The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1921-04-15
SENATE AND HOUSE
ARE REORCAN|ZED
Special Session of the 9th Con-
greSS Assemblies.
FLOOD HOUSE WITH BILLS
Majority of % in the Senate and 168
in the House Held by the Repub-
licans-Two- Thirds Rule
Adopted.

Washington, April 1.-THE Sixty
seventh congress, called into special
session by President Harding for leg
islative combat with the after-War
domestic and international problems
that burden the nation has convened.
With record-breaking majOrities in
both houses, the Republicans spent
the day organizing in preparation for
the joint session before which the
President delivered his message en-
bodying the administration program
for graphing with the prize collection
of crises.
Boosting a majority of % In the
senate and 1853 in the house, the Re-
publicans were able to make the re-
organizations mere fOrmalities. One
faint gasp from the 1872 Democrats
in the lower house in an effort to get
a change of rules that would give the
minority some standing served only
to emphasize the Republican control.
Two-Thirds Rule to Govern.
"We simply want to establish the
fact Of whether or not the majority
considers it a sound public policy to
vest itself with the power to enact
all legislation under a suspension OF
! the rules If it so DESIRE" said Rep
reSentative POu of North Carolina.
I'VE submit that under the conditions
a three-fOurths vote should be re-
quired to suspend the rules.
"The country at large seemed to
be willing to take this chance when
it determined the membership Of the
house in last falls election" rejoined
Representative Campbell of Kansas,
and the tWo-thirdS rule was approved.
One other attempt by the Demo-
Gratis to assert themselves came in
connection with the seating of Repre-
sentative Richard e. Bird of Kansas,
who for some reason had filed a SWORN
statement of campaign expenses
amounting to $4,000. That amount
is more than $4,000 above the limit
fixed in the corrupt practices act.
Representative Flood of Virginia,
acting for the minority, presented a
resolution providing for an investiga-
tion to determine the Kansans right
to question the credentials of a rep
resentative and Bird was seated pend
ing decision on his supposed viola
ton of the law.
''There is precedent for the pro-
posed action" protested Representa-
tive Flood. 1--WE have this mans own
sworn statement to the effect that he
is a violator of the law. l under
stand that the claim is made that he
entered expenses that he was not
called upon to list, but those eamount
to no more than $1,000, and still he
is thousands over the legal limit"
The organizing of the two houses
provided some "show" for the crowds
that surged into the galleries for the
opening of the history-making special
session. In the house Speaker GilIett,
re-established in that post by a vote
of 29S to 122 and given the oath of
office by that distinguished former
speaker, Uncle Joe Cannon OF Illinois,
delivered a speech.
I'VE are entering upon what will in
evitably be long and important ses-
sion of congress-" he said.
House Flooded With Bills.
While the members were flooding
the house clerks with bills and reso-
lutions by the thousand as the basis
for future legislation, the details for
tOday's session were being arranged.
Speaker Gillett designated Represent
atives MOndell of Wyoming and Ford
ney of Michigan, Republicans, and
Kitchin of North Carolina, Democrat,
for the joint committee to inform the
President that congress was ready to
receive any communications he de-
sired to submit.
PerfunctOry ceremonies marked the
opening session in the senate. When
the senators assembled at noon the
senate chaplain delivered the invoca-
ton, after which the clerk read the
Presidents proclamation converting
the special session. The roll call fol-
lowed, IS members answering "pres-
ent."