The Princeton union., 1919-05-22
CONGRESS C0NVENES
iCummins Elected President Pro Tenn
pore of Senate and Gillett
Speaker of House.
Reconstruction Congress, With Repub'
lican Majority in Both Houses,
Has Lots of Work.


smoothly under way and, with repub-
licans in the majority in both branches,
the leaders plunged into the work Of
organization.
In both house and senate the pro-
gram arranged in advance started off
as it had been planned. Vice-president
T. R. Marshall presided in the latter
and Clark South Trimble in the for
mer. The usual prayers and then the
reading of President Wilson's procla-
nation preceded the calling Of the
rolls.
All the members of the Minnesota
delegation in the house were present
when the roll was called.
By majority Of five votes the re-
publicans took control of the senate,
electing Senator A. B. Cummings
president tempore and defeating Sen
ator Key Pittman of Nevada (dem.,
by vote of At to AZ.
Republican Leader H. C. Lodge pre-
sented the resolution proposing Sena-
tor Cummins and Democratic Leader
F. S. Martin proposed Senator Pitt,
man. On the first rollcall under the
new political alignment all republicans
except Senator Cummins himself and
Senator w. H. Calder Of New York,
who announced he withheld his vote
4 in recognition Of pair with Senator
~Gerry of Rhode Island (dem.) voted
against Senator Pittman.
The resolution for Senator Cummirs
then was adopted viva voce. Senator
3 Lee Overman (dem.), called to the
chair, announced the result.
In the house the republicans effected
organization by electing Representa-
tative Frederick H. Gillett of Massa
chusetts speaker over Champ Clark
of Missouri, who welded the gavel
for the past eight years. Gillett's
vote was 227 and Clark's 127.
The reconstruction" congress which
convened on Monday marks the return
to power of the republicans and the
loss by the democrats Of control over
the national legislative body. For the
first time since 1911 the republicans
have majorities in both houses of con-
gress.
The immediate work before the con-
gress, the 66th of the American repub-
lie, is passage before July 1 of seven
regular annual appropriation bills
which failed in the filibuster last
March. After that will come consider
alton of the peace treaty and covenant
of the league of nations, railroad, ship
ping, revenue, woman suffrage, pro-
hibition, army and navy and much
s%other legislation. Many investiga-
tions, particularly into war activities,
also are expected.
The house refused to let Mr.. Berger,
socialist representative-elect from
Wisconsin, take the oath of office and
denied him an opportunity to speak.
Without dissenting vote it adopted
resolution by Representative F. w.
Dallinger, Massachusetts,, preventing
Mr.. Berger from being sworn in and
denying him seat on the floor until a
special committee-of nine members has
investigated and the house has acted.
Preliminary disposition of the Berg
er case was the only business trans
acted by the house in it's opening ses-
sion except routine organization.
President Wilson, in his message to
congress on Tuesday, recommended
the repeal of the wartime prohibition
law so far as it applies to wine and
beer; announced definitely that the
railroad systems and telegraph and
telephone lines would be returned to
Sivate ownership; urged revision
of war taxes particularly to abolish
the manufacturers and sales excises,
and outlined generally program re-
specting labor.
These were the "hfgh spots" Of the
presidents message .cabled from Paris.
DoSIoSo CIdC, 1c again uIScO c1ldCC-
ment of the woman suffrage consti-
tutional amendment, recommended
that the tariff laws be supplied with
teeth to protect American industry
against foreign attack; spoke for leg
lslatlon to facilitate American enter
prise through the expansion of ship
ping and backed Secretary Lanes
gxogram for land for returning SOL
I liers.
Of the Paris peace conference and
the league of nations the president
merely said it would be premature to
discuss them or to express Judgment.
He also avoided discussion of domes-
tic legislation at length because Of his