New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-05
Both Floor Leaders Fight
Chief Measures of Will
sons Programme.
CHOICE OF CLARKE
SPLIT "OLD GUARD
nstence. Chief Question at Is
sue, Hangs in Doubt as Legis-
,ators Gather in Capital.
-r..n Nh. rtsun. Rnrsau.l


- Of which the Democrats are sorely
,:,.;ds5 while the Republicans are
,,r;,cd and jubilant. Congress will be
..rvered Al noon tomorrow Tor the
las, long session of the Wilson admin
;.tration. With a floor leader IN the
uouss at odds with the White House
on the most important administration
measure. Of national defence, and with
,bo President pro tempore of the Sen
,te opposed to the administration on
the shin purchase and other features o.
tho Wilson programme, the path of the
democrats scarcely seems strewn with
roses.
Already. in the selection Of Clarke
for President pro tempore, the admins
trstion has suffered a severe blow.
Cloture in the Senate, one of the ex-
pedents Of Mr.. Wilson for ramming
his ship purchase bill through, died al
most Immediately after Mr. Clarke's
election by the Democratic caucus.
Even the "old guard" Democrats IN the
Senate are split wide open as the result
OF a fight against Senator Clarke. Real
harmony is next 70 impossible.
Majority Is Scant.
Scarcely a Democrat in Congress APP
proves of the administration pro-
grsmme in every particular. IL will be
hard Shedding from the tap Of the gavel,
specially in the House, where the
Democratic majority is cut now 10
twenty-four. Mr.. Fitzgerald. despite
the prayers Of the administration that
he might be elected judge and thus be
removed as prodder Of Democratic eX-
travagance. is on hand not only as
chairman Of the powerful Approprla-
lions Committee. out as virtual leader
or the Tammany delegation in the
House. The Tammany men do not Ike
the administration, and they favor the
Rryan men even less. The Bryan men
f., tho House we're strong for the sd-
ministration last season, but now they
have seen a light, especially on pre-
paredness. and they consider Mr.. VIII
son militarist even more dangerous IN
his army and navy programmes than
Tammany. With the detection Of either
fsction the Democratic majority in the
House will dwindle to less than noth-
ing. Of this fact Republican floor
Leader Mann is perfectly cognlzant; so
he has told the Republicans that the!
- +rvr
Capitol. where they can be reached oy
telegraph.
Defence Comes First.
National defence and the means Of
-.r,-.diner money TO carry out the ad-
,.iristraticn plans admittedly are the
chief problems which the Congress VIII
lacC. -
Democratic leaders who had hoped
70 make military preparedness non
partisan question are not conhdeht OF
.uccess. notwithstanding the WIDE
.pread Endorsement given PRESIDENT
Wilson's programme by prominent
members ard organizations affiliated
with minority parties. Inc cnlel
.tumblne block is Che method Of rals-
ing the enormous revenues which VIII
be needed.
Certain Republican leaders have in
oicated they are ready 10 make politl-
cal capital OF the Democratic dilemma
should the party in power find ltselt
compelled 10 resort 70 bond issue or
any Of the tariff measures hitherto
condemned BY them.
Washington is enlivened tonight
with the last OF the arriving members
Of the new Congress. all Of them aware
Of the huge legislative tasks ahead.
The nations lawmaking bodies have
not been IN session for nine months
The longest legislative hiatus IN me
last two administrations.
Wilson TO Speak.
President Wilson will outline the
salient needs Of the country IN an ad-
dress 20 Congress Tuesday noon. The
President is not expected 70 present IN
detailed form all Of the Legislation the
administration has in mind, but as Con-
gress proceeds he plans to send mes
ssges on special subjects.
The Presidents first communication
probably will concern chiefly the needs
Of the army and navy, giving especial
attention 70 revelations and RESPONSE
blities growing out Of the European
var, and what may be done to hnahce
plan Of preparedness.
The new Congress is still Democratic,
bot not 50 Overwhelmingly as on pre-
yious occasions when President Wilson
addressed H. In the Senate the party
has a slightly increased majority, but
political fortunes have reduced the al
most unwieldy force in the House that
came in on the Democratic landslide
that elected Mr.. Wilson, 50 that now
the party will have only majority
over all Of "a votes This IL regarded
a. a narrow margin in body composed
u z35 members, requiring party de-
Rection Of only thirteen votes 70 deiest
measure.
Fewer House Democrats.
The new House A. officially classified
vill consist Of 229 Democrats, 1877 Re
pgblicsns, progressiyes, lndepend-
fnt, I Socialist and one vacancy. In
tie Senate there are 80 Democrats and
20 Republicans. Republican ranks M
the House have been swelled by the
fsturn Of many familiar political hg-
Tres who we're leaders "a the long
period Of Republican supremacy
Among them are ez-Spesker Joseph o.
Cannon sud William Il. Mckinley, Tor
msr chairman Of the Republican legs
lstivo committee, both OF lliinois'
Nicholas LOngw0rth, OF Ohio, son-in-
Az Of Colonel Roosevelt: william -
koosnbsrg. OF Illinois; Ebenezer }.
iill. for years Republican member
~ the WAYS and Means Committee
ard John q. Tlson. both Of Connect
rot. George =. F0Es, Of Illinois, er-
chairman o. the Naval Committed. Cy'
rus A. SullOvay, Of New Hampthire,
sx-chsirnsB Of the pension committee;
Storzl VI. Loud, of Michigan; benjs.