The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-04
NOISY SESSION OF' CONGRESS LIKELY.
Veterans Bureau And<Teapot oil Dome To Furnish
 Fireworks
By THOMAS L. STOKES (Leased Wire to The Age-Herald.)

WASHINGTON. Nov. 3.-The capi- tai is becoming alive again. The early harbingers of the approaching session of Congress are here and everything Is being placed in readl- ness for one of the noisiest sessions in recent years. This despite the fact that it is expected to pass without a great deal of legislation on the books.
 The corridors of the capitol are taking on their winter air of activity. Offices are being dusted, as return ing senators and representatives prepare to enter the winter session.
 Preliminary confabs on legislative programs are getting under way. The progressives have already held their initial meeting, and will hold many mora. ,. Senator LaFollette of Wis consin, the grand mogul of the pro- gressive group, will arrive soon to r assume his leadership. He win direct the preseason activities, and mould the group for it's winter campaign at a large general conference to be held later this month.
 Members of Congress are beating a path to the White House, some carrying their particular worries to the President. Others are going to the executive office to advise him on coming leSlSidIlNc pIOplSAiS. AAS President, himself, is trying to bring some order out of the chaos which threatens to engulf the coming Con gress, and is sounding out all ele- ments in preparation to drafting his annual message to the legislators. Pare Down Budget.
 Hundreds of clerks in the govern ment departments are preparing ma terial for use in the coming session. Down in the budget bureau other clerks are pairing down the esti- mates for appropriations, under the vigilant direction of Brigadier Gen eral Lord, the director.
 Developments in the past week have given indication of the fevered atmosphere which will surround the coming Congress. Records being made of the two investigations which have been going on for two weeks will furnish material for many yengthy speeches on the floors of both houses.
 Witnesses have related irregular ities in the. veterans bureau, dating from the close of the Wilson admins traitor. The rectorship of Col. Charles R. Forbes, who administered the bureau during the greater part of the Harding regime, has received the reaviest fire, and will be frequently referred to by democrats and pro- gressive. From an investigation of the bureau, it has broadened out in the last week to include the comptrol- Ter generals office, which has met the constant fire of cabinet members and congressman in recent months because of the rigorous administra- ton of J. R. McCarl, who has flouted Secretary of the Navy Denby, Secre- tary of War Weeks, and Attorney General Daugherty.
 McCarl holds office for 13 years yet unless Congress removes him. He Is responsible only to Congress. The testimony showing that $3,000-a-year clerks in his office have approved claims for thousands of dollars has furnished material for a strong at tack on his administration of the office, which may lead to some change In the law.
 O o O
 Teapot Dome.
 investigation of the Teapot Dome naval reserve lease to the. Sinclair in- terests by former Secretary of the Interior Fall has turned up interest ing evidence. Nindicated at first by a report of expert geologists, who upheld Falls claim that the governY ment was losing oil by leakage to private lands adjoining, the wind has veered the other way in the past week, and irate naval officials have aired their grievance at the lease be- contrary to the geologists report has recently been placed in the record! which is daily growing more lumi- nous.
 Both investigations enter their third week on Monday, and from present indications will run on into the beginning of the session.