The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-04
SHORT SESSION
CONTINUED From Page One.)

thony amendment to the constitution,
have laid all the lines for their cam
paign, and it is possible that their de-
mands may be crowded into the short
time congress has to deal with an i'm
portant budget of legislation. Prohibi-
tionists, no less ardent than the suf-
fragists, 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; defeated
ones receive condolences; majority
and minority leaders receive ovations
as they walk down the aisle. Cal
leries are crowded with wives and
friends of members who join in the
demonstrations of hand clapping and
cheering as their favorites take their
seats: except in the senate where
dignified calm prevails. A few for
malities mixed with few informali-
ties always compose the first days
business and then the house as we'll as
the senate adjourns until tomorrow to
hear President Wilson deliver his an
dress.
In accordance with the custom he
set at the beginning of his term, Pres
ident Wilson will read his address
from the clerks desk in the hall of
the house while senators and represen-
tativeS are assembled before him on
the benches. Members of the diploma
tic corps hear him from their places
in the reserved galleries and menu
bers of the cabinet have specially re-
served seats on the floor. The presi-
dents message is about 1000 words
long: is purely a discussion of domes-
tic issues, the state of the union and
gives first prominence to the railway
situation. s
4The Lady From Montana" 5
.Today's opening marks the closing
of mans monopoly of membership ia
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
expected TO be m her seat then. She
does not sit in the present session z
aItho many uniformed expected to
see her today-but comes in with the
new congress. When she does arrive
the house will be confronted with re-
vising it's own rules to give her q
place on the floor
| In the senate there were three new
members to take the oath of office.
James E. Watson of Indiana, Republi-
| can, takes the unexpired term of the
late Senator Shively. Democrat. who
was temporarily succeeded by Thomas
Taggart. Bert NJ. Fernald,, Republican
of Maine, was elected to the vacancy
caused by the death of Senator Bur
leigh. William F. Kirby, Democrat
of Arkansas, was elected to fill the
unexpired term of the late Senator
/ Clark.
Bill to Aid Foreign Trade.
! While the organization fight in the
house does not come until the assem-
, bling of the next congress, the senate
probably will see some political gener-
alship in the selection of a successor
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 indications that
the situation might be solved by Civ
ing the office of president pro tempore
to Senator O'Gorman who retires with
| the end of the congress. This it is
the retiring senator, and would leave
all the candidates for the leadership
| free to enter the contest.
1t 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-
ministration program would be urged
| Committees in charge of conservation
| legislation, the Webb bill to authorize
domestic corporations to maintain col
| lective foreign selling agencies the
immigration bill da corrupt prac-
| tees measure to limit national cam
| paign expenditures are certain to be
active from the beginning.
|