and for the inn
mediate construction Of government
owned railways in Alaska, are the
chief problems confronting the first
session of the Sixty-third Congress,
beginning at noon today.
Summoned by President Wilson for
the express purpose OF revising the
tariff, the new Congress faces ex-
;rcme pressure from many quarters for
early action Ola the other subjects
named. Whether any of these other
than the tariff. will he taken up during
the special session depends upon the
progress made with the tariff revision,
and the success that may attend pre-
liminarv work upon a general cur
reucy reform bill.
For the first time in Is years, Con
gress assembled with both its branches
under control of the Democrats, and
with Democratic President to coop
crate in shaping its policies. and to
approve its acts. The tariff law will
be the first general Democratic revis-
ion OF the revenue laws since the act
Of August -, 1894. known to history
as the " WilsOn-Gorman law, and
which President Cleveland allowed TO
become a law without his signature.
Scores of familiar faces were absent in
both houses. In the House. the complete
change in the seating arrangements had
made even old members strangers to the
scene. In place OF the mahogany desks and
swivel chairs to which members had chung
for many years stiff rows of lc1thcr-up-
holstcred benches. arranged in semi-Circles,
filed the House chamber. The new bench
system, somewhat similar to that of the
British House OF Commons. gives no desk
space at which members can write or work
while in the House chamber.
New members dominate the larger
House in the new Congress. The increase
of the membership of the House from 3aG
to 135. which became effective March 1.
brought in a larger proportion OF new
members than have appeared in any Con
grcss Of recent years; and made more con
spIcuous the absence of old-time leaders
such as Former Speaker Cannon, John
Dal5ell of Pennsylvania, Nicholas Long
worth OF Ohio, Samuel w Mccall Of
Massachusetts,, +. J. Hill of Connecticut,
and William B. Mckinley Of Illinois.
/ The work before Congress today CON
sisted chiefly of organization business.
The Senate had completed its organization
early IN March, during the special session
called to act on President Wilson's ap-
d /.
served his early apprenticeship as a pre-
siding officer, and the Democratic leaders
! took charge of the Senate elected officers
and chose committees at that session, and
were prepared for general legislative work
today. The organization of the House was
( expected To consume all of today's session
OF that body
+ President Wilson's message viii be read
to both houses shortly after the beginning
of the session tomorrow In his call sum
moning the extraordinary session of Con-
gress the President did not specify the
purpose for which it was to be convened
Members of Congress who had talked with
the executive expected that the message.
prepared TO greet the new Congress would
urge action upon the tariff as the first
duty of the Democratic majorities in the
two houses, but would leave the way open
ing matters, if it is decided later to take
them up.
Democratic maiorities in both House
and Senate are considered strong enough
to carry through the program Of tariff
revision determined upon ny recent con
ferenecs. IN which the President has con.
suited with Representative Underwood
1 and Senator Simmons. the tariff leaders oi
the two bodies The Democrats have a
majority Of over 40 in the House their
membership of 2SS being double the com.
bined strength of the Republicans and
Progressiyes.
IN the Senate the Democratic strength
is II, and the combined Republican and
Progressive strength 40. This margin j.
counted on 10 secure favorable action ou
the tariff unless sectional interests OF
Democratic senators should bring about a
combination against certain features Of
the bill, in which several Democratic votes
might be swayed from support of tho
measure
Three candidates had been selected Il
lead the three parties in the balloting II
the House today for the Speakership; but
the reelection of Speaker Clark and tn,
other officers who served the House in tn,
last session was assured. The Democrats
had unanimously endorsed Mr. Clark, tn,
Republicans had again named James r
Mann Of Illinois, who has been Republican
leader; and the Progressives had aligned
themselves behind Representative Victor
Nlurdoek of Kansas.
The Progressive members appear for tn,
first time IN the new Congress as a sepa
rate party in the conduct of Houpe affairs