Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-12-07

MISS jeanette Rankin republican. first
woman elected to Congress. is expected
to he IN her seat then. She does not sit
IN the present sesslon-HlthouRh many
uniformed expected to see her to-day
but comes in with the new Congress.
When she does arrive the House will b.
confronted with revising It's own rules
to give her a place on the floor.
In the Senate there were three new
members to take the oath OF office. James
i. Watson Of Indiana, republican. takes
the unexpired term of the late Senator
Shively, democrat. who was temporarily
succeeded by Thomas Taggart. Bert NJ.
Fernald. republican. of Maine, was elect
ed TO the vacancy caused by the death
of Senator Burleigh. William +. Kirby.
democrat, 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 assem-
bling Of the next Congress, the Senate
probably will see some political gen
eralship in the selection of a successor
to Senator Clarke as president pro
tempore. Senators who have their
ewes on the majority floor leadership,
made vacant by the defeat of Senator
Kern. are loath to take the office Of
llN ltlllI'bIf' SlldllbtlN 'IiouSi Nl'
disposition seems to he to avoid an Of
flee instead Of seeking it. because sen
ators realize that the mar who becomes
president pro tempore is out Of the race
for the floor leadership. There have
been some indications that the situation
might he solved by giving the office OF
president pro tempore to Senator OGor-
man, who %retires with the end OF the
Congress. This it is pointed out would
he a compliment to the retiring senator,
and would leave all the candidates for
the leadership free to enter the con
test. 1t is generally conceded that
while the important appropriation bills
for the fiscal year will occupy most VI
the time between now and adjournment,
much general legislation on the admin
tstration 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 and a corrupt prac-
tices measure to limit national cam
paign expenditures are certain to he
active from the beginning.
GENERAL ESTIMATES FOR 1918.
Estimates of the expense Of all branches
Of the government for the fiscal year 1918
for which the session Of Congress assem-.
bling to-day must appropriate funds, to-
tai l,26S, 1854.
This sum is exclusive of 1895 ,355.Sao to he
appropriated for the postal service which
is expected to he returned to the treasury
by postal revenue and a sinking func
appropriation of $50. AS, 900 toward the pub
lie debt.
The total appropriations for the fsca
year 1917 ending next June, exclusive o
these two items, were 81 1874, l57 SIT.
The increase Of some $4,000 repre-
SCENTS the general trend of the constant!
increased cost Of the government as wei
as the increased cost of living. Increases
In compensation and in numbers OF EN-
ployes are to he found in the estimates o
all branches Of the government. and II
meet that tendency administration Off
cials have attempted a policy of parin,
down all proposals for new projects wit
the exceptions Of national defense. ex
penditures to meet the growth of tn
country and tho many burdens thrus
upon the United States by thu war.
ESTIMATES IN DETAIL.