Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-12-03
CONGRESS- CON-
 VENED YESTERDAY
(COntinued from Page One)

AoAtuS oA T oucEdI management Wnlcn would be available. Congressional leaders including chairmen of the senate and house interstate commerce commission said tonight that the line of action yet is undetermined. Severa however. believed, that joint con- gressional inquiry either by new joint committee or by the existing body will begin soon.
 Democratic leaders expressed hope that legislation will be possible dur ing the present session, but some Republican members said it was doubtful if so important and debatable a question could be decisively settled during the congestion of the shcrt session.
 Prominence of the railroad question in the minds of congressman was evinced by many statements on the subject issued after the presidents ad- dress. Chairman Smith, of the sen- ate interstate commerce commission predicted that "a modified and per haps radically modified plan of pri- vate control would result" He gave no details of his views.
 Senator Kellogg of Minnesota, Re- publican, urged immediate congress sional study of the session and strong government control regula- ting issues of securities and con trOl over service" He opposed releasing of the roads and return to old conditions with, at further legis- 1ation.
 Senator Watson of Indiana. Repub- hcan, said he believed the railroads should be "nationalized," under gov ernment control with private owner- ship but operated by pooling as a unit under a common equipment zone plan.
 Immediate action by congress in dealing with the situation also was urged by Senator Cunlmins of Iowa. Republican. who agreed with tha president that the railroads should not be returned under the old sys- tem.
 Senator Penrose of Pennsylvania, Republican, said the voice of congress and the people would be heard Gin unmistakable terms after the railroad committee has had full power to in vestigate the orders and methods un- der which the railroad system of the country has been nearly ruined and certainly demoralized"
 Government control, "so as to pro- tect the public,.. but with retentioa of private ownership was predicted by Senator Sherman. of Illinois, Republi- can.
 Problems of peace and reconstruc- tion promise to occupy fully the third and last session of the siXty-fifth congress. which opened today at noon to continue until it ends ty limi- tation on March 5. Aftsr Q ten day holiday following the long second war session. most of the members of both senate and house were on hand today to start the work of the winter
 Framing of the legislative program had been held in aheyance to await the address of President Wilson, an hour after the opening. This pro- gram must cover an extraordinary congestion of business. including the many appropriation measures. rev. enue legislation. investigations and miscellaneous bills.
 The usual forma1ities of the open ing of a new session were hurried through because of the fact that Pres iGent Wilson about to sail for Europe, desired to deliver his address on the first instead Cf the second day of ,ne session.
 After calls of senate and house rolls to disclose presence of quo rtlns. committees were appointed to notify the president and respective branches of congress that the new session had besun.
 Long before the noon convening hour, spectators thronged into the capitol, pressing particularly to the house galleries for seats at the joint dent Wilson.
 Washington, Dec. 2.-A joint reso- lution introduced by Representative Rodenburg of Illinois, republican, proposes that congress declare Presi- dent Wilson's trip to Europe consti- tutes an inability to discharge the powers and duty of the office of president and that so long as he is away from the country the vice-presi- dent act as president.
 The resolution was dropped into Ire bill box without discussion or t'e floor. It was referred to the jud 'ci'rv committee.
 Senator Sherman of Illinois, rep b. licen. announced today that he would introduce tomorrow resolution to declare vacant the office of president benause of Mir. Wilson's absence ard proposing that the presidents pow CTS and duties shrou|d irmedi iately devolve upon the vice-president.
 Senator Cun1mins.H of Iowa. repub- iican introduced todoy resolution proposing that senate committee oF -four democrats and four republicans be sent to France for the peace con- ference. to keen the senate informed on qustions arising there.
 Senator Kellogg of Minnesota. ra- publican. declared he would oppose the resolution and honed it would heA sent to the foreign affairs committee and there killed.
 On motion of Senator Hitchcock. of Nebraska, chairman of the foreign relations committee. the resolution was referred to that committee. EX-