The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-12-06
Expected to be One of Most Important Meet
ines for Years, With Much Legislation
to be Disposed of.
MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT TOMORROW
President-Elect Harding Present as One of the
Senators is Given Enthusiastic We'll
..a come by ALL
EBy l.. c. Martin, United Press Staff

TBy L. c. Martin, United Press Staff
Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Dec. s. = The
wheels of congressional machinery
began to turn today with the opening
of the third and last session or the
sixty-sixth congress.
Idle for five months. the machinery
probably will keep turning with little
let-up until late next year, although
this session has few hours less than
three months to live. A special ses
sion of a new congress is to be called
following this one.
While the session opening To-Day
probably will only mark time for the
now order of things coming in with
the new administration March Attn,
certain features OF it are unique IN
the history Of American congresses.
! The senate has for the first time
a president-elect on it's rolls IN Sen
atpr Warren G. Harding, of Ohio. He
is in Washington and may speaH from
the senate floor.
For many members of both house
and senate the new session marked
the beginning of the end OF political
careers. Many figures prominent IN
Washington life were defeated IN
the last election and will become prl-
ivate citizens after March 4.
Faced by heavier demands FOR
legislation than any congress slpce
the one that declared war on Ger.
many. leaders of both branches have
openly adopted program that calls
for the transaction of only the most
routine business until the calling OF
the proposed special session.
Formal opening OF congress was
sch eduled for noon when the gavel
of Speaker Gillett will fall in the
house and that of Vice President
Marshall in the senate.
After prayer and calling of tho
roll. resolutions to notify President
Wilson that congress has assembled
will be adopted. Both branches will
then adjourn until Tuesday when
they will hear President Wilson's
message-whether read by the presi-
dent himself, or by reading clerk,
is still uncertain.
Senate galleries were drawing the
largest crowds today in anticipation
OF the appearance of President-elect
Harding If he appears on the floor
colleagues on both sides of the cham
ber are prepared to give him an en-
thusiaStic welcome.
The house, too had its feature of
interest Republican Leader Mon
dell came to the capitol on crutch es,
his leg having been broken in an ac-
cident. Representative Claude Kitchin
scheduled to be leader of the demo
Gratis on retirement OF Champ Clark,
made his first appearance since he
suffered paralytic stroke on the
floor last session.
The only real legislative work
scheduled for today was a hearing
by house and senate agricultural
committees sitting jointly with
farmers who are demanding action to
meet the conditions caused by falling
prices of their products.
Two Houses Meet at Noon.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6-Congress
is again il session.
The two houses met at noon with
the next president of the United
States, Senator Harding, in his place
! in the senate.
Harding was the magnet that made
the senate wing Of the capitol the
goal of the crowds. His entrance into
the senate caused a demonstration by
senators and spectators lasting sew
cral minutes When Harding an
swered his name on the roll call, there
was more applause.
Speaker Gillett called tho house to
order just at noon.
Vice President Marshall let his
gavel fall moment later.
There was nearly q full attendance
Of senators and representatives. only
a few from each house being absent.
Some were due to arrive during the
! day.
| House galleries also were crowded.
| but the long lines that waited in the
! senate corridors were not present in
the house, where the main events
were the swearing in of new nlen
| bors and the appointment of a cosa