The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-12-05
S|XTY-FOURTH CONGRESS
OPENS ITS LAST SESSION
MANY BIG PROBLEMS.
RecOnvenes for Short Term with
Calendar Already Over
crowded.

crowded.
Washington, Dec. 4.-Congress re-
convened today for a three months
session with a calendar overcrowded
with general legislation, facing rail-
road reforms and the high cost OF
living as new issues and confronted
with unprecedented estimates aggre-
eating $1,654,S1s,654 to meet expen-
ditures Of the government for the fs-
cal year 1918.
Both houses adjourned early as q
mark Of respect to the late Senator
Clarke of Arkansas and Resident
! commissioner Rivera of Puerto Rico.
both of whom died since the Septem-
her adjournment.
Tomorrow there will be Joint ses.
sion in the hall of the house to hear
the address of President Wilson
which will contain recommendations
! for legislation sought by the admin.
Ilstration before the Sixty-fourth con
gress dies March 4 next. That rail
road legislation TO supplement the
Adamson act will be urged by the
President as the most important
problem before the congress at this
time is senerN by expected.
Must Hasten Work.
! How to expedite their work is the
problem which leaders of both houses
are endeavoring to solve. Besides
railroad legislation there is strong
public demand for legislation to curb
the soaring prices of food In add,
tion to appropriation measures the
senate has the immigration bill,
the corrupt practices bill further to
! limit campaign contributions and ex-
lpenditures, the Webb bill to grant
Authority to domestic corporations
! for maintenance of collective foreign
selling agencies, conservation ana
other measures.
| Then an investigation into eXpen-
ditures OF the recent national cam
paign is proposed and Senator Owen
OF Oklahoma will introduce joint
7
Quiry be instituted at once.
| Hasty conferences of house leaders
today convinced a majority that :,
speed up" program advocated by
Speaker Clark will be adopted with
/ only slight changes at the most Ma
jority Leader Kitchin joined with the
speaker in declaring that the usual
/ long Christmas holiday should be
dispensed with and earlier meeting
hour than noon, probably 10 O'Clock
set.
! Some Want Recess.
No active opposition to the early
meeting hour has appeared but there
is some dissatisfaction over the pro-
posed abolition of the Christmas
holidays. A compromise holiday OF
one week, beginning the Saturday
before Christmas, has been suggested
and favorably received by many
members.
Although food embargo proposals
are certain to create much discussion,
| leW leaders are lncllneu 10 DeleVe
that any of them will be enacted into
laws. Representative Kitchin thinks.
too. that investigation of the high
cost of living will be left to the ex-
ecutive departments.
1t is regarded as doubtful that any
OF the Presidents railway legislation
program will reach the floor before
Christmas Representative Adam
son, chairman of the interstate com
merce committee, who will pilot the
measures, said tonight that he woulo
spend the Christmas holidays a,
home regardless of any Adjournment
agreement.
| Will Urge Suffrage.
] Representative Baker will urge an
early report on his universal suf-
frage measure. now held in the judi
ciary committee The suffragists did
not appear at the capitol today to
make a, demonstration as had been
expected.
Inauguration of three new sena-
tors who appeared with their creden-
tials was postponed until tomrrow
because of the desire to adjourn in
respect to the memory OF the late
Senator Clarke, president pro tenn