The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-12-10
GOVERNMENT BUDGET IS
RECORD BREAKER
ONCE AGAIN

Il
pected to be the greatest within the
memory of the present generation.
Four hours work in the house saw
| Speaker Clark returned to the chair;
| Representative Mann returned to the
leadership of the Republican minor
ity; the introduction of two thousand
bills and resolutions, many of them
proposing measures of national de-
Tense and many more III OPPOSITION;
the temperance of constitutional
amendments to enfranchise women,
and a miniature rules fight that flick
cred out with the adoption of last
years rules with few changes.
In the senate, practically nothing
was done except the election of Sena-
tor Clarke of Arkansas as president
pro tempore. Vice President Marshall
was absent because of the illness of
his wife.
Both houses then, after sending a
joint committee to the White House
to give official notice of the opening
of congress, adjourned until Tuesday
when the real business of the session
began with President Wilson's adj
dress to a joint session in the hall of
the house at 1890 o'clock.
Record Budget.
The greatest budget of expenditures
ever placed before any American con-
gress in times of peace was brought
in from the various branches of the
government, the total being some one
hundred and seventy million dollars
more than was asked for last year.
| The great part of the proposed in
creased expenditure is for the en-
larged army and navy programs and,
aside from working out the problem
Of national defense. it will be the
business of congress to raise the rev.
enue to pay for it.
Old timers, most of them Republi-
cans, reelected after going down with
the presidential landslide of 1912.
came trooping back to places in the
house eager for part in the absorb
ing business of the next few months
Uncle Joe" Cannon sat on bench
in the front row and laughed while
the house got into its little row over
the rules and hot references to Can
nonism," went back and forth across
the dividing aisle.
Atmosphere of Seriousness.
Even thought the day was only a
| field day, one for making new ac-
quaintances and renewing old ones
the congressional air was charged
with the seriousness of the business
of the months ahead, the business of
| fegislating for a nation at peace in
world aflame with war and surround
ed with almost endless possibilities.
In the stream of bills and resolu~-
tons that poured into the hopper
were not only the plans for military
preparedness, but others proposing in
vestigation of the motives of men and
organizations who champion national
defense. Notice was given that. in
the senate, demands would be made
for a showing of what the United
States has accomplished against Great
Britain's interferences with American
commerce abroad. The entire fabric
of the American governments deli
cate relation to the conflict across-the
seas probably will be brought to the
endge of congressional discussion and
the administration leaders are not un-
mindful of their tasks to preserve a
united America.
After the president has delivered
his address Tuesday, both houses will
proceed to perfect their organizations.
Until the working committees are
fully formed no legislation can be I'M
dertaken. While the house Democrats
are organized, the Republican as
signmentS will not be made before the
end of the week. The senate Demo
cratic assignments will be announced
later in the week. The Republicans
began their part of the organization
work Tuesday, re-electing Senator
Gallinger their floor leader and chair
/ of 4,
some of the principal bills upon
which the administration forces will
be concentrated will be introduced
until the committee organizations are
completed.
Democrats in Power.
The first rollcall n the house Mon
day showed AT members present and
eight absences-one of them account
ed for by death. The Democratic ma
jority, although reduced, put Speaker
Clark back in the chair 22l to 1914.
and when the brush came on re-
adopting the rules of the last house,
the Democratic leaders showed they
still had a majority in hand, beating
Republican Leader Mann's proposal
for a revision, POO to 1872.
In the senate the newly and re-
elected members took the oath. The
body was leaderless when Secretary
Baker raped for order at noon and
Senator Martin of Virginia was
chosen to preside. Thirty senators
were sworn in, Senators Brady oil
Idaho and Smith of South Carolina
being absent After this ceremony
Senator Clarke was elected and the
senate recessed.
Old Rules in Senate.
The cloture fight, as a result of it:
failure in the Democratic caucus. die
not come up. When the old rule.
were readopted, however, Senator
Walsh of Montana announced that HI
reserved the right to submit rule re
VISIONS at a later time