The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-12-10
DEMOCRATS HAVE
A MAJORITY OF "a
sOLONs ARRIVING IN WASHING.
TON FOR OPENING OF con.
GRESS ON MONDAY.
TO BE A BUSY SESSION
I National Defense Will BE The Chief
Problem to BE
Faced.

2 Washington, Dec. National de-
Tense and the means Of providing
money to carry out the administra-
ton plans, admittedly. are the chief
problems which the Sixty-fourth con-
gress will face when 1t assemblies at
noon Monday.
Democratic leaders who had hoped
to make military preparedness a nom
partisan question are not confident
of success. notwithstanding the
widespread endorsement given Pres
ident Wilson'S program by promi-
nent members and organizations af-
iiliated with minority parties. The
chief stumbling block is the method
of raising the enormous revenues
which will be needed.
Certain Republican leaders have
indicated they are ready to make po-
litical capital OF the Democratic di-
lemma should the party in power
find itself compelled to resort to n
bond issue or any of the tariff meas
ures hitherto condemned by them.
With leaders of both parties looking
toward the national campaign next
fall the session promises to be of un-
usual interest.
Washington is enlivened tonight
with the last of the arriving men,
bers of the huge legislative tasks
ahead The nations law-making
bodies have not been in session for
nine months. the longest legislative
hiatus in the last two administra-
tons, during which problems OF SUI
preme importance to the nation have
arisen.
D Salient Needs OF Country.
President Wilson will outline the
salient needs of the country in a
personally delivered address to con-
gress Tuesday noon, after which
committees will be organized and
actual legislative grinding initiated.
In his opening address the president
Is not expected to present in detailed
form all OF the legislation the ad-
ministration has in mind. but as
congress proceeds he plans to send
messages on special subjects.
The presidents first communica-
ton will probably concern chiefly the
needs OF the army and navy. giving
special attention TO revelations and
responsibilities growing out of the
European war and what may be done
10 finance a plan OF preparedness to
assure continuing safety OF the ma
ton.
The new Congress is still Demo-
cratic. but not so overwhelmingly as
il has been on previous occasions
when President Wilson addressed 1t.
iIn the senate the party has a slightly
increased majority, but political for
wieldy force in the house that came
in on the Democratic landslide that
elected Mr.. Wilson so that now the
party will have only a majority over |
all of twenty-four votes. This is re- !
garded as a narrow margin In a body |
composed of 435 members, requiring !
party detection of only thirteen |
votes to defeat measure. a..
The New House. syq,tI
The new house as officially classi-
fed will consist of 229 Democrats. 1877
Republicans. six Progressives. one In !
and one Socialist. there
being one vacancy. In the senate
there are fifty-six Democrats and
rprty Republicans. 4
= In relative importance on the ad-
legislative program
the army and navy increases in the
five year plan for perfecting the ma
tionai defenses come first. Allied
with them is the revenue problem
which involves consideration of
many subjects. Re-enactment of the
war tax which expires by limitation,
the income tax. amend
ing the tariff to retain the duty on
sugar which otherwise would 60 on
the free list next year. bond issues.
some sort Of tax on incomes from
the manufacture OF munitions Of
war; and an Inheritance tax. all in