The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-05-19
Republicans Take Reins Today
After Democratic Rule for
Several Years
Past.
MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT
May Immediately Follow Organization
Of House and Senate or be
Deferred Until
Tuesday.
[By L. C. Martin, United Press Staff
Correspondent

[By L. C. Martin, United Press Staff
Correspondent
WASHINGTON, May 19-The sixty
sixth congress opened for business
today.
Promptly at IL o'clock. noon, Vice
President Marshall, in the senate and
South Trimble, clerk Of the house, let
fall their respective gavels-and the
first all-republican congress in eight
years got under way.
Prayers were uttered in both
branches at the start off for the sue
cess of it's work and the health and
, welfare of its members.
Packed galleries, with many persons
OF note, provided color for the open
ing. Strange faces at the doors and
on the floors gave evidence OF the
change Of its political complexion.
Not even in war times has a con-
gress held such momentous possibll1-
ties. Summoned to convene by cable
from President Wilson in F'rance-an
unprecedented act--the atmosphere OF
strong partisanship pervaded both
branches at the start. 1t is the avoWed
intention of the republican leaders to
legislate that their party can De
swung back into presidential power In
1921.
Charges against the administration
for alleged pitting of politics against
efficiency in departments and repub-
Ilican stand on league of nations were
among Developments as congress met
today.
Measures desired to remove war risk
bureau "outside politics" and giving it
authority to meet constantly growing
public demands "are in preparation,
Representative Britten Illinois, an
nounced.
This was admittedly designed as an
answer to Secretary Glass action yes
terday in relieving Col. Llndsley as
director of the bureau
The peace treaty, suffrage, prohibi-
ton, merchant marine, wire and rail-
road control were the paramount
Issues. Discussion of the former was
scheduled to begin at once e-probably
with statements soon by republican
leaders in the senate and throughout
the United States opposing the league
of nations.
Bills covering action on prohibition
and other moot questions were drawn.
Representative SABBATH, Illinois, had
a resolution calling for repeal of the
war time prohibition law, which prom
ised an early fight on this issue.
In the senate the Rev. Forest J
Prettyman, senate chaplain, opened
the proceedings with prayer, asking
that the senators be given "stout
hearts to contend for the right"
This was followed by the reading of
President Wilson's cabled call for the
extra session.
The clerk then called the roll Of the
thirty-two newly elected and reelected
senators, to whom the oath was ad.
ministered by Vice President Mar
shall. They were conducted to the
desk in groups Of six.
A similar course was followed in
the house. Practically every member
was in his seat when gavel fell The
republican majority was evidenced by
the packed rows while the democratic
ranks were thinned by vacant seats.
Retiring Speaker Champ Clark occu-
pied the minority leaders chair and
Floor Leader Mondell was in the usual
republican seat.
After completing its organization,
congress adjourned until tomorrow.
The senate roll call showed all re-
publicans present, with four de no
Gratis absent Gerry, Rhode Island;
Harris, Georgia; Johnson, South Da-
lsota, and Phelan, California.
Upon an adopted resolution by
Senator Lodge a committee of him
self and Senator Martin was named
to notify President Wilson that con-
fgress was ready to receive communi-
cations from him.
This will be forwarded to the
president in Paris by Secretary
(Coutiuued ON mage 2l