Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-12-03
New Jersey Senators and Rep
resentatives WilIACt on Same
Committees as Last Year.
THE GALLERIES WERE CROWDED
Some of the Usual Spectacular Fea-
lures Were Missing Today-Last
Session Of a Congress Which Has
Made Itself Famous by the Legis-
ton Which 1t Has Passed--Speak-
er Cannon Greeted by Colleagues.
tFrom the NEWS oorrespomdent.)

ular features were to some extent
lacking with the opening of the ses-
sion of congress today, and yet there
was plenty OF interest in the conven-
ing of the national legislators for
the wind-up of the Fifty-ninth CON
gress, already made memorable by
legislation that will make itself felt
upon the business of the country for
years to come. Crowds of spectators,
one of the features of big day" at
the capitol, thronged the galleries of
the senate and the house of represen-
tatives, and filled all of the corridors
For every seat in the limited CALLER
les there were four persons anxious
to get glimpse of the proceedings
of starting the national legislative
mill
There was the same formal display
which converted the speakers lobby
into a regular florists shop; there
was the same display of handsome
gowns and elaborate hats worn by
the women visitors, which has al
ways distinguished the crowds that
fill the galleries whenever there Is
anything out of the ordinary at the
capitol. The scene in the house on
occasions like that of today is always
memorable, and each day has some
distinctive feature which leaves its
impress upon the minds of those who
participate in the occasion.
With the opening of a new con-
gress the drawing of the seats
though trifle tedious is certainly a
spectacular proceeding in which
there is plenty of interest on the part
of the congressman and the spectators
in the galleries. Naturally, the rep
resentatiyes are then eager to know
where they will sit, and their friends
in the galleries exercise patience while
the drawing proceeds. This feature of
1.-The opening day" was lacking today.
AS early as ten o'clock representa-
tives began TO drift into the house of
representatives. AT that time there
were but few persons in the galleries.
BY eleven O'Clock the scene was one
of activity. There were congressman
in the lobby, the speakers room, the
even in committee rooms. The smok-
ing rooms were thronged with con-
gressmen on both sides of the house.
Much of the talk was about the re-
cent election, and while many Of the
men who were reelected for another
congress were being congratulated,
there were some of the "old-timers"
who had been cleft at home" who
were commiserated with because OF
their defeat.
The congressman from New Jersey
were nearly all among the early ar
rivals. The republicans who were re-
elected were congratulating each
other, while those who will step back
into private life on the fourth of
next March no doubt felt some disap-
pointment that they too, had not
been returned for another term. This
1 is true especially with Representative
w. H. Wiley, who had just been
here long enough to get thoroughly
! familiar with the routine work and
acquire liking for official life.
! Representative Van Wrinkle is
probably one of the New Jersey dele
cation as it stands today who has no
regrets because he will relinquish
| congressional cares on the termina-
ton of the present session. He came
here to get an appropriation for a
post Office building, and he accom-
plished it at the last session of con-
gress. He prefers the practice of law
to life here and he was probably not
bit disappointed when he was not
nominated by the republicans of the
Ninth congressional district.
Speaker Cannon was at the capitol
in good time, and greeted many of his
colleagues in the speakers room be-
fore the session began. 1t was one
minute of twelve o'clock when he
made his appearance on the floor, and
the prolonged applause that greeted
him gave evidence of the fact that
"Uncle Joe" had lost none of his pop
ularity, but still held warm place
in the hearts of his colleagues. When
the applause had subsided, the chap
lain delivered a brief and eloquent
prayer, and once again the work of
the Fifty-ninth congress was re-
sumed to end in three months.
Scenes that were similar to some
extent were enacted in the senate.
There was more dignity, however, on
that end of the capitol, as there is at
all times, for senatorial courtesy
seems to be essential to the conduct
of the business of that body, and it is
seldom lacking. Senators Kean and
Dryden were both on hand in good
time. Many senators greeted Mr.. Dry
den and expressed the belief that he
would be returned by the New Jersey
Legislature at its session in January
Mrs. Kean, the mother of United
States Senator Kean, returned to this
Lefty several days ago and the sena-