The Washington times., 1914-12-07
CONGRESS CONVENES
FOR SHORT SESSION
Both Houses Get to Work
PromptIy-Cotton Loan Up
in Lower Chamber.
Continued from First Page

CONTINUED from FIRST rage
the beginning OF the House session.
They were Congressman Parker of New
Jersey, Price of Maryland, and Vinson
OF Georgia. Parker succeeds former
Congressman Mccoy, now judge on
the District bench; Price succeeds Chief
Justice COvington. of the District ST.
preme Court and Vinson succeeds Con-
gresham Hardwick, who wfnt TO the
Senate from Georgia today.
The opening ceremonies in the
| House were more prolonged than IN
the Senate because of the Gazing OF
the role by States in the lower cham
Der This task consumed nearly an
hour. after which the House made
ready to take up the calendar aban-
doned late in October.
The first bill for consideration was
the Glass measure, amending the cur
rency law to which there was attach
ed the Henry cotton loan rider, which
brought on the fllibuster six weeks
ago and resulted in a deadlock in the
final days of the last session.
That the present session OF Con-
gress must be largely devoted to sup
ply bills for which estimates went
in today is the consensus of opinion
both in the Senate and House. Never
theless there are scores of bills which
will be urged during the brief three
months this session lasts.
Fifteen appropriation bills must be
passed. This means that Congress must
apportion more than $1,000. 10000 be-
tween December Z and March 4. There
will be approximately siZty-five work
ing days, making the average appro-
priation a day about Sli.oD,ON, esti-
mating that the total appropriations
Will be at least n,looo 10000, as COM
pared with 81, 116, 900 for the long ses-
sion just past
If the fight for a public buildings. bill
succeeds, there Will be sixteen supply
mes sures. and as extended fights are
imminent over rivers and haroors, the
naval increase, and the army appro-
priation bill, night sessions probably
will be the rule during the short session.
A filibuster aSainf any Of the appro-
priation bills will esuit In the report
Of a special gag rule IN the House.
A cloture rule is impossible in the Sen
ate.
Despite the big task attaching to the
passage of the annual supply bills, some
time must be devoted to important
measures on the regular calendars. Tho
conservation program, the ship purchase
bill amendments to the currency law,
rural credits legislation, and immigra-
bers in both houses will attempt TO-
press.
Currency Law Amendments.
When the House adjourned late in Oc-
tober there were pending as unfinished
business Two Oils u III III
rencv law, and the Henry cotton-relief
amendment TO these bills. These bills
proposed to permit the shifting OF re-
serves from member banks to the Fed
eral reserve banks and to increase the
limit Of circulation which may be Is
sued by national banks against COM
mercial paper Special rules had been
adopted to consider these bills, and they
had the right of way in the House to-
day. ,,,,-
was the Henry cotton loan amendment
directing the placing of S250,00OUO in
Southern banks TO be loaned on the cot
ton and tobacco crops.
AS soon as these bills are disposed or,
the District of Columbia appropriation
bill, the first OF the annual budgets,
will be ready for consideration. II VIII
be followed by the legislative. executive
and judicial appropriation bill.
II the House should have breathing
spell on appropriation bills, 1t has on
the calendar bills Of major Importance
The Administration bill for Govern
ment-owned steamship Ine' with a capi-
tai OF $30,Ooo.0oO. A rule is ready 10
The coast guard bill, to combine the
revenue cutter and the hfe-saVing seTV-
ices.
supply already made in order under a
special rule which was temporarily
|
withdrawn.
The Barnhart printing bill. TO check
waste in the Government Printing ot-
fee, and save about 100000 q year.
This is In order only on Wednesdays.
Compensation Measure.
Also bills 10 classify cotton grades
and establish Government warehouses,
to extend the right of suffrage TO wom-
en-. 10 broaden the mine safety law. to
regulate the wages OF Government me-
chan!cs, to appoint six vice admirsls
in the navy. and to provide workmen's
compensation for Government employees
suffering injuries or occupational dis
eases IN the public service.
In addition there are scores OF House |
bills OF comparatively minor lmpor-
lance which were not reached during
the long session.
While the House works on appropria-
ton matters (all supply bills must orig
mate in the House), the Senate has a
crowded calendar to engage It
One Of the principal bills sent over to
the Senate by the lower body is the
Burnett immigration bill. which con-
tains the literacy test that brought
about a veto by President Taft nearly
two years ago. This bill will bring on
a protracted Senate debate.
Await Senate Action.
Other bills passed by the House and
awaiting Senate action include:
The railway securities bill.
The Adamson general dam bill: the Fer
ris bill 10 develop water power on tho
public domain. and administration bill for
the leasing and development Of coal.
gas, oil, sodium, phosphate. and other
mineral lands of the United States.
The Jones bill, granting qualified in
dependence to the Filipinos
The Alexander seaman's bill
Bills limiting the hours of service or
railway employees, to create bureau
Of labor sofety, to regulate the inter
state shipment OF immature calves. to
increase the amount OF deposits allow
ed IN postal savings banks to pension
widows and children Of veterans of
the spanish war and Philippine insur-
rectiou. and to make more stringent
the campaign publicity law.
The Senate calendar, too, is damned
with many bills of private and general
character. but measures of compare
lively minor Importance will have little
show during the crowded short ses-
sion.