Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-05-19
REPUBS TAKE
CONTROL and
'NAMECHIEFS
Gillette Made Speaker of
House and Cummins
Senate President.

Washington, May 10. =
Promptly at noon today the ex-
traOrdinary session OF con-
gress got smoothly under way.
With the Republicans in the
majority in both branches,
the leaders plunged into the
work of organization.
In both house and senate. the
SQgram well arranged in advance.
stalled off as it had been planned.
Vice President Marshall presided
in the latter and Clerk South
Trimble in the former. The usual
prayers and then the reading of
President Wilson's proclamation
preceded the calling of the rolls.
Then the house proceeded to the
business of electing speaker
Representative Gillette of Massa-
chusetts, and the senate turned to
electing a president pro tempore,
Senator Cummings of Iowa
In the house the Republicans
effected organization by electing
Representative Frederick H. Gil
lette of Massachusetts, speaker
over Champ Clark of Missouri,
speaker for the last eight years.
Cummins and Gillette Chosen.
Republican Leader Lodge pre-
sented the resolution proposing
Senator Cummins and Democratic
Leader Martin proposed Senator
Pittman. On the first roll call un-
der the new political alignment all
Minis himself and senator Calder nf
New York who announced he
withheld his vote in recognition of
a pair with Senator Gerry of Rhode
Island, Democrat, voted against
Senator Pittman.
The resolution for Senator
Cummins, then was adopted viva
voce. Senator Overman of North
Carolina, Democrat, called to the
chair, announced the result
After the Republicans completed
tbsir organization, the senate ad-
I5Ourned until tomorrow
The pre-arrapged plan not to
meet before Thursday was recon
sidered so that President Wilson's
message may be heard at the
same time it is being read in the
house
New Members Sworn In,
The business of swearing in new
senators was disposed of quickly
as they came to the vice presidents
desk in fOurs.
The house, where there was d
greater number of new members,
it took longer. All the Republican
senators were present; four Demo-
Gratis were absent.
In the house a flood of bills re-
lating to scores of subjects were
tossed into a great waste basket
provided for the occasion AS ex-
pected, a large number proposed
TNpeal of war taxes and return Gf
public utilities taken over by the
government.
Is DEMONSTRATION Congress-
The reconstruction congress"
assembling in extraordinary ses-
sion at noon today under the call
issued by President Wilson from
Paris May 7. marks the return to
power of the Republicans and loss
by the Democrats of control over
the national legislative body. Or
ganization of both senate and house
principal business.
The immediate work before the
congress, the 66th Of the American
republic, is passage before July l,
of seven regular annual appropria-
tion bills which failed in the fill
buster last March. After that will
come consideration of the peace
treaty and covenant of the League
of Nations and railroad. shipping,
revenue, woman suffrage. prohibi-
ton, army and navy and much 9TH
er legislation. Many investiga-
tions. particularly into war activi-
ties, also are reported.
First RepUb. Congress Since 1911.
The Republicans today, for the
first time since 1911, had majoritieS
in both branches of congress as a
result of the congressional cleo I
tons last November.
In the house they have a margin
Cf two score votes. but in the sem
ate their majority is only two, rails
ing questions, in view of factional
and other differences of future
action. C.
With President Wilson a Demo-
crat, the change in the political /
complexion of congress presented !
situation similar to that during
the last two years of former Pres !
ident Taft's administration when
there was a Democratic congress, ,
and to President Cleveland's ad-
ministratiOn in which there was |
Republican congress. The con- !
gress assembling today n1s 49 Re /
pubIicans and Al Democrats in the /
senate, and the house roll con-
sists of 23S Republicans, 189 Dem /,
ocrats, Independents. l Prohibi- /;
zionist, l Socialist, and four va