The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-12-06
THE CONGRESS
BEGINS GRIND
Sixtieth Session of Nations Law
makers Opens at Washington.
GALLERIES THRONGED
Speaker Cannon Again at Helm in the
House Many New Members on
Goth Sides worn In.

session at noon Monday. 1t was Wash
ington's one great show day of the
year. Long before the gavels fell in
the senate and house, a stream of peo-
pie coursed down Pennsylvania avenue,
filed the galleries and overlooked into
the corridors-a mass of confusion and
color. The procedure in the senate
was formal and brief In the house the
entire membership had to be sworn
in, Speaker Cannon and the other OFF,
GERS had to be reelected and, seats had
to be assigned
In the senate Vice President Fair
banks presided, the organization of the
senate Being continuous. Rev. Edward
Everett Hale the distinguished chap
lain Of the senate, offered prayer, the
roll was called and the vice president
annouced a quorum present. The
swearing in of newly.elected senators
was then taken up, after which Sena-
tor Hale, the master of ceremonies,
offered the usual resolution directing
the appointment of committee to act
with committee Of the house to wait
upon President Roosevelt and inform
him that congress was assembled and
prepared to receive any communities
ton he might be pleased to make.
The coming together for the first
time Of the men who have been elect
ed to the senate and the house, about
one hundred of whom have not before
served in congress, made the occasion
one of particular interest.
The glad hand was extended to the
four democratic representatives from
Oklahoma who were sworn in. Sena-
tors Gore and owen will not take their
seats in that body, however, until the
formal election by the legislature when
it meets in January.
The striking scenes OF the day were
in the house of representatives, where
the formal selection of Joseph Cannon
to again be speaker of that body and
the designation by the democrats of
Mr.. John Sharp Williams as their lead
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those gentlemen.
The vast hall of the house of repre-
sentatives rang with cheers Of re.
publicans and democrats for their lead
ers, and the speaker received as warm
a welcome from members of the mr.
nority as he did from his own party.
In accepting the speakership MI. Can
non made brief but feeling address.
When the adoption of rules for the
government of the house during the
sixtieth congress came up the rules of
the last congress were opposed by
John Sharp Williams, and he was join
ed in that opposition by democrats and
by a single republican, Mr.. Cooper,
Of Wisconsin. The old rules were de-
clared to be too autocratic, placing too
much power in the hands of the speak
err, but, after a somewhat acrimonious
discussion, they were adopted by a
party vote.
Committees were appointed by both
houses to inform the president that
congress had met and was ready to
receive any message that he might
wish to communicate.
New senators and representatives
were sworn in, and both houses adj
journed out of respect to the memory
of members who have died during the
recess of congress.
Senator LaFollette was the first SEN
ator to be recognized at the opening
proceedings of the upper house, and
presented the credentials Of Senator
Isaac Stephenson Of Wisconsin.
The vice president ordered that the
roll of senators-elect be called alpha
beffcally and they were sworn in by
fours, being escorted to the edsk by
their colleagues
All Of the senators-elect were pres
ent in the chamber, except Senator
Bankhead of Alabama, who is destained
at home by illness.
Senator Teller offered resolutions in
respect to the memory Of the late Sen
ators Morgan and Pettus Of Alabama,
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