The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-07
GREATEST PEACE BUDGET IS PRESENTED AT
 OPENING SESSION

r hEOEl< l ELL Al
 OPENING SESSION
 (Continued from Page One) only plans for military preparedness, but | others proposing investigation of mo- | tiyes of men and organizations who 1 champion national defense. Notice was given that in the Senate demands would be made for a showing of what the l United States has accomplished against | Great Britain's interferences with l American commerce abroad. The entire | fabric of the American governments s | delicate relation to the conflict across | the seas probably will be brought to the | edge of congressional discussion and the administration leaders are not unmindful of their tasks to preserve what President l Wilson has expressed the wish should be | "a United America.
 After the President has delivered his | address tomorrow both houses will pro- l ceed to perfect their organizations. Un- l til the working committees are fully formed no legislation can be undertaken. While the House democrats are organ ized the republican assignments will not be made before the end of the week. The Senate democratic assignments will be announced later in the week.
 REPUBLICANS BUSY
 The republicans began their part of the organization work today, re-electing Sen ator Gallinger their floor leader and chairman of their conference Although some of the principal bills upon which the administration forces will be con centrated will be introduced soon none of them can be taken up until the com mlttee organizations are complete. The first roll call in the House showed 42 members present and eight absences -one of them accounted for by death The democratic majority, although re- duced, put Speaker Clark back in the chair 221 to 194, and when the brush came on readopting the rules of the last House the democratic leaders showed they still had the majority in hand beating Republican Leader Mann's pro- posal for revision 2J9 to 192. In the Senate the newly elected and reelected members took the oath. The body was leaderless when Secretary Baker rapped for order at noon. and Senator Martin of Virginia was chosen | to preside. Thirty senators were sworn | in, Senators Brady of Idaho, and Smith | of South Carolina being absent. After | this ceremony Senator Clarke was elected | and the Senate recessed
 | The cloture fight, as a result of it's | failure in the democratic caucus did not | come up. When the old rules were re- ! adopted, however, Senator Walsh of Mon- 1 tana announced that he reserved the 1 right to submit rule revfsions at a later | time.
 CLARK'S OPENING REMARKS
 In his opening address to the House 1 Speaker Clark paid tribute to Republican | Leader Mann t3N
 'T am profoundly grateful to you at
 the high honor of the speakership; thrice
 conferred by your friendship and particu- 1 larly, saidj Mir. Clark, q thank the dem- l ocrats for their vote and I thank the
 members of the minority for their per- | sonal good will, which has attended me l all my days here
 1 By reason of the amazing growth of l our beloved country and the bewidering 1 increase of business, the time is in sight | when the Congress will remain practically l in perpetual session. I hope this Congress ] will go into history as a working Con { gress.'
 Senate: Met at noon anc 32 new senators | were sworn in.
 l House: Met at nocr. Speaker Clark | was reelected.
 The Senate floor and galleries presented l the usual scene.
 l James M Baker. the secretary, called i the session to order and the chaplain prayed for divine guidance. for the pres l ervaton of peace at home and its estab- 1, lishment abroad.
 Thirty-two newly elected senators then were sworn in. Each was escorted by his 1 colleague. Then recess was taken in the Senate until 2:30 o'clock.
 BILL BEFORE HOUSE 1 In the House. meanwhile, bills and res | olutions were pouring into the hopper at | the clerks desk. National mea asures pre- dominated and there were many proposals for various Investigations There were
 many bills for rural credits; river and
 harbor improvements; extension of the | rural mail service, and large number
 of the so-called private bills.
 Many will never get farther than the
 stage of introduction.
 Resolutions reflecting the views of those opposed to the national defense pro-
 gramme and proposing Investigations of
 organization which favor military pre- paredness. were not lacking. In the lot
 were resolutions to investigate the Navy
 league, the National Security league and | the American Defense society. | As the House proceeded fight between democrats and republicans developed over | liberalization of the rules When Chair man Henry, democrat, of the rules com
 mittee offered the usual resolution to adopt rules of the last Congress Re I publican Leader Mann moved for a spe- 1, cial committee on revision of the rules. 1 MT. Henry objected and the first debate I of the session began.
 1 When the Senate reconvened it took
 another recess until o'clock. the House
 organization having delayed the commit- ] tees to notify the President. Senator l Smith of South Carolina was one of the | absentees.
 | In the House debate Mir. Henry charged
 that the republicans instead of trying to I liberalize the rules, were trying to harls
 back to the days of the Cannon rules and declared that the republican mem i bers of the rules committee had not been active in the direction of amendments in committee. Both MT. Lenroot and Mir. Campbell republican members of the
 rules committee. reported within very