Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-07
President Will Upset
Precedent by Delivering
His First Message.
REVIVESAN OLDCUSTOM
Adopts Practice of Washington
and John Adams to Force
Attention to His Views.

Washington, D. C., April 17.-Presi-
dent Wilson's determination to read
his own messages TO congress tomor-
row has completely displaced the tar
IN and income tax as subjects of chief
popular interest No president since
John Adams has ayailed himself of
the right. Congress was amazed when
u heard Of the presidents plan Some
old time leaders refused TO believe il
until Secretary Tumulty personally
confirmed the news. Arrangements for
the extraordinary event got under way
to-day
IT. is planned that the president first
30 20 his room on the senate side of
the capitol and later to the hall of
tie house of representatives, where
beth branches of congress will be as
s,mbled. Legislative preliminaries to
ECt the house and senate together are
being laid out today
Some of the presidents friends say
hr may he expected TO deliver all Of
his principal messages to congress in
thc same way az his term goes on,
though not to do so with every COM
r.unlcution he sends. The president
!. CARDS the message as one Of the dig
rifed ways to keep in touch with con-
gress.
CLARK TO INTRODUCE.
A concurrent resolution was intro
duued in the house by Underwood and
later called up in the senate, to pro
viGe O joint session in the house cham
bcr tomorrow. The president will ar
rive nt the capitol at l O'Clock. Speak
cr Clark will probably introduce vii
son to the joint session. The presi-
dent was not decided what messages
hereafter he VIII read to congress.
Tie would be guided, he said, by their
Importance.
CHIEF PROBLEMS UP.
a complete revision OF the tariff
law. modification OF the nations cur
rcucy system. proposals for Philip
pine independence. for repeal Of the
Panama canal free-toll provision, and
for the immediate construction OF gov
ernmentowned railways in Alaska are
the chief problems confronting the
first session OF the Sixty-third con
gress. beginning at noon today.
Summoned by President Wilson for
the express purpose OF revising the
tariff. the new congress faces extreme
pressure from many quarters for early
action on the other subjects named
Whether any Of these other than the
. tariff. will be taken up during the
special session depends upon the
progress made with the tariff revision
aud the success that may attend pre-
l.minary work upon a general cur
rency reform bill.
For the first time in IS years con
Eress assemblies with both its branches
under control Of the democrats, anC
with a democratic president to co
operate in shaping its policies. anC
To approve it's acts. The tariff Law
10 be passed by the special session
that opens today Will be the first gen
cral democratic revision Of the rev
cnue laws since the act Of Aug p
1894. known TO history as the "Wil
scn-Gorman law" and which Presiden
Cleveland allowed 10 become a Law
without his signature.
FAMILIAR FACES ABSENT.
Scores OF familiar faces we're ab
sent in both houses. In the hous'
the complete change I'm the seating
arrangements had made even old mem
bers strangers to the scene. In plac
of the mahogany desks and swive
chairs 70 which members hac Clung To-
many years, stiff rows Of leather W
holstered benches, arranged in semi
circles. til,ed the house chamber. TIL,
new bench system. somewhat simila
10 that OF the British house OF CON
mons gives no desk space at whicl
members can write or work while ii
the house chamber
New members dominate the large
house I'm the new congress. The in
crease OF the membership Of the hous
from $50 70 4S5. which became effeC
tive March T. brought in a larger pre-
portion OF new members than hav
appeared IN any congress OF recen
years; and made more consplcuou
the absence Of old-time leaders. sue
as Former Speaker Cannon. John Da
zelI OF Pennsylvania. Nicholas Ions
worth OF Ohio. Samuel W Mccall G
Massal lhusetts. r. J. Hill OF Connect
cut. and william B. Mckinley Of III
uois
ORGANIZING THE HOUSE.
The wor. before congress today col
sisted chiefly OF organization business
The senate had completed its organiz,
ton carly in March. during the sp,
c.al session called 20 act on Presideu
Wilson's appointments. Vice Presideu