Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-12-01
WORK -WEARIED,
CONGRESS BEGINS
REGULAR SESSION
Nothing but Gavel Bang to Dis
tinguish New from Special
Senate Sitting.
WILSON TO READ MESSAGE
IN PERSON TO LEGISLATORS
While Upper Chamber Considers
Currency and Hetch Hetchl,
House Will Raise Billion.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.--Congress
today settled down to the second
stage of what promises to be the
longest continuous session in its his
tory. The regular December session,
following without a break upon the
heels of the long extra session that
has run since April T. brought to
tired lawmakers today new host of
problems and the prospect of steady
work for many months.
In the Senate, Vice-President Mar
shall as the noon hour arrived, de-
clared the old session adjourned,
'Swithout day. and in the next breath
apnounced that Congress had assem-
pied "in accordance with the constitu-
tion'
More formality marked the opening
In the House.
! The chaplain, Rev. Henry N. Cou-
den, offered prayer, referring with
paticular emphasis, to "the great
economic and social problems which
concern the welfare of the individual
the home, the government and reli-
gious life of the nation"
A roll call disclosed a quorum,
something the House has not had in
many weeks.
Debate on Hetch Hetchy Begun.
The Senate began the session with
It's first days work already mapped
out. Debate on the Hetch Hetchy
bill began at once. 1t was expected
that the revised draft of the cur
rency bill would be presented late to-
day and would be debated during in
termssions in the discussion over the
water bill.
The program of the Senate Demo-
Gratis on the currency bill was not at
once enforced, and the Republicans
were given until tomorrow to confer,
following an announcement by Sena-
tor Gallinger that there was no dis
position to obstruct progress of the
bill.
A widespread demand for tickets
for the House gallery for tomorrows
session indicated the interest that
centers about President Wilson's re-
appearance at the capitol to deliver
a presidential address.
VIII Read 1t at Joint Session.
The President will read his first
general message to Congress at
joint session of The two houses at /
o'clock tomorrow, and it is expected
he will touch upon many of the prob
lens to be taken up at the new ses-
sion.
The Senate practically merged the
old session into the new one, by
meeting at 10 o'clock today to wlno
up the work of the dying session.
Vice-President Marshall. who had
been absent for several weeks, was
In his place again as presiding officer
Democratic leaders were prepared 10
push the currency bill forward as the
chief business and to hold the Senate
in daily sessions from 10 O'Clock IN
the morning until IL o'clock at night
until it is disposed of.
While the Senate is working on cur
rency legislation and disposing OF the
Hetehy Ketchy water supply bill dur
ing the early days of the new ses-
sion. the House will start work upon
the great appropriation bills, carry
ing more than $1,000, 000,0 900 of funds
for the needs of the government dur
ing the wear that begins next July.
Annual Estimates Presented.
The annual estimates made by the
treasury department were presepted
TO the House when it assembled at
noon
Preliminary work by the appropria--
sions committees has brought several
of the supply bills near completion,
and an effort will be made to pass
the SIS, ,000 900 District of Columbia
bill and the fortifications appropr1a-
zion bill before Christmas.
Democratic members of the Senate
worked all day yesterday to complete
their agreement on the currency bill,
so that the measure might be pushed
for immediate consideration today.
Senate leaders hope that by holding
the Senate to long hours the bill may
be passed in time to permit a snort
recess at the holidays.
If it has not been acted upon the
Senate will forego all vacation ex-
cept on Christmas Day.
When the Senate met Democratic
leaders had agreed that the currency
subject would not be taken up before
noon.
The extra session terminated in the
Senate with the introduction of a few
bills and resolutions and an executive
session to confirm some of President
Wilson's nominations.
Ten postmasters at small points
were the only ones confirmed and the
Sena+e recessed until Hos o'clock.