Arizona republican., 1906-12-04
An Extraordinary Proceeding On the Open-
 ing Day of the Session
Senators FOraker and PenrOse Present Resolutions of Inquiry for Information Regarding the Discharge of the Negro Battalion

Washington, Dec. 3-The fifty-ninth congress began its last session at noon today. It took but fifteen minutes to arrange the preliminaries. The senate received from the president a long list of nominations for it's confirmation and in an executive session of ninety min- utes decided. as the nominations had been received before the body had been organized formally. to make no con- fiImatiOns until the presidents annual message had been received and the session had been fairly started.
 Senators Penrose of Pennsylvania and Foraker of ohio came forward with resolutions of inquiry regarding the discharge of the negro troops ot the Twenty-fifth infantry. One was addI dIessed to the president and the other to the secretary of war. After the ripple of surprise had passed and Vice President Fairbanks had sug- gested that it was unusual tO tram sact any business until the presidents message had been received the reso- lutions went over by unanimous con- sent
 Senator Dupont of Delaware took the oath of office. The opening of the two houses was witnessed by an animated throng which filled the galleries to their capacity. Hundreds went away disap- pointed in not gaining admittance to witness the session of either senate or house.
 Not in years has a larger number of members elect of the lower house of congress presented themselves at the speakers desk to take the oath of office. Death has been unusually active among the membership during the closing days of the last session and the beginning of the present. and Chaplain COuden feelingly called the attention of the body to the work of the grim reap CT during the months since adjourn ment.
 Speaker Cannon appointed Jas. R. Mann of Illinois as a member of the board of regents of the Smithsonian Institution. vice Robert R. Hit. de l. ceased.
 The galleries of the house were crowded at an early hour. The cOllec- tiOn of flowers on the desks of mem bers was much commented on but the order of the speaker prohibiting the floral display was generally commend ed for it's good sense. A similar rule was made in the senate two years ago.
 Mrs. Nicholas Longworth. daughter of the president. occupied a seat in the executive gallery. accompanied by Miss Hagner. social secretary of the wife of the president.
 The routine work of the house inci- cent to the opening day was quickly dispatched. the roll call showing nearly 300 members present
 Representative BOurke Cochran of New York who recently married Miss Ide. was the subject of hearty laughter when his personal request that he be permitted to absent himself for an i'm definite period on account of business was laid before the house by the speak CT.
 After the appointment of the usual committee to wait upon the president and inform him that the house was or ganized and ready to receive any com munication he might desire to make of interest to the public service. the house adjourned out of respect to the memory of the deceased members.
 President Roosevelt's message will be received both in the house and senate tomorrow. No bills were introduced in the senate. In the house there were thirty-eight public measures and 25O of a private character.