The weekly Alaska citizen., 1917-12-24

nth Congress .ycuuF'D.u 'u Gay .o. ifs second and Ions session, with the leaders prepared ro -,as here unuI next autumn
 As in the special War session which ended October Q. prosecution ol the War Is The principal task facing the legislators Todays opening mo,rinG Was as usual brief and prrfuncrory, accompanied by inc ordinary scenes e. new session hand-hakins and other lelicltacions with well filled gal IyrIes and much hustle and confusion. After appointment of committees by both bodies 10 notify President Will .gn and each other of their presence for duty and nNng their daily meet inG hour ag l2 o'clock the Senate and House adjourned until tomorrow of. of respect to members who died during :ho rrce-s Senator Husttn2 of Wisconsin and Representative Mar in of Illinois
 Arranaoments will b. made romor TOW for join, session. probably W-Ien~day ,o hear President Wilson deliver his address. expected ro large ly define the legislative program
 Organization of both Senate and House under Democratic control hay tus been effected at the special ses- sion. both bodies were ready to plunge into the mas of waiting busi- ness. Legislation. however is not expected to get into full swing until next month, after the Christmas re- cess, although there is some agitation 10 forego the holiday.
 Tomorrow will come the initial flood of bills. resolutions and peti- tions Among the latter are many petitions accumulated during the re- Cess, demanding the expulsion of Senator La Toilette ol Vi consin for alleged dlsloyalty His speech last September at St Paul Mjnn, was considered today by the Senate privileges and elections committee in connection with a sub-committees in yesugaton
 General, misceHaneoua legislation is 10 come immediately before Congress, possibly including some measures af- recune this counrry's course in the war in view of widespread sentiment among returning members for declara tons of War against Gernany's allies, AusJnaHungars Turkey and BuIga- ria. Congress i~ expected, however, to follow the views of the president in this respect
 Appropriation measures will require much time. Fourteen general and probably several special supply bills for the fiscal year beginning July l, 1918, a. Well d. estimates of addi- tIonal money for present war needs, are to be considered, probably i'm mediateIy after New Years Two bills, the legislative, executive and ju- 4Icial and District of Columbia meas u.ys, already are under preparation.
 With $2I39Q000.000 already appro- priated for the present fiscal years needs, many members believe that, with forthcoming appropriations, the fifty billion mark may be reached for two years of war.
 New war revenue legislation is not scheduled for active consideration for a month or more A deficit of $3,9O6,- Q00,000 in this years expenditures re mains to be provided for.
 Political affairs will come in for much consideration during the session #ith considerable speechmaking, in view of general congressional cleo tions next fall at which thirty-two Senators, nineteen Democrats and thirteen Republicans, and the entire House membership are to be chosen. Many members believe political cam paign necessities may shorten the session
 The Democrats start the session in control of both Senate and House with 52 Democratic Senators against 43 Republicans, with one seat-Sena- tor Husting g's-yacant. In the House the Democrats have PIG members, the Republicans 213, with five independ, ents and one seat vacant
 Several new members joined the House today, Representative Lufkin, Republican, of the sixth Massachu- setts district, succeeding Augustus P. Gardner, Republican, who resigned Representative Deshlin, Democrat, of the twenty-eighth Pennsylvania dis trict, succeeding former Representa- tive Bleakley, Republican, who re- signed, and Representative Merritt, Republican, of the fourth Connecti- cut succeeding Representative Ebe- nezer Hill, Republican, deceased,
 Important war legislation expected to come before the present session includes measures to give the Presi- dent further authority especially