The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-12-04
68TH CONGRESS IN
IN FINAL SESSION
OPENING SESSIONS BRIEF, WORK
AWAITS THE PRESIDENTS
MESSAGE
Coolidge Opposes Publication of Tax
Returns, Stresses Economy and
Tax Reduction

gress assembled Monday for its fare
well session with little prospect for
the transaction of any important bus
mess beyond passage of the annual
appropriation bills.
The gavels fell at noon with Sena-
tor Cumnins of Iowa, the president
pro tempore, presiding in the senate
and Speaker Gillett in the house.
The opening sessions were brief.
After prayer by the chaplain and
ouorlln calls, the oath of office was
administered to new members; COM
mittees were named to inform Presi-
dent Coolidge that the congress was
ready to receive communications
from him and resolutions on the death
of members during the recess were
presented and adopted. Adjournment
then was taken out of respect to the
members of departed senators and
representatives.
The adjournment was until noon
Tuesday
Budget Thursday
The annual budget carrying the ad-
ministration's recommendations for
appropriations is to be received by
CONGRESS- Thursday. Meantime, how
ever. the house appropriations COM
mittee had drafted several of the de-
partment supply bills and has ready
the first of them-that for the inter-
ior department. Several others will be
in the hands Of the house within
few days.
The senate has a calendar fairly
well crowded with general legislation
of much Importance, but immediate
action is not contemplated. The re-
publican steering committee will
make up the order Of consideration
Of pending subjects late in the week
There were the usual crowded gal
leries. Mrs. Coolidge and party OF
guests occupied the presidents row
in the senate galleries.
Many Absent
Eighty-two of the 95 senators an
swored the opening roll call. In the
house the call showed 1858 members
ont Of 495 present. The house was IN
session IS minutes adjourning after
adontion of resolutions of regret over
the death during the recess OF three
renresentatives and three senator's
Hear Message
Washington. Dec. 3.-Congress re
ceived President Coolidge's annual
message Wednesday Immediately up
on convening and after listening &c
its reading plunged into the serious
work Of the session.
With the exception of the two years
woodrow Wilson was i'll in the "fltt
House. this was the first time since
1919 that the executive had nor oe
lvorad his annual communication II
nerson. It was transmitted by mes
sanoer and read separately in the two
houses.
Has Conference
Congressional leaders generally
held ont little hope for the translator
Of MANY of the presidents proposals
into saw before this congress dies OF
March a. Their views already nave
been given to the executive at con
ference. the latest of which was helC
earlv Wednesday between the presi
dent and Senator Curtis of Kansa
the republican leader, and Senate
Pepper. republican, Pennsylvania.
A number of proposals advancen p
Mr. Coolidge are covered by bill
which came over from the last ses
sion.
There are other pending measure
70 which the president voiced dlsap
nroval chief among them being Sen
ator I,aFollette's bill to change tn
hasis of valuation of railroads.
The reading of the message in tn
two houses was simultaneous. Ther
were comparatively large crowds
the galleries who appeared to CIV
even closer attention to the pres
dant,s recommendations than did tn
members of the house and senate.
AS the reading went forward ther
were private conferences on the floo
by groups of senators and represents
tives. Much of the time, however, tn
law makers followed the readin
closely, especially that relating to tn
subjects of taxation, agriculture an
Muscle Shoals.
Program Arranged
Just before the message arrive
thehouse steering committee ha