The Indianapolis times., 1928-12-03
TREND POINTS
TO WATSON AS
SENATE Chief
HooSier Will Hold ReinS as
Majority Leader, Is
Belief.
CONGRESS Is OPENED
Short Session ConveneS for
Brief First Day
FormaIitieS.
CONGRESS is OPENED
R.y Times SDeciai

~ tHttS SpCctdt
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-The
short session of the Seventieth con-
greSs met at noon today with pros
poets strong that Senator James E.
Watson of Indiana may become
Senate majority leader, intrusted
with the task of carrying out the
policies of President Elect Hoover.
G. o. P. senators were to caucus
today.
An announcement over the week
end by Senator Moses of New
Hampshire, one of the original SEN
ate HooveriteS, that he would sup
port Watson for the position seemed
to clinch Watson's hold on the place.
Moses himself had been mentioned
for the honor
His announcement seemed to in
dicate that those friends of Hoover
who might be said to be represent
ing him here while he is 5000 miles
away, would keep hands off the Sen
ate struggle, despite Watsons can
didacy against Hoover prior to the
Republican convention, and despite
the fact that the two men differ on
many important questions.
Wood to Lead House
Hoover's friends are said to be-
lieve Watson will sink his own per-
Sonal views and act in harmony
with the wishes of the President
elect. Senator Jones. Washington,
Watsons only rival for the job, is a
receptive candidate, but not an ac-
tive one.
Senator Robinson of Indiana was
not present for the opening of the
Senate. He is in indianapolis and
it is uncertain when he will arrive
here, it was said at his office.
On the house side, the opening
found Representative Will r. Wood
of Indiana, functioning as the act
ing chairman of the powerful houss
appropriation committee.
When Chairman Martin 3. Mad
den died last spring, Wood was sec
ond in line to succeed him, Repre-
sentative Anthony of Kansas being
first in line. Anthony was absent
on account of i'll health, but desired
the honor of the chairmanship and
the house leaders gave it TO him,
Wood assuming active direction.
Anthony was not reelected and
Wood will become chairman in
name as we'll as in fact when the
new congress meets next year.
Opening Is Brief
Representative Updyke of Indian
apolis and Representative Gardner
of the third district will start today
serving their last three months in
office, both will go out on March 4,
defeated at the last election.
Garrett, Democratic floor leader,
announced to the house today that
Representative John G. Box of
Texas has been selected minority
whip in the house
Final session of congress opened
quietly, the senate holding fifteen
minute session and the house sit
ting for an hour going through the
motions of convening.
Prayers we're offered. the roll was
called, a few new members we're
sworn. resolutions were adopted Civ
ing notice that the senate and the
house we're in session and then ad-
journment was taken until noon
Tuesday when legislative business
will be brought up.
Boulder Dam Pending
The roll calls showed 374 out of
435 house members present and 81
of 96 senators, the abSentees being
i'll or away on important business.
The Johnson Boulder Dam bill
was the official question before the
senate, but no one mentioned it,
and discussions will not begin for
several days when the usual open
ing formalities are out of the way.
The house had no official business,
but it will get one of the govern
ment appropriation bills within a
day or two.