The Hayti herald. (Hayti, Mo.) 1908-1922, 1921-04-14
TAX REVISION,
TARIFF, FACES HOUSE
BY A. 0. HAYWARD.
International News Service Staff
CORRESPONDENT.

Correspondent.
Washington. April 11.-A legisla-
tive programme 50 huge that il was
stunning TO the leaders confronted
the House of Representatives today.
Beside the tax and tariff revision,
in themselves tedious and difficult
tasks, there were unfinished appro
priation bills to be passed, a mass of
reconstruction legislation under con-
sideration, and thousand or more
matters of odds and ends waiting 10
be taken up.
House Overwhelmingly Republican.
Standing ready to tackle this great
undertaking was House overwhelm-
inely Republican, but with .one-fifth
OF its membership new to the legisla
tive grind which is necessary to ac-
complishments. The old Republican
leaders were on hand to steer the
course for their followers, and Presi-
dent Harding. the party leader, was
in the saddle to insist on teamwork.
Few charges were permitted in the
House organization. Speaker Freder-
ick II. Gillett, of Massachusetts, be-
gan his second term as the presiding
officer: Representative Frank w.
Mondell of Wyoming, took his place
on the floor as Republican leader, and
Representative James r. Mann of IL
linois, veteran Republican leader and
parliamentarian, stood at his back as
prompter. They had the assistance
of many of the old committee chair
men
Death and sickness and defeat have
stripped the Democratic side of the
House of many of its most experien-
ced and valuable members, and rem
dered more difficult its role of criti-
cizing and combating the majority.
Former Speaker Champ Clark, of
Missouri, sagacious, benevolent guide
who had led his party to victories in
past years, was missing, asleep in his
Missouri grave. Representative
Claude Kitchen of North Carolina,
weakened by long illness, was barred
from his former joyous course in
rough and tumble debate, although
he was present to counsel and guide
The mantle of actual Democratic
leadership has fallen on new men,
prominent among them being Repre-
sentative Finis j. Garrett of Tennes-
see; James f. Byrnes of South Caro-
lima, and Edward w. Pou of North
Carolina. History will show how
well they acquit themselves.
One Vacancy Still Exists.
The new House is made up of 3Ol
| Republicans, 1872 Democrats, So
cialist. There is one vacancy, that OF
Representative-at Large from Penn
sylvania, caused by the death of NJ
II. Garland. With the filling of the
vacancy the House will consist OF
302 Republicans. There have been
! filed about a dozen contests for the
seats of sitting members, mostly Dem
ocrats, and this numerical division
of the House may be changed some
what during the coming months.
Not since the elections of 1912 did
the voters of the country make such
sweeping changes in the political
complexion of the House as was made
by the elections of last November
In 1912 the voters returned to the
House 900 Democrats, 124 Republi
cans, 8 Progressives, S Progressive
Republicans and l Independent.
In the present House there is ont
Socialist, Meyer London, of New
York, an experienced legislator, whit
has seen previous service in thu
House. There is one woman, Alice
Robertson, of Oklahoma, a Republi
can, the first woman Congressman