Semi-weekly herald. [volume] (Durango, Colo.) 1907-1917, 1915-12-09
Congress Conysaes;,
Presidents Message

congressional meeting before the 1915
presidential campaign. All 435 mem
bcrs of the house and 80 senator's
(one-third of the whole senate) were
sworn in. OF the former, 116, and
of the latter. were new.
Resting upon the legislative pro-
gram of the new congress today was
the shadow of national and world poll
tics. Tomorrow the administration
program will be outlined personally
by President Wilson when he reads
his opening message at the joint
session. Its known, big, outstanding
features are: National defense, rev.
enue, war measures and government
ship purchase.
There is a mass of other legisla
ton, comprising the longest and
most important program of decade.
Since the adjournment of the 63rd
congress last March score of new
and vital questions have arisen in ad-
dition to many left over. Continue
ton Of this session well into next
summer is predicted by veteran legis-
lators.
There were the usual mammoth
crowds in both senate and house gal
leries, representing the eyes of a
hundred million Americans. Today's
actual business was confined to the
swearing in of new members, or
ganization of both houses and notifi-
cation of the president Of the new
legislative epoch.
Champ Clark
Elected Speaker.
Champ Clark was reelected speak
er of the house by vote of 221 to
1914.
National defense bills galore are
included in the flood of bills intro
duced in the house.
The government wants over a bill
lion and a quarter dollars for the
1917 running expenses. This is near
ly nine dollars per capita, and an
increase of over one hundred and
sixty-seven millions increase over the
1916 appropriation. This great in
crease is due mostly to the increase
of the army and navy estimates.
Many of the bills introduced pro-
posed that the government manufac-
ture its own munitions of war. The
administration program for prepared
ness has as yet not been introduc-
ed, and probably will not be until
after the president reads his message
tomorrow.
The administration conservation
bills that were passed at the last ses-
sion were re-introduced.
Clark, of Arkansas
Elected in Senate.
The Senate organized in 40 min
utes and elected Senator Clarke, of
Arkansas. president pro tempore.
The organization of the house, how
ever, required several hours owing to
the long roll calls and the swearing
in of the new members.
Mrs. Marshall, wife of the vice presi-
dent is i'll, and therefore, the vice
president was absent from the open
ing session.
A caucus made Gallinger the senate
Republican leader.
1t is certain that there will be de-
termined and serious opposition to the
preparedness program of the presi-
dent. This fight will probably over
shodaw everything else to be consid-
cred by the 9th congress.
The Democratic National committee
is in session here to select time
and place for the convention meet
ing.
The suffragists paraded the streets
in the chilly, raw weather.
AS complemented today, the result
of the congressional elections in No
vember, 1914, the Democratic major
ity in the senate was increased from
10 to is. In the house it was re-
duced from 143 to 20. The new SEN
ate line up today was: Democrats,
So; Republicans, 40. The new house,
Democrats. $50; Republicans, 1876;
Progressives, Z; Socialists, 1; indie
pendents, 1. The last house had 2s6
Democrats, 125 Republicans, II Pro-
gressives and Independent. For
the first time since the 62nd con-
gress, the Socialist party was rep
resented today, Meyer London, of New
York being the member.
Both Legislative and political inter
est conferred in the administration
billion dollar national defense pro-
gram. Whether Democratic opposi-
ton would defeat the presidents plans
and also cause breach in Democratic /,
for the next campaign, !
caused much discussion. Chairmen of
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