The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-12-06
CONGRESS AT WORK
Short Session Begins Under
Auspicious Circumstances.
THE GALLERIES CROWDED
Several Bills Were Introduced, But No
Business Was Transacted on the
Opening Day-NeW Members
Sworn In.

Sworn In.
| The second session of the fifty-ninth
congress was called to order at noon
Monday in the national capital, with
galleries crowded, mostly with women,
; and the majority Of the members at
their desks.
The first day of session never de-
velops much Of interest to those used
to attending the sessions Of congress,
but no other day Of session seems
10 possess greater charm for the av-
erage citizen
The fact that both houses of con.
gress were to meet for the short ses'
sim had the effect early in the day
of giving the capitol an appearance
of activity such as it has not pre-
sented since adjournment last June.
Senators and members of the house
| began to arrive early in the day and
there were many cordial greetings
in the corridors and on the floors.
Speaker Cannon and many other
!! prominent members Of the house ar
rived at the capitol long before the
opening CT the house and engaged in
reunion and Informal discussion of
! probable issues which will occupy
their attention.
The japanese situation wis discuss
ed quite generally by the members
and the opinion was freely expressed
! that measures affecting the Japanese
may be introduced in the house at
any time. No effort was made to trans
act business, even in the committee
rooms The dey was given over abso-
lutely to receptions and the formal
business of opening the session.
Practically all the veterans of the
senate were on hand, most of them
looking hale and hearty, as if their
summer rest followed by busy canl-
paign had agreed with them. One OF
the familiar faces most missed was
that of Senator Allison. He had ar
ranged to remain at his home at Du-
huue. Iowa, until after the holidays
recess, leaving the work of organiza'
tion for the younger members.
Senator Pettus. the oldest member.
VINO was not we'll at the. close of last
session, was one of the first to arrive
at the capitol. He sticks to his pet
phrase cf telling his colleagues how
young he is when reference is made
tc his advanced years.
Vice President Fairbanks beamei
upon the two or three score OF sena-
tors who sought him out in his room
before the senate opened. Most of the
prominent democrats. were in attend
ance. one exception being Bailey, who
left Washington few days ago Tor
his home in Texas to meet and an
swer direct the charges brought
against him by the attorney general.
Numerous expressions of regard fo1
Senator Bailey were heard and his
friends predict that he will be able TO
answer fully the charges which have
been published. Bailey is looked upon
by his colleagues as che of the strong
est men ir the democratic minority
and has many warm admirers in
Washington.
Representative Landis of Indiana in
troduced a bill requiring all railroads
10 use the automatic block signal on
their lines. This bill was inspired
by the recent disastrous wreck on the
Southern in which President Spencer
lost his life
1t took the senate fifteen minutes
to arrange its pTeliminaries, and the
house an hour. the senate received
from President Roosevelt long list
of appointments for its confirmation.
Senator Penrose CT Pennsylvania
and Foraker of Ohio came forward
with resolutions of inquiry regarding
the discharge of the negro troops
of the twenty-fifth infantry. One was
dOQG6SSSI W lil, ptSSAuSAC, e1ho eAS
other to the secretary of war. After
the ripple Of surprise had passed, and
Vice President Fairbanks had sug-
gested that it was unsual to trans
act any business until the presidents
message had been received, the reso-
lutions went over by unanimous con-
sent.
Not in years has larger number
of mernoers-elect of the lower house
of congress presented themselves at
the speakers desk to take the cath
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
grim reaper during the months since
adjournment.