Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-12-07
CONGRESS- FACES
A BUSY SESSION
National Legislature Reconvcnes
with Three Months of Hard
Work Ahead.
FIRST DAY UNEVENTFUL.
'"'"' session To-day-Frcnk Bill In
troduccd for 4. $. to Seize RniI-
roads Not Withdrawing Adam
son LAW Suits.

Washington, Dec. 4-Congress recon
vened to-day for a three months, session
with ceiandar overcrowded with gem
crai legislation. facing railroad reforms
ana the nigh cost of living as new issues.
ana confronted with unpr, cedcnted esti
mates aeSregating 81 654,S19 G54 to- meet
expenditures of the government for the
fiscal year 1915.
Hoth Houses adjourned early as a mark
OF respect to the late Senator Clarke of
ArNahsas and Resident Commissioner
,N'ra OF forto Rico. both of whom
"eu since the September adjournment
tomorrow there will be Joint session
IN the House to hear the address of
President Wilson. which will contain
recommendations for legislation sought
by the administration before the Gath
Congress dies March next That rail-
roao legislation to supplement the Adam
son act VIII be urged by the President
as the most important problem before
Congress is generally expected.
among the hundreds of bills and resolu-
tons introduced to-day was a Joint
resolution by Representative billiard Of
Colorado proposing government seizure.
ownership and operation Of railroads that
90 not discontinue by December 20 their
suits relative to the Adamson act and
providing that courts that delay action on
suits longer than is necessary to order
their dismissal shall be abolished
How to expedite their work is the prob
lem which leaders of both houses arc en-
deavorng to solve. Besides railroad
LEGISLATION, there is strong public demand
FOR legislative action to curb the soar
Ing prices of food, and in addition to
appropriation measures there are other
Issues to be dealt with. The Senate has
the immigration bill, the corrupt practices
bill further to limit campaign contribu-
lions and expenditures. the Webb bill to
grant authority to domestic corpora tons
for maintenance of collective foreign
selling agencies, conservation and other
mea sures.
Then an investigation into exnendi-
lures of the recent national campaign
Is proposed and Senator owen of Okla
homa will introduce a Joint resolution
directing that such an inquiry be insti-
tuted at once
Hasty conferences of House leaders
to-day convinced majority that a
speed up" program advocated by
Speaker Clark will be adopted with
only slight changes. Majority Leader
kitchin Joined with the speaker in de-
claring that the usual long Christmas
holiday should be dispensed with and
an earlier meeting hour than noon,
probably ten o'clock, set.
No active opposition to the early
meeting hour has appeared, but there
is some dissension over the proposed
abolition of the Christmas holidays.
Although food embargo proposals are
certain to create much discussion, few
leaders are inclined to believe that any
of them will he enacted into law. Repre-
tentative kitchin thinks, too. that inves-
tigation of the high cost of living will be
left to the executive departments.
It is regarded as doubtful that any OF
the Presidents legislation program will
reach the floor before Christmas. Repre-.
sentative Adamson, chairman of the In.
terstate commerce committee, who will
pilot the measures said tonight that he
would spend the Christmas holidays at
home regardless Of any adjournment
agreement.
Representative Baker will urge an early
report on his universal suffrage measure.
now held In the judiciary committee The
sufragists did not appear al the Capitol
to-day to make a demonstration, as had
been expected.