Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1917-12-07
LONG CONGRESS-
SESSION OPENS
Treasury Department Calls For
War Appropriation of
S13,504, 1889.
ADDRESS IS AWAITED
President Expected to Urge Congress
to Concentrate on War Measures
Leaders TO Follow Wishes
Of Executive.

Washington, Dec. 4.-With the first
call upon it appropriations totaling
$13, 1904 1857 ,939, both houses of the
United States win-the-war Congress-
convened at the stroke of noon.
This sum-an average expenditure
of $37, 100000 day for the next year.
is Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo'S
estimate of war and necessary internal
expenses during the next IL months.
To Address Joint Session.
In addition to appropriations of bill.
lions of dollars, measures to put the
full force of the United States beside
its Allies will be the principal bust
pess of the session. The first days
business was largely perfunctory with
official notification to the Presidcn:
that Congress is in session and waiting
to hear his opening address. Tho
President will speak today at 1880 y.
m. in the hall. of the House before a
Joint session.
Leaders To Back Wilson.
President Wilson in his address, It
is understood, will urge Congress to
confine its work strictly to measures
for the successful and speedy prosecu-
ton of the war. There is a general
disposition among the leaders on both
sides to depend upon him to take the
lead in proposing the war measures
and TO give him all the nonpartis IN
support possible.
While the question of declaring war
upon Austria, Turkey and bulgaria
Germany's Allies, is being agitated in
Congress. there is a general DISPOSE
ton to follow the wishes OF the
executive branch of the government
which is understood 10 oppose any
change in policy at this time.
Prayers For Victory Offered.
Prayers for victory were offered in
opening of both houses.
In his prayer opening the Senate
session. Rev. Forest J. Prettyman, Sen.
ate chaplain, said:
I'VE face the mightiest task ever
confronting any generation.
I'VE thank Thee that we have taken
our place on Thy side, in behalf of the
brotherhood OF nations and peace
throughout the world"
Speaker Clarke's gavel fell on the
dot of noon with large representa-
ton of the House present. His ap-
pearance on the rostrum was greeted
with spontaneous applause, the mem.
bers rising and cheering.
Senate Attendance Large.
In his opening prayer, the House
chaplain asked that lin this, the
darkest hour of human history, help
us, a people, to appreciate the gravity
Of the situation and unite us in bonds
of patriotism that we may throw all
our moral, intellectual and physical
force into the conflict with grim deter
mination to win or perish"
For the first time in two sessions
Senator Nation Golf, West Virginia,
answered roll call. Illness prevented
his attendance at the special session.
Attendance in the Senate was un.
expectedly large. Sixty-seven Of the
96 senators answered roll call.
Husting TO Be Honored.
Senator La Toilette arose immedi.
ately after the formal organization of
the Senate formally to announce to
the Senate the death of his colleague,
Senator Paul O. Husting of Wiscon-
sin, who was accidentally shot while
hunting.
"This is not the time to pay ade-
quate honor to the memory of Senator
Husting," said La Toilette. AT
later time shall ask that day be
set aside to pay honor to him."
The Senate at once adopted a reso-
luton of profound regret" over Sem
ator Hastings death, and as further
mark of respect adjourned at 1874
until Tuesday.
To Offer Bone Dry Bill.
Bone dry prohibition throughout the
United States for the duration of the
war as food conservation measure Is
proposed in bill Representative Ran
dali, California, has ready for intro
duction
Five thousand dollars fine, or two
years in prison would be the penalty
for the selling. making, transporting,
importing or use OF any food. fruit or
feed in the production Of alcoholic
beverages, except for medicinal, gov
ernmental, industrial or scientific pur-
poses.