Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 289, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 December 1914 — CONGRESS CONVENES FOR SHORT SESSION [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS CONVENES FOR SHORT SESSION

Six Weeks Vacation at an End and Democrats Will Carry Out Program of President.

The sixty-third congress, after a vacation of six weeks, got back to business Monday and with a view to avoiding the calling of a special congress after March 4th it is expected that the ensuing ninety days will be busy ones. President Wilson read his message today and the congress will endeavor to act upon the policies he advocates. It will be another billion dollar congress, for the expenses of government are not getting any less. Revenues may decrease from one cause and another, but the expenses never lessen. In the house Chaplain Prettyman prayed: “Almighty God, we pray that our message to all the people may be that of peace and our influence in all the world that of universal brotherhood.” In the senate, Vice President Marshall appointed Senators Gallinger and Kern to notify President Wilson that congress had convened and in conformity with a resolution wofild reconvene at 12:30 Tuesday, Dec. Bth, to hear his message. The house named Representatives Underwood, Fitzgerald and Mann to carry a similar message to the president. Quite a number of senators and representatives will return to private life at the end of this session.

The democrats expect to push things along with all the haste possible, fulfilling the program of President Wilson. Legislation to be considered will include the purchase by the government of oceanic steamships, a measure to pave the way for ultimate Philippine independence, and another bill to provide for the conservation of natural resources and a general waterway bill. Representative Hobson will propose a measure for nation wide prohibition. The treaty to pay Columbia $25,000,000 for the Panama territory will be up again and may be passed, but there is not a single valid reason why it should be.