Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-05
CONGRESS LEADERS
PLAN To SPEED UP
WORK on PROGRAM
Presidents Plan for Railroad
Legislation Foremost at
Short Session Which Opened
Monday at Noon
BY Associated Press.l

fEv Associated PreSs.l
WASHINGTON. Dec 4--Congress
assembled promptly at noon today for
the short session which will mark the
closing Of President Wilson's first term.
With a crowded program of legisla-
ton. foremost in which is the presi-
dents plan for railroad legislation, SEN
ators and representatives settled down
10 work as Speaker Clark and Vice
President Marshall brought down the
gavels-
Today's opening session was marked
BY the usual food of bills and resolu-
tions. many OF which are expected. to
die in committee with the congress it.
self on March 4.
The energies Of the administration
leaders were at once concentrated on
the percentage OF the big supply bills,
necessary for eonduct OF the govern
ment. and upon the limited program OF
general legislation
In the house members stood and
cheered when Speaker Clark opened the
session The public sail.ries were only
comfortably allied and the promised in
vasion OF a sufTragist delegation failed
TO materialize-
Majority Leader Kitchin and MinOri-
u Leader Mann exchanged greetings a
few minutes before noon. and many
friends from both sides crossed the
room TO greet the leaders. Speaker
Clark then entered the chamber. bowed
acknowledgment OF the cheers and
banged his gavel. The chaplain prayed
for peace and prosperity" and the roll
call by states began
HARRISON Is SEATED.
T W. Harrison. of Virginia, was
seated as successor to Representative
Hay. who joined the court of claims.
Representatives Kitchin, Fitzgerald
and Mann were appointed committee
10 notify the president that the house
was in session
Resolutions of coincidence over the
deaths of Resident Commissioner Ri
vera. OF Porto Rico. and Senator Clarke,
Of Kansas. were adopted
Sneaker Clark was actively engaged
today in pushing his tight for the aroii-
tfon of the regular Christmas holidays
He also favors beginning the daily ses-
sions at 40 o'clock instead of noon.
Majority Leader Kitchin would give
members a week at home Christmas. but
savors the 10 o'clock meeting hour. He
expects little save railroad legislation
acted. He thinks the high cost Of living
mills will cause much discussion, but
is doubtful il any of them passes. He
il rather inclined TO leave food investi-
cations to the various governmental
branches equipped to do such work No
railroad legislation, he predicts. will be
passed before Christmas He also be-
lieves the house will vote on the ma
tion-vvide prohibition measure at this
session.
The senate recessed until 3 o'clock to
reconvene for the swearing OF three new
members. Watson. OF Indiana; Fernald.
o. Maine. and Kirby. OF Arkansas An
adjournment unit: noon tomorrow as a
mark OF respect for the late Senator
Clarke. Of Arkansas was next 'On the
program.
Speaker Clark and Representative
iKtchin. majority leader OF the house.
assured President Wilson at a White
House conference last night that they
woyld do all they could to hasten the
passage IF railroad legislation at the
short session OF the sixty-fOurth con-
gress which began today at noon.
The president summoned the house
leaders to talk over with them the
legislative program and TO secure their
cooperation I'm expediting important
measures Legislation TO supplement
the Adamson law. he said. was of the
utmost importance and he asked that
this be Eiren precedence in consid-
Grafton over all other general legisla-
tion.
Realizing that three months is a short
period for consideration Or general
measures when appropriation bills also
must be passed. the president asked the
house leaders IL they thought there
(Continued on Page 2, Col ~