The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-12-04
ADMINISTRATION
LEADERS HASTEN
CONGRESS PLANS
Seek to Complete Program
Mapped Out Before the
Next Session Opens

Washington, Dec. 4-With pros
pect of a much reduced majority IN
the new House, or possibly a line up
so close that Democratic control Will
be in doubt, administration leaders
in the Congress that reassembled to-
day have laid their plans to work at
high speed in the hope of enactlng
the most important part of their pro-
gram before it is endangered in the
Sixty-fifth Congress.
Foremost is completion of President
Wilson's railroad legislation program
left unfinished at the last session with
the passage of the Adamson Law.
The remainder of the program, which
the President will press, includes sup
Elementary legislation to prevent
such a nationwide railway strike as
was threatened last summer, or In
fact a lockout, until the situation has
been investigated.
Second in Importance to the rail-
way situation comes the agitation for
a restriction Of shipments of food
stuffs to Europe. Thousands of petit
tons asking for an embargo have
been received by members of Con-
every case it is argued that the in
creased cost of living in the United
States demands a restriction of SHIP
ments abroad. So far as has been
disclosed President Wilson and mem
bers of the cabinet have no plans for
acting on the subject, but it is known
that various members Of Congress
intend to push the subject and it may
develop a fight. Chairman Fitzgerald
Of the appropriations committee al
ready has announced his intention of
introducing a bill for a food embargo.
Women suffragists, renewing their
fight for passage Of the Susan &.
Anthony amendment to the constitu-
ton, have laid all the lines for their
campaign, and it is possible that their
demands may be crowded into the
short time Congress has to deal with
an important budget of legislation.
Prohibitionists, no less ardent than
the suffragists, in their demand FOR a
federal amendment, are expected to
begin their fight anew.
The first day of the session never
sees much business done. Reelected
members get congratulations; defeat
/
and minority leaders receive ovations
as they walk down the aisle. Galleries
are crowded with wives and friends
of members who join in the demon
STATIONS Of hand clapping and cheer
ing as their favorites take their seats;
except in the Senate where a dignl-
fed calm prevails. A few formali-
ties mixed with a few informalitles
always compose the first days bust
ness and then the House as we'll as
the Senate adjourns until tomorrow
to hear President Wilson deliver his
annual address.
In accordance with the custom he
set at the beginning Of his term, Pres
ident Wilson read his address from
the clerks desk in the hall of the
House while senators and representa-
tives assembled before him on the
benches. Members of the diplomatic
corps heard him from their places In
the reserved galleries and members Of
the cabinet had specially reserved
seats on the floor. The Presidents
was purely a discussion of
domestic issues, the estate Of the
union,'' and gives first prominence to
the railway situation.
Today's opening marks the closing
of mans monopoly of membership in
the House Of Representatives. In the
next Congress the clerks and the
pages and the speaker will be calling:
''The Lady from Montana"
Miss jeanette Rankin, Republican,
first woman elected to Congress, is ex-
pected to be in her seat then. She
does not sit in the present session.
although many uniformed expected
to see her today-but comes in with
the new Congress. When she does ar
rive the House will be confronted with
place on the floor.
In the Senate there were three new
members to take the oath of office.
1ican, takes the unexpired term of the
late Senator Shively, Democrat, who
was temporarily succeeded by Thomas
Taggart. Bert M. Fernald, Republi-
can, of Maine, was elected to the va
cancy caused by the death of Senator
Burleigh. William F. Kirby, Demo-
crat, of Arkansas, was elected to fill
the unexpired term of the late Senator
Clarke.
While the organization fight in the
House does not come until the as
semb1ing Of the next Congress, the
Senate probably will see some political
generalship in the selection of a suc4
cessor to Senator Clarke as president
pro tempore. Senators who have their
eyes ON the majority floor leadership,
made vacant by the defeat of Senator
Kern, are loath to take the office Of
pro tempore.. Strangely enough the
disposition seems to be to avoid an
office instead of seeking it, because
senators realize that the man who be-
comes president pro tempore is out Of
the race for the floor leadership. There
have been some indicat tons that the
situation might be solved by giving
the office of president pro tempore to-
Senator. OGorman, who retires with
the end of Congress. This, it is point
ed out, would be a compliment to the
retiring senator, and would leave all
tho candidates for the leadership free
to enter the contest.
It is generally conceded that while
the important appropriation bills for
the fiscal year will occupy most of the
time between now and adjournment.
much general legislation on the ad-
minlstratlon program would be urged
Committees in charge of conservation
legislation, the Webb bill to authorize