The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-19
EXTRA SESSIONOF
CONGRESS OPENED;
c. O.P. IN SADDLE
Organization Of Both Senate
and House by New Majority
Chief Business Before the
SolonS on First Days.


WASHINGTON. May l9.--Promptly
at noon today the extraordinary session
OF congress got smoothly under way.
With Republicans in the majority in
both branches the leaders plunged into
the work Of the organization,
The constitutional amendment TO
give women the right OF suffrage got
top place today on the house calendar
BY general agreement Representative
Mann'A joint resolution, similar to the
house and defeated in the senate, was
designated No. |.
In. the house the Republicans effected
organisation by electing Representa-
tive Frederick II, Gillett OF Massachu-
setts speaker over Champ Clark of Mis-
souri,, speaker for the last eight years
BY majority OF five votes the Re
publlcans took control OF the senate,
electing Senator Cummins president
pro tempore and defeating Senator, Key
Pittman OF Nevada, Democrat. by n
record vote OF ~ to AZ
The reconstruction congress as
sembling today, under the call issued by
President Wilson from Paris May Z,
marks the return to power OF the Re
publicans and loss by the Democrat Is
OF control over the national legislative
body, Organization OF both senate and
ny Nhc hV" HhaJSiA'S was 'NN"F
principal business,
The Immediate work before the con-
gress, the sixty-sixth of the American
republic, is passage before July ! OF
seven regular annual appropriation bills
which failed In the fllibuster last March,
After that will come consideration OF
the peace treaty and covenant OF the
league Of nations and railroad, shipping,
revenue, woman suffrage, prohibition,
army and navy and much other leglsla "
ton, Many Investigations, particularly
into war activities, also are expected,
The Republicans today, for the first
| time since 1911, had ma iorities In both
branches Of congress as a result OF
| the congressional elections last Novem-
| ber In the house they have margin
Of two score votes, but In the senate
| their ma jority Is only two. raising ques-
tions, in view OF factional and other
| differences, Of future action.
With President Wilson Democrat,
| the change OF political complexion OF
congress presented situation similar
TO that during the last two years OF
| former President Taft's administration
| when there was a Democratic house
| and to President CleNeland's admlnls-
tration In which there was Republican
congress,
Senate Is Close, .A-a
4 The senate assembling today had 4,
| Republicans and ~ Democrats, Tn,
| new house roll lists 23S Republicans
/ lS9 Democrats, two Independents, ont
| prohibitonist, one socialist and foui
l,Vacancies tall In Democratic districts) T-
I a total Of t36, The house division gives
| the Republicans majority OF 70 oveI
| the Democrats and 80 over all com
bined opposition.
| Republican action promises, however
| to be restrained by President VIII
| sons veto power as a two thirds vote
| is necessary to override veto. Co
! operation between administration off
cials and the Republicans Is expected or
uncontested matters.
| Assembling OF the new congress was
| marked by the establishment of more
| precedents II was the first tm'
congress has convened with presi.
dent In Europe and his opening mes
sage cabled from foreign soil. TIL,
presidents message was not to be sent
to congress tomorrow, however anc
! II probably will make no reference Il
| the peace treaty as MIR, Wilson expects
| to appear personally to present th'
treaty next month. The presidents ab.
sence today disrupted the time-honoret
custom of appointing congressional
| committees to call at the White House
for notification Of the executive.
The session beginning today was ex
| pected to run virtually to the time fol
the regular December session, which
| viii precede the 1920 national conven
tions and presidential campaign
Vice President Marshall presided II
the senate and administered the oati
to the 13 new senators elected las
November. South Trimble, clerk OF tn,
house, convened that body. Tho rol
call by state delegations consumed con
siderable time before organization worl
began.
Important house committees we're I,
he chosen today but the senate Repub
llcans we're not ready with their com
mittee assignments. because of the pro
gressive fight against the election o
Senators Penrose, Of Pennsylvania an,
Warren, OF wyoming, as chairmen o
the finance and appropriations commit
tees, respectively.
Senate leaders arranged to adjourn
today until Thurs sday, to give umo 10
the Republicans work on committees
Little business is planned In the sen
ate until these are arranged, althouE
several speeches on the league Of ma
ticns and kindred subjects probably will
be made.
The avalanche Of new bills and reso
lutions incident to new session be
gan today In the house, but introduc
ton OF senate measures went over,
Work on the first week OF the ses
!