East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-12-06
DEFENSE IS PRoBIElf.
tcontinued from page one.)

next summer is predicted BY veteran
legislators
There were the usual mammoth
crowds in both senate and house gal
lerles, representing the eyes Of a
hundred million Americans. Todays
actual business was confined to the
routine Of swearing in new members,
organization Of both houses and no
tiflcation Of the president Of the new
legislative epoch.
As the gavels fell al the stroke Of
~ at both ends of the capitol. off
cials and spectators we're sobered hy
/ the gigantic tasks looming ahead.
Vice President Marshall presided In
the senate and South Trimble. house
clerk, in the lower. body pending
Speaker Clark's election After the
routine tasks both bodies adjourned
until tomorrow to await the presi.
dents message, according to ancient
and legal precedent
As complemented today, the result,
OF congressional elections in Novem-
Der, 1914, the democratic majority in
the senate was increased from 10 10
49, In the house II was reduced from
143 to 25.
New senate Lineup.
The new senate lineup today was
Democrats, Sc; republicans, 40. The
new house: Democrats, 230; repub-
leans, 1885, progressiyes 7; socialists,
/; Independents, l. The last house
had 286 democrats, i25 republicans,
II progressiyes and independent
For the first time since the 62d 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 naton's destinies was conceded By
most Legislators to hang upon the re-
suits Of this session. Political flavor
was added to the day by the pres.
enee in Washington Of the democratic
national committee, which meets to-
morrow to decide the time and place
Of the 1916 democratic national con
vention. A week later the republ-
can national committee meets here
for the same purpose. The recon-
yening Of congress was heralded ann
ong all party leaders as marking the
opening of the 1916 political cam
paign
Both legislative and political in
terest centered in the administration
billion dollar national defense pro-
gram. Whether democratic opposi-
ton would defeat the presidents
plans 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
mittees had the bills practically draft
ed and ready for early introduction.
Presentation to congress OF the an
nual appropriation estimates insured
another billion dollar congress. In
creased expenditures for the navy and
army preparedness program bulged
the requests
Unusual spectacular feaures of to-
days opening ceremonies offset the
undertone of profundity. Woman sur
frage workers stormed the capitol
Galleries were ablize with yellow
pennants. In corridors and Offices,
workers buttonholed congressman.
The return to public life today Of
many republican warhorses was an
other feature. Among those who
came back were: Uncle Joe Cannon,
Nick Longworth, Cy Sulloway of New
Hampshire, Senator Curtis of Kan
sas, and Representatives Hill of Con-
necticut. Mckinley, Sterling and Ro-
uenoerg of Illinois, and Loud Of
Michigan.
Gallery habitues missed many fa-
milar faces, including those of former
Senaors Root Burton Bristow and
Uncle Ike Stephenson; and those of
Representatives Payne, Calder, Bar
tholdt, Floyd of Arkansas, Levy OF
New York, Palmer of Pennsylvania,
Donovan of Connecticut and Stanley
of Kentucky, now governor.
Among others commanding popu-
lar attention were: Representative
Schal of Minnesota, the only blind
member of the house. Meyer Lon
don the sole socialist, and Represen.
tatiye Martin of Louisiana, a progress
sive.
An avalanche of bills, resolutions
and petitions swamped both senate
and house clerks. There We're thou
sands Of the bills, on every conceiv-
able legislative subject. Especially
were those proposing yari-
Gus war measures The government
printing office will be unable to han.
die the landslide of documents 70.
several days.
Usual Scramble for seats.
There was the usual scramble sor
seats to view the opening. The gal
lery crush was terrific An hour be-
fore the session opened. practically
every seat was filled. The doors op-
ened at 10 a. m, with long lines Of
people waiting Admission on the
house side was by card only. Each
member was given two cards.
Fond mothers, wives and sweet
hearts of members looked down as
the oaths were administered. Fem-
mime finery and furs lent a touch of
color to the massed galleries. Wom-
en- spectators were In the majority
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