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Show CONGRESSMEN TAKE UP THEIR BURDENS SPECIAL SESSION CONVENES WITH REPUBLICANS IN CONTROL CON-TROL IN BOTH HOUSES. Long Program of Legislation Awaits the Salons, it Being Predicted Session Ses-sion Will be Continued for Many Months. Washinglon. The Sixly-sixth or "reconstruction" "re-construction" congress, called into extraordinary ex-traordinary session hy President Wilson Wil-son from I'aris, convened at noon on .May !), and Republican majorities in senale and house; organized both bodies. Represent alive (iillclt of Massachusetts Massachu-setts was elected speaker of the house over Representative Champ Clark of Missouri, Democratic candidate and former speaker, by a vote of 227 to 172. Senator Cummins of Iowa, the Ite- publican candidate, was chosen presi dent pro tempore of the senate over Senator I'ittman of Nevada, Democrat, 47 to -12. Several Democrats were absent, ab-sent, but all Republicans were in theii seats, two withholding their votes. The Repubjicans of both bodies also elected full slates of other officers, and thus, for the first time since 1911, re turned to control of the American national na-tional legislature. Routine affairs of organization comprised com-prised the opening day's proceedings, both bodies adjourning until noon on Tuesday. There was no outward evidence in the initial proceedings of the enormous enor-mous amount of work ahead. The peace treaty with Germany, including the league of nations covenant; the Austrian treaty and the proposed convention con-vention for protection of France are not expected before next month. All hold promise of dramatic debate. Appropriation bills which failed in the filibuster last March will be rushed immediately in the house. Legislation dealing with railroads, telegraphs and telephones; woman suffrage, suf-frage, prohibition, repeal of the luxury taxes and other pressing subjects, is promised in the van of important economic eco-nomic and reconstruction questions.' This legislation is expected by leaders lead-ers to hold congress in session almost continuously until the presidential conventions con-ventions of 1920. Investigations planned plan-ned by the Republicans of numerous administration acts also are expected to begin in the near future, with inauguration in-auguration probable in the house in connection with appropriation bills. |