The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-12-11
CONGRESS REAOY FOR WORK
BODY ORGANIZED FOR SESSION
OF IMPORTANT LEGISLA.
TION.
President Will Read His Address To-
lay Opening Business OF Congress
Speaker of House and President
Pro Tenn OF Senate to BE Elected.

Washington, Dec. 6.-Congress
was made an organized body today
for the session which is expected to
be the greatest within the memory
of the present generation.
Four hours work in the house
showed Speaker Clark returned to
the chair; Representative Mann re-
turned to the leadership of the Re-
publican minority; the introduction
of 1000 bills and resolutions, many
Of them proposing measures of ma
tional defense and many more in op-
position; the temperance of con-
stitutional amendments to enfran-
chise women and a miniature rules
fight which fickered out with the
adoption Of last years rules with a.
few changes.
In the senate practically nothing
was done except the election of SEN
ator Clarke Of Arkansas as president
pro tempore. Vice President Mar
shall was absent because of the ILL
ness 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 tomor-
row when the real business of the
session begins with President Will
sons address to q joint session in the
hall OF the house at 1890 o'clock.
The greatest budget of expendi-
lures ever placed before any Ameri-
can congress in time of peace was
brought in from the various branches
Of the government. the total being
some $170,00O,OOO more than was
asked for last year. The greater part
Of the proposed increase Is for the
enlarged army and navy programmes
and aside from working out the prob
lens Of national defense it will be-
the business Of congress to raise the
revenue to pay for it.
Old timers, most Of them Republi-
cans reelected after going down be-
fore the presidential Democratic
landslide Of 1912, came trooping back
to places In the house. Uncle Joe"
Cannon sat on bench in the front
row and laughed while the house got
into it's little row over the rules and
references to Cannonism We're hurled
back and forth across the dividing
aisle. Even though today was only
one for making new acquaintancss
and renewing old ones, the congress
sional air was charged with the seri-
business of the business Of the
months ahead, the business Of legis-
lating for a nation at peace in a
world aflame with war and surround
ed with almost endless possibilities.
In the stream of bills and rcsolu-
tions which poured into the hoppcrs
were not only plans for military pre-
paredness, but others proposing in
vcstigation Of motives of men and
organizations that champion national
defense. Notice was given that in
the senate demands would be made
for showing Of what the United
States has accomplished against
Great Rritain's interference with
American commerce abroad. The en-
tire fabric Of the American govern
ments delicate relations to the con-
hict across the seas probably will be
brought to the edge Of congressional
discussion and the administration
leaders are not unmindful Of their
task TO preserve what President Will
son has asked fora united America
After the president has delivered
his address tomorrow both houses will
proceed to perfect thei~ organizations
Until the working committees are
fully formed NJ lcgslati IN can be
undertaken. While the house DEM
ocrats are organized the Republican,
assignments Will not be made before
the end of the week. The senate
Democratic assignments will be an
nounced later in the week.
The Republicans began their part
of the organization work today. re-
electing Senator Gallinger their floor
leader and chairman Of their confer
ence. Although some of the principal
bills upon which administration ef-
forts will be concentrated will be in
troduccd soon none of them can be
taken up until the committee orroni.
cations are complete.
The first roll call in the house to-
day showed APT members present and
eight absentees-one Of them ac-
counted for by death. The Demo-