New Mexico state record., 1921-02-18

The Republicans In the upper house
will have a majority of sixteen or
thereabOuts, and this means of course
that many new faces will appear be-
low the galleries and that many Of
familiar to the friends at home. In
the lower house the changes will be
much more marked, for there will be
enough new Republican members to
more than treble the present repre-
sentative party majority while cor
responding number of Democrats will
be among those missing.
| Now II might seem that such a
change as this would mean little or
nothing so far as house and senate
arrangements are concerned, but in
truth II means a good deal. For the
first time in long while it will be
necessary for the overflow of Repub-
lican senators to take seats on the
Democratic side. A change in the
rules of the seating In the house has
so disarranged things that while all
the Republicans who can will sit on
the Republican side of the chamber,
the rest of them will find seats where
they can among the Democrats. There
will be no sharp line of demarkation
between the Republicans and the
the Democratic side Of the house are
concerned.
Sit Where They Please.
Some time ago the house passed a
rule that members could sit where
they wanted TO, so long as Republicans
kept to their side of the house and
the Democrats to their side. In the
old days each member had seat
which he vas supposed TO occupy at
| all times. Now, with the exception Of
men who are In charge of bills which
are up for passage or rejection, mem
bers sit where they want TO.
The influx of Republicans will force
many of them over on the Democratic
side Of the house. II is possible. of
course, that one or two rows of desks
will be set aside for them. but If not
and they sit where they choose no
stranger looking at that side Of the
chamber can tell the Democrats from
the Republicans until t..ey open their
mouths to Sbeak on some party issue.
AS soon as congress comes together
the Washington correspondents who
are entitled to admission to the press
galleries will hold a meeting for the
election of a new standing committee
of correspondents" The present com
mittee is composed Of Gus J. Kargar
of the Cincinnati Times-Star, chair
man; Charles s. Albert Of the New
York World, Arthur s. Henning of
the Chicago Tribune and II. g. Stev-
ems of the Minneapolis Journal and
the Seattle Times. secretary.
II is expected that when the new ad-
ministration begins several newspa-
pers IN the United States not already
represented by correspondents in
Washington will send representatives
here who win apply for admission to
the press gallery.
Extra Session May Be Lengthy.
Republican leaders In congress are
predicting that IL general tariff legis-
lation is undertaken at the extraordl-
nary session which probably will be-
gin in. April, the bill fixing the new
customs schedules will have passed
both houses and have been signed by
the next President by the last day OF
July.
The leaders propose and the follow
ers dispose Every time that there has
been general tariff legislation before
congress the dates have been set In ad-
vance for its passage and its approval
by the President. Every time the pre-
dictions have gone wrong by anywhere
from four 10 eight weeks. II Is possi-
BILE that the leaders promise early ac-
lion in order 10 induce their followers
TO cut Off debate. In the house debate
can be stopped by a rule, but in the
senate the talk goes on and on and on.
II is curious what faith members OF
congress and, perhaps the public gen.
orally, have in the predictions Of dom
inant party leaders In house and SEN
ate. The predictions fail to come
through time after time, but such ap-
parently Is the simple faith Of the
many that they continue to give ere
denee to the prophecies Of the leaders.
session In and session out.
People Want Free Seeds.
Congress has just had Its usual dis
cussion on the yearly appropriation for
the distribution Of free plants and free
garden and flower seeds to the con
stituents of the members. The an
nounced program of economy and re-
trenchment held on its pgg ges no men
tion Of seeds and plants. IL was in
tended that this year the distribution
should be foregone and that the money
Usually expended should be saved. II
was the prediction Of leaders that this
proposed economy, as IL was called.
would be sanctioned. but none Of the
followers of the leaders believed that
Ii would be sanctioned for one moment
The house has just voted an amend
ment 10 the agricultural appropriation
bill TO provide for an expenditure Of