Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1924-12-03
CONGRESS WILL
Be BUSY SOON
Gets Presidents Message To-
day and Turns to Regular
Work of Session

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-Congress
received President Coolidge's an
nual message today Immediately
upon convening and after listening
to its reading, plunged into the SER
ious work of the session.
With the exception of the two
years Woodrow Wilson was i'll in the
! White House, this was the first time
since 1913 that the executive had
not delivered his annual conmunica-
/ ton in person. 1t was transmitted
| by messenger and read separately
| in the two houses.
| Congressional leaders generally
held out little hope for the transla-
tion of many of the Presidents pro-
posals into law, before this congress
! dies on March 4. Their views al
ready have been given to the execu-
tive at conferences. the latest of
which was held carry today between
the President and Senator Curtis, of
Kansas, the Republican senate lead
er, and Senator Pepper, Republican,
Pennsylvania.
| A number of the proposals ad-
vanced by Mr.. Coolidge are covered
by bills which came over from the
last session. There are other pend
ing measures to which the Presid lent
voiced disapproval chief among
them being Senator La Follette's bill
to change the basis of valuation of
the railroads,
The reading of the message in the
two houses was Simultaneous. There
were comparatively large crowds in
the galleries who appeared to give
even closer attention to the Presi-
dents recommendations than did
the members of the House and sem
ate.
| AS the reading went forward there
| were private conferences on the
( floors, by groups Of senators and
representatives. Much of the time,
however. tho lawmakers followed
the reading closely, especially that
relating to the subjects of taxation,
agriculture and muscle shoals.
Just before the message arrived
the House steering committee had
mapped out a legislative program
providing for passage by the House
before the Christmas recess of at
least three of the dozen annual
supply bills.
/ Tentative plans of the leaders call
| for a holiday recess during Christ
mas week and for one day lay-off
at New Years. Belief was expressed
that If this program were adhered
ito and appropriation bills given
right of way throughout the session,
all of them will be in the hands of
the President before March 4.
The interior department appro-
priation bill first of the supply
measures to be drafted, was taken
up today by the House.
The reading of the presidential
message required more than an hour
In contrast to the occasions when
presidents have appeared in persons
there was not a ripple of applause
in the senate from the beginning &c
the end of the reading.
In the House. however. the presi-
dents opposition to publication OF
i income tax returns was applauded
as was his statement opposing can
lcellation of war debts. Both Demo
Gratis and Republicans Joined in the
lhandclapping when the clerk read
that portion of the message calling
lattention to the necessity of con-
herving the navy's oil supply.
! Having more or less marked time
awaiting receipt of this document
congress will get down Immediately
d.
The House will begin consideration
of the first of thesappropriation bills
that of the interior department. and
the senate will give its attention tc
general legislation pending receipt
Of that supply measure from the
House.
Under an unanimous consent
agreement entered into at the last
session. Muscle Shoals again was
at the fore in the senate, but with
a new measure dealing with that
long discussed subject. the whole
question is likely to find its way back
to the agriculture committee.
With the interior department ap-
propriltion bill ready for it. the
House passed mp its usual calendar
| Wednesday in order to rush that
measure. Leaders expect to put the
| supply bills through in record time
so as to clear the way for later con-
sideration of many subjects pending
or to be brought forward at later
| dates.
with the Republican committee on
committees submitting its report on
new committee assignments to the
Republican senate conference today.
1t is the expectation that the reor-
ganization OF the standing commit
tees will be completed within week
at the latest. Vacancies in the House
committees will be taken care of
later. They are few and will not
! retard the normal workings of those
bodies.