The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-12-06
Both Houses Of National Legislature
Called to Order at Noon in
Shadow Of National
and World Politics
PRESIDENT TO READ
MESSAGE TOMORROW
Will Outline Administration Fro.
gram Including Defense Plans;
Crowds Flock to Galleries
Of Capitol
BY United Press.

ny tHlltu iISSb.
WASHINGTON, Dec 6.-The first
session of the sixty-fourth congress
convened at noon today in the last
congressional meeting before the 1916
presidential campaign. All 434 men,
bers OF the house and 80 senators
(one-third OF the whole senate), were
sworn in. OF the former, 1l6; Of the
latter 3, were new.
Resting upon the legislative pro-
gram Of the new congress today was
the shadow OF national and world pol
itics. Tomorrow the administrator
program will be outlined personally
by President Wilson when he reads
his opening message at the joint ses-
sion, Its know, big, outstanding fea-
lures are: National defense, revenue,
war measures and government ship
purchase.
There is a mass Of other legislation
comprising the largest, longest and
most important program of a decade.
Since adjournment OF the sixey-third
congress last March a score of new
ard vital questians have arisen in ad-
dition 10 many left over. Continu-
alton OF this session well into next
summer is predicted by veteran leg
islators.
There were the usual mammoth
crowds in both senate and house gal
lieries at the opening. Today's
actual business was confined to the
routine of swearing in new members,
organization OF both houses and noti-
fication OF the president of the new
legislative epoch.
AS the gavels fell at the stroke OF
twelve O'Clock at both ends of the
capitol, officials and spectators were
sobered by the gigantic tasks looming
ahead. Secretary Baker presided
in the senate and South Trimble,
house clerk, in the lower body pend
ing Speaker Clark's election. After
the routine tasks both bodies ad-
journed until tomorrow to await the
presidents message. according to an
cient and legal precedent
AS complemented today, the result
Of congressional elections in Novem-
ber, 1914, the Democratic majority in
the senate was increased from 13 to
16. In the house 1t was reduced from
143 to "a. The new senate lineup
today was: Democrats, Sc: Repub-
licans, 40. The new house, Demo
crate, 229. Republicans, 1876; Pro
gressives, Z; Socialists, l; Independ-
ents. 1. The last house had 2S6 Dem
ocrats, 125 Republicans, II Progress
sives and / independent For the
first time since the sixty-second CON
gress the Socialist party was again
represented today, Meyer London OF
New York being the member.
Reelection of President Wilson and
continued Democratic control Of the
nations destinies was conceded by
most legislators to hang upon the re-
suits of this session. Political flavor
was added TO the day by the presence
in Washington of the Democratic ma
tional committee, which meets to-
morrow to decide the time and place
OF the 1916 Democratic natianal con-
vention. A week later the Republican
national committee meets here for
the same purpose. The reconvening
of congress was heralded among all
party leaders as marking the opening
of the 1916 political campaign.
Both legislative and political inter
est centered in the administrations
billion-dollar national defense pro-
gram. Wrsther Democratic opposi-
tion would defeat the presidents
tplaas and also cause a breach in Dem
ocratic solidarity for the next cam
paign, caused much discussion. Chair
men of the naval and military COM
mitteees had the bills practically
drafted and ready for early introduc-
tion.
Presentation to congress today of
the annual appropriation estimates in