The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-12-03
VAR PROBLEMS
ARE UPPERMOST
And Leaders of Congress Expect Long
Session in Order to Garry Through
the Program.

i Washington, ID. c., Dec. 3.--The sixty
fifth Congress reconvened to-day for its
second and ''long" session, with the lead
ers prepared to stay here until next au.
tumn
As in the special war session which
ended Oct g, prosecution of the war is
the principal task facing the legislators
To-days opening meeting was as usual
brief and perfunctory, accompanied by
the ordinary scenes of new session
Handwriting and other fluctuations with
well filed galleries and much hustle and
confusion. After appointment of COM
mittees by both bodies to notify Presi-
dent Wilson and each other of their
presence for duty and fixing their daily
meeting hour at IL o'clock, the Senate
and House adjourned until tomorrow
out of respect to members who died dur
ing the recess-Senator Hastings of Wis
consin and Representative Martin of H.
linois
Arrangements will be made tomorrow
for Joint session, probably Wednesday,
to hear President Wilson deliver his ad-
dress, expected to largely define the leg
islative program.
Organization of both Senate and House
under Democratic control having been
effected at the special session, both bodies
were ready to plunge into the mass of
waiting business. Legislation, however,
is not expected to get into full swing
until next month, after the Christmas
recess, although there is some agitation
to forego the holiday.
Tomorrow will come the initial food
of bills, resolutions and petitions. Among
the latter are many petitions accumulat-
ed during the recess, demanding the ex
pulsion of Senator La Toilette OF Wiscon-
sin for alleged disloyalty. His speech |
last September at St. Paul, Mimi. was
considered to-day by the Senate privilege |
and elections committee in connection |
with a subcommittee investigation.
General miscellaneous legislation is to |
come Immediately before Congress, posi- !
bly, including some measures affecting
this country's course in the war in view
of widespread sentiment among return
ing members for declarations of war
against Germany's allies, Austria Hun
gary, Turkey and Bulgaria. Congress is
expected, however, to follow the views
OF the president in this respect.
Appropriation measures will require
much time. Fourteen general and prob
ably several special supply bills for the
fiscal year beginning July i, 1918, as well
as estimates of additional money for
present war needs, are to be considered,
probably Immediately after New Years.
Two bills, the legislative, executive and
judicial and District Of Columbia meas
lres. already are under preparation.
With S2l 390000,000 already appropri.
tied for the present fiscal years needs.
many members believe that, with forth.
'oming appropriations, the Atty billion
follar mark may be reached for two ,
1ears of war
New war revenue legislation, ia not
for active consideration for
month or more. A deficit of So 900 900. 9
100 in this years expenditures remains to '
re provided for. j
Political affairs will come in for much I
during the session, with '
speechmaking, in view of :
eneral congressional elections next fall !
{ which thirty.two senators, nineteen Il
Democrats and thirteen Republicans, and ?
he entire House membership are to be P
hosen. Many members believe political
ampaign necessities may shorten the 1
ession v
The Democrats start the session in b
Dntrol of both Senate and House with a
Democratic senators against 43 Repub- /
cans, with one seat-Senator Hastings o
vacant, In the House the Democrats II
ave 2i6 members, the Republicans 2l3, b
18th five Independent and one seat va. Il
ant. a
Several new members Joined the Il
louise to-day, Representative Lufk1n,
epublican, of the sixth Massachusetts,
strict succeeding Augustus P. Gadner.
epublican, who resigned; Representative
eshlin, Democrat, of the twenty eighth =
district, succeeding former
representative Bleakley, Republican, who
signed, and Representative Merritt, Re r
lblican, of the fourth Connecticut, sue
eding Representative Ebenezer Hill,
epublican, deceased
Important war legislation expected to
me before the present session includes
easures TO give the president further
Ithority, especially over enemy aliens.
.nstor Chamberlsin's bill for universal
ilitary training, and measures to meet
Dor conditions.
Chief among domestic concerns are pro-
bition and woman suffrage. Senator %
proposed constitutional wi
nendment, whose submission was ap. III
owed Aug ! by the Senate. 65 TO 20. is
ii be pressed in the House, while both "A
dies will be urged to approve submis- sa
IN of the so-called Susan b. Anthony Ike
lendment for equal suffrage, which has ia
en- favorably reported to the Senate
tn