The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-12-09
PRESIDENT WILSON MAKES
HIS SPEECH TO CONGRESS
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nJS SpeeOU ~ OON0Ne0o
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duce a resolution to have the foreign
relations committee investigate inter-
ference with American commerce by
Great Britain. The committee will be
asked to suggest to the senate the &C
ton, if any, it may deem advisable.
The opening of the sixty-fourth con-
gress drew thousands Of persons to
the capital. An added attraction to
the usual scenes on the opening day,
was procession of suffragists who
presented to a committee of congress
petition urging federal suffrage
amendment.
The petition, which was borne to the
capital on banner Of white, is $4,000
feet long and has more than 100000
signatures Of voters in the enfran-
chised states. :
Washington, Dec. 6.-Congress is in
session again after nine months re-
cess. Both houses reassembled today,
marking the beginning of the sixty
fourth congress. e.. 49,.
Much important business faces the
members. Since the gavels last fell
in the two houses, many momentous
questions have arisen. Overshadow-
ing all others are those caused by the
European war, but they do not COM
pose the entire program. In addition
to the questions of national defense
and revenues which fall naturally
under the general head of prepared
ness, the merchant marine and rural
credits legislation promise to command
much attention. Many Investigations,
centering mainly about war problems
are to be inauguarated, and an inter-
esting fight will ensue in the senate
over a proposed cloture rule.
The first business before the house
today was the election of a speaker,
South Trimble, the clerk, called the
body to order. Members then proceed
ed to the election of the speaker. The
democratic majority made the re-elec-
ton of Champ Clark, of Missouri,
foregone conclusion. Representative
Mann, of Illinois, the republican candi-
date for speaker, was the choice Of
republicans for their leader.
Two hundred and Twenty-Five demo-
Gratis, 1877 republicans, six progressives,
one socialist, and one independent
compose the new house. The dozen or
more republicans of the "old guard
who went down in defeat three years
ago only to be returned to the lower
house over democratic opponents last
fall, formed an interesting group.
Joseph G.. Cannon, former speaker Of
the house, and now we'll on toward 80
years of age, stood out prominently.
If he finishes his present term he will
have served forty years in congress,
eight years as speaker. Other repub-
licans who remained at home during
the last congress to reappear today
were Nicholas Longworth, Of Ohio;
William B. Mckinley, w. A. Roden-
berg, William w. Wilson, George E.
Foss, John A. Sterling and Charles E.
Fuller, of Illinois; Ebenezer Hill, of
Connecticut; Cyrus A. Sulloway, of
New Hampshire, and Benjamin X.
Focht, of Pennsylvania. Meyer Lon
don, the first socialist elected to con-
gress from New York, attracted much
attention.
Senate proceedings always are quiet
er than those in the house. AS strik-
ing as the return OF old faces to the
house was the absence of familiar
countenances in the senate.
Senators Root, of New York; Bur-
ton, Of Ohio; Bristow, Of Kansas;
Crawford, of South Dakota; Perkins,
of California, and Stephenson, of Wis
consin, were missing from the republi-
can side. Democratic ranks missed
Thorton, of Louisiana; White, of Ala
bama, and Camden Of Kentucky.
The first business was swearing in the
new senators. Most of them already
are we'll known in political circles.
Among the republicans came w.
Wadsworth, of New York, successor
to Root, who attracted attention as
the youthful speaker Of the New York
assembly; Charles Curtis, Of Kansas,
who succeeds Bristow, and Warren G.
Harding, of Ohio, who succeeds Bur
ton.
Oscar w. Underwood, Of Alabama,
former Majority leader Of the house.
led the new democrats. Other demo-
Gratis who took the oath were James
D. Phelan, of California; J. G. w.
Beckham, of Kentucky; Robert. F.
Broussard, of Louisiana; Edwin 8.
Johnson, of South Dakota, and Paul
o. Husting, of Wisconsin. The senate