Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-12-10
Congress Resumes Work.
Much Important Business Now
To Look After.

TO Look After.
Congress got back to work Monday of
this week after rest of six weeks to
what promises to be billion dollar ses-
sion.
With crowded calendars confronting
both houses, Senators and Representa-
tives settled down to passing the big ap-
preparation bills and the Administration
program, which President Wilson outlin-
ed in his address Tuesday in the hope
that special session may not be neces-
sary after March 4th.
In the House, crowded galleries and
Congressman of all three parties on the
floor, united in a remarkable ovation to
Speaker Champ Clark as he mounted the
dias and dropped his gavel at sharp noon.
A few bill were dropped in the hopper,
some new members sworn in to fill va"
cancies, and large number of members
departed to attend the funeral of the late
E. A. Merritt of New York.
In the Senate, Vice President Marshall
indulgently delayed formally calling the
session to order while Senators held an
informal reception and exchanged greet
ings After Senators Kern and Calling
err had been appointed to join House
committee to formally notify President
Wilson of the opening of the session, the
Senate took recess until p. m.
In speaking of President Wilson'S ad-
dress to Congress, the Baltimore Even
ing Sun, says:
departing from the prepared text of
carefully arranged address to Congress,
President Wilson delivered direct mes
sage to the business interests of the
country. In effect, he declared that the
Administration has completed its busl-
ness program and that hereafter business
is to have rest from restrictive and
corrective legislation.
"The statement was unexpected. For
moment it seemed that the point had
been lost on his audience. But many OF
tho Senators and Representatives who
had been sitting slumped down in their
chairs, suddenly sat up and showed plain
ly by their attitude that they realized the
great Importance of the utterances of
the President, speaking as he did, as
leader of his party.
ut was very plain. that Congress real
lied that the President had written the
word "finis" on his so-called regulative
program. Hereafter business can pro-
coed secure in the knowledge that if it
shapes its affairs to the existing laws it
will not find itself confronted with sud-
den changes resulting from new laws.
almost at the start he depressed from
his set address as originally furnished to
the press. He declared that the business
program of the Congress had been COM
pleted and that business now knows where
it stands.
1.-the goal at last lies clear and fair
before business, - he said ut is road
to unclouded success. 1t is a road that
every honest man, every man interested
in the welfare of the nation, may walk
with perfect safety. What we have done
in our land for our own people we have
done for the best. What chiefly strikes
US now as we look back on a closing year
"a year that will be memorable as none
in recent history-is that we face new
tasks. They are important tasks, and
we must face them without partisan feel
ing We must realize that America owes
a great deal to herself and also great
deal to mankind ~
Extremely warm applause, chiefly
from the Democratic side, greeted Pres
ident Wilson's declaration that 1--WE are
not ready to become nation of men
trained to arms" His entire reference
to the question of militarism, and es-
pecially his declaration that the country
is not threatened from any outside source,
was punctuated with applause, although
mostly from party associates.
"When the President told Congress
that I'VE never have had and we never
shall have large standing army" Dem
ocrats and Republicans alike joined in the
applause which was started by Repre-
sentative Gardner, of Massachusetts, who
is endeavorng to force an investigation
of the nations defenses.