Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-03-13
Democrats and Republicans
Both Are Claiming Majority
in the New HolSe-DemO-
Gratis Control Senate
, BY Associated Piess.

aboard merchantmen.
The organization or the new mouse
cannot be foretold at this time, for a
majority is 21S, and the standing is
Republicans, 2l5; Democrats, PA; Pro-
hibitionist, Progressive, Progressive
Protectionist, Socialist and Independent
one each; vacancy, in Democratic dis
trict, one. Both Republican and Dem
ocratic leaders declare they will have
support from enough of the so-called in
dependent group to control the organiza-
ton, but there is considerable talk of a
coalition organization. The new senate
is Democratic by a majority of twelve
Speaker Clark believes congress will
find so much work before 1t that it viii
continue in session until August, 1918.
Appropriation legislation which mus
be passed before July l includes the
army, suEdry civil. general deficiency
and military academy bills. carrying IL
aggregate more than $500, 600, 900
Among the measures which failed in the
last congress, strongly urged by the adj
ministration, are the railroad labor bill
Webb foreign selling agency bill, con-
servatiOn and land leasing measures
and acts TO enlarge the interstate COM
merce commission and give wider pow
ers TO the shipping board.
CALL FOR CONGRESS.
The presidents proclamation calling
the extra session of congress follows:
Whereas, public interests re-
quire that the congress of the Unit
ed States should be convened in
extra session at IL o'clock, noon, on
the 18th day of April. 1917, to re-
ceive such communications as may
be made by the executive.
Now, therefore, ], Woodrow Will
son, president of the United States
of America, do hereby proclaim and
declare that an extraordinary occa-
sion requires the congress of the
United States to convene in extra
session at the capitol in the city of
Washington on the 18th day or
April, 1917, at IL o'clock, noon, of
which all persons who shall at that
time be entitled to act as members
thereof are hereby required to take
notice.
Given under my hand and the seal
of the United States of America the
9Th day of March in the year Of our
Lord one thousand nine hundred and
seventeen, and of the independence
of the United States, the one hundred
and forty-first.
BOTH SIDES OPTIMISTIC.
Optimistic forecasts of the control OF
the next house came from Democratic
and Republican leaders when they heard
of the presidents call TO-. an extra ses-
sion of congress Many unbiased OBJ.
servers, however foresee only a long and
bitter organization fight unless a coali
tion agreement prevents.
Both Speaker Clark and Representa-
tive Woods, Of Iowa, chairman of the
Republican congressional COMMITTEES
predicted victory for their respective
parties Each said his party was as
sured of a. least 21S votes.
The official standing of the incoming
house is rs follows:
Republicans, 215; Democrats, 214; Pro
hibitionist. l; Progressive, /; Progress
ve-prOtectiOnist, /; Socialist, !; hide
pendent, 1; vacant, /.
The vacancy exists in the fifteenth
New York district, which is over
overwhelmingly Democratic. 1t has
been generally believed Governor Whit
man would call an election before next
Friday, which would MAKE virtually GER
tain a tie at 215 between the Democratic
and Republican membership on the open
ing day of the session.
Republican leaders are worried ovel
the illness of three Of their members
and the statement of a aourth that he
does not favor Representative Mann fol
speaker. Representative Hill of Con
necticut, Sulloway, of New Hampshire
and Graham, of Pennsylvania, are i'll
Representative Heintz. of cincinnati, re
Gently stated in a letter that he did moi
favor" Mr. Mann.
All of the newly elected Democratic
and Republican members probably will
be summoned here for caucuses n weel
or ten days before congress is reconven
ed. Several former Progressives no|
enrolled as Republicans, it is understood
will decline to be bound by caucus rules
Some members of both of the old par
ties would not be surprised 10 see coal
iticn agreement entered into before
April 16, and the slate carried through
with a rush before the end of the first
day. Success Of the bipartisan propos-
al will depend in a great measure on the
international situation and gaps which
may be caused in the ranks of the BIS
parties by illness or death. Neither
side proposes to permit weeks of weari
some and useless balloting for speaker
to tie, up important government business
Despite the growing talk of coalition
the Ave independents insist they viii
not acauiesce quietly to wishes of bis
party leaders. BY agreement none OF
the independents will pledge himself tc
any candidate for speaker until all have
met here again.
Sentiment developed at today's meet
ing OF the Democratic senate steering
committee for an adjournment of the
special senate session next week, so that
senators may have some time at home
before the special session of congress
opens April 16.
As a result il is probable no effort will
be made now to press the Sl5.O0O,00d
Colombian treaty for ratification.
Democratic leaders have been told
there will be no further 1ious oppo-
sition to the confirmation of DR.. Cary
T. Grayson as medical director and rear
admiral.
The committee took no action. but in
formal discussion disclosed that sen
ators believed the special session II
April should. continue only long enough
TO nut through legislation demanded BY
exigencies OF the International situation
and those appropriation bills which
failed I'm the last congress.
An appropriation will he made if Pres,
ident Wilson asks, for arming ships. bu
unless he so desires the armed neutral.
itv bill will not be pressed. Instead. a
Joint resolution may he proposed to de,
clare II to he the sense of congress that
the president acted within his power in
arming ships.