The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-05
Congress Opens For 4
Three Months Session
CALENDAR IS
OVERCRONDED
RAILROAD REFORMS
AND LIVING COSTS
Are New Issues Estimates
Aggregate Billion and a
Half-Message Today.

WASHINGTON, n G.. Dec. t.
CONGRESS re.couvened today for a
fhree-monthS session.. with calendar
ovcrcrowded with general legislation
facing railroad reforms and the high
cost of living as tissues, and con
sronted with unprecedented estimates
aggregating $1654,S19,654 10 meet eX-
penditures OF the government for the
fiscal year 1918.
Both houses adjourned early as g
mark oi respect to the late Senator
Clarke. of Arkansas. and Resident
Commissioner Rivera. Of Porto Rico.
both OF whom died since the Septem-
her adjournment. Tomorrow there
will De joint session in the hall OF
me House 70 hear the address or Pres
ldent Wilson. which will contain rec
concentrations for legislation sought
by the administration before the Sixty
fourth Congress dies March ( next.
That railroad legislation 10 supplement-
ihe AdautSon act will be- urged BY the
President as the nlu$t Important prob
lem. before tn" Congress at this time
is, generally expected.
How 10 expedite their work is the
problem which leaders Ot both houses
are enGeavoring :" solve, and frequent
conferences for the purpose OF plan
the President has indicated his de-
SireS. Besides railroad legislation.
there is strong public demand for some
Legislative action 70 curb the soaring
prices Of food. and III addition 10 ap'
preparation measures. which always
take time and must be passed. there
are other i$SUeS 10 be dealt with. Ihe
Senate has the Immigration bill. The
corrupt practices bill. further 10 limit
campaign contributions and "Np2udi-
lures. the Webb bill 10 grant authority
20 domestic corporations Tor mainte-
nance OF collective foreign selling
agencies, conservation aud other iueaS-
ureS.
To Probe Campaign.
Then an Investigation iuto eSpendi-
lures OF the recent national comralSh
is proposed. and Senator Owen. OF OK
lahoma. will introduce Il joint reSoiu-
rion directing thai such IN inquiry De
instituted at once.
.Haste -cpntare::us.:;- Of House leaders
:o.Gav convinced Il majority that a
speed up" program advocated oy
Speaker Clark will be adopted Win
ONLY slight changes a. the lu"S;. MA-
poritv Leader Kitchin joined with tue
Sneaker in declaring that the usual
long Christmas holiday should be oiS-
pansed with and an earlier meeting
hour than noon, probably 10 O'CLOCK
set. u.. u>
As the committees virtually COM
pleted their work in tue last session
here is 10 reason. it is pointed OUT
why the morning hours should not oe
devoted 70 floor work.
No active opposition 10 the cary
meeting hour has appeared, OUT tner3
is some dissenston over the pr0posei
aholjtion of tn" Christmas holidays.
\ compromise holiday OF one week,
beginning the Saturday before Christ
mas has been suggested and taForaolJ
received BY many members.
Cause Much Discussion
Although food embargo proposals
are certain 10 create much discussion,
few leaders are inclined to believe that
any Of them will be enacted INTO laws
Representative Nitchin thinks, too.
that lyestigatiou OF the high cost OF
living. will be left to the executive
departments.
1t is regarded as doubtful that any
Of the Presidents railway legislation
program will reach the floor before
Christmas. Representative Adamson.
chairman of the Interstate Commerce
Committee. who will pilot the meas
ures, said tonight that he would spend
tho Christmas holidays at home re-
gardless of any adjournment agree
ment.
Representative Baker will urge an
early report on his universal suffrage
measure. now held in the Judiciary
Comuittee. The suffragists did not
appear at the capitol today to make d
demonstration as had been expected.
Inaugural Lion OF three new senators
who appeared with their credentials
was postponed until tomorrow. be-
cause OF the desire TO adjourn in ro-
spect TO the memory Of Senator Clarke
the late president pro tempore. The
new senator's. Watson Of Indiana; Fer
nald OF Maine and Kirby Of Arkansas,
were given seats in the chamber.
Democrats Of the Senate plan 20
hold conference tomorrow 10 consider
the matter Of new president pro.
temport. but party caucus probably
win not be held until later IN tnG
week. Senators most prominently
mentioned for the place are Walsh OF
Montana. Pomerene OF Ohio and Sauls-
bury Of Delaware.