The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-03
CONGRESS EAGER
70 GET TO WORKON
WAR MEASURES
May Forego the Usual
Christmas Holiday This
Year.
GENERAL MATTERS FIRST.
Politics Will Play Consider
able Figure During the
Session.
MATTERS FIRST.
DIV Asspclated Press

for its second ard "long" session, with
the leaders prepared to stay here until
next autumn.
AS in the speSial war session which
ended October 5. prosecution Of the
war is the principal task facing the leg
islators. Todays opening meeting was
an usual brief and perfunctory. accom-
panied by the ordinary scenes Of new
MISUNDERSTANDING and other felici.
tations with well filled galleries and
much hustle and confusion. After an
pointment OF committees by both bod.
les to notify President Wilson and each
other of their presence for duty and
fixing their daily meeting hour at y
o'clock, the Senate and House adjourn
ed until tomorrow out of respect to
members who died during the recess
Senator Hustin, OF Wisconsin, and Resp.
resentative Martin, of Illinois.
Arrangements will be made toner
row for a joint session, probably to
hear President Wilson deliver his adj
dress. expected to largely define tn.
legislative program.
Organization Of both Senate and
oHuse under Democratic control hav-
ing been effected at the special ses
sion, both bodies were ready to plunge
into the mass of waiting business. Les.
islation, however, is not expected to
get into full swing until next month,
after the Christmas recess. although
there is some agitation to forego trio
holiday.
Tomorrow will come the initial nooo
Of bills, resolutions and petitions.
Among the latter are many petitions
accumulated during the recess. dc.
manding the expulsion OF Senator La
Toilette, Of Wisconsin, for alleged dis.
loyalty. His speech last September
at St. Paul, Mimi, was considered to.
day by the Senate privileges and cleo.
tons committee in connection with 9
subcommittee investigation.
General, miscellaneous legislation 4;
to come Immediately before Congress,
possibly including some measures al.
fecting this, country's course In the wcr
in view of widespread sentiment
among returning members for declera-
tions Of war against Germany's allies,
Austria-Hungary, Turkey and Bull.
garie. Congress is expected, however.
to follow the views OF the President ir
this respect.
Appropriation measures will require
much time. Fourteen general and pre- b.
ably several special supply bills for the
fiscal year beginning July 1, 1918, as
well as estimates of additional money
for present war needs, are to be cor.
sidered. probably Immediately after
New Years. Two bills, the legisla.
tive, executive and judicial and Dis
trict of Columbia measures, already
are under preparation.
With $780, 100000 already appro'
priated for the present fiscal years
needs, many members believe that,
with forthcoming appropriations, the
fifty.billion-dollar mark may be reach.
ed for two years Of war.
New war revenue legislation Is not
scheduled for active consideration for
month or more. A deficit Of $685.
100000 in this years expenditures re.
mains to be provided for.
Political affairs will come in for
much consideration during the session.
with considerable speechmaking, in
view OF general congressional cleo
lions next fall at which thirty.two Sen.
ators, nineteen Democrats and thi.-
teen Republicans, and the entire House
membership are 10 be chosen. Many
members believe political campaign
necessities may shorten the session.
The Democrats start the session Ia
control of both Senate and House With
SO Democratic Senators against 4S Re.
publicans, with one seat-Senator
Hastings vacant. In the House the
Democrats have ZIG members, the Re.
publicans 213, with five Independents
and one seat vacant.
Several new members Joined the
House today. Representative LufkIr.
Republican, OF the sixth Massachu.
sets district succeeding Augustus F.
Gardner, Republican. who resigned;
Representative Deshlin, Democrat, Of
the twenty.eighth Pennsylvania dis.
trict, succeeding former Representative
Bleakley. Republican. who resigned,
and Representative Merritt. Republi.
can, Of the fourth Connecticut, sue.
ceeding Representative Ebenezer Hill.
deceased.
Important war legislation expected
to come before the present session in.
cludes measures to give the President
further authority, especially over en-
envy aliens. Senator Chamberlain's
bill for universal military training, and
measures to meet labor conditions.
Chief among domestic concerns are
prohibition and woman suffrage. Sena-
tor Sheppard's proposed Constitutional
amendment, whose submission was ar.
proved August I by the Senate IS to
20, will be pressed in the House, while
both bodies will be urged to approve
submission Of the so-called Susan b.
Anthony amendment for equal suffrage,
which has been. fayorably reported 10
the Senate calendar. Speaker Clark
soon will appoint q chairman for the
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