Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-03
SIXTIETH
CONGRESS rs
CONVENED
OPENING IS MADE A SOCIETY
AFFAIR
CANNON AND WILLIAMS ARE
cHEERED IN HOUSE
w. J. Bryan Appears and Is Given an
Ovation by emocrats-Many
New Faces In Both
Bodies
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
WASHINGTON. Dec. IA brilliant
scene characterized the meeting of the
sixtieth congress today. In the senate
and house there were notable gatherings
In the galleries of representatives of the
official society OF the capital
The coming together for the first time
Of the men who have been elected to the
senate and the house, about 100 of whom
have not before served In congress, made
the occasion one of particular interest.
The striking scenes of the day were in
the house of representatives, where the
formal selection of Joseph G.. Cannon
again to be speaker of that body, and the
designation by the Democrats of John
Sharp Williams as their leader, were oc-
casions for ovations for those men. The
vast hall of the house Of representatives
rang with the cheers of Republicans and
Democrats for their leaders, and the
speaker received as warm "a reception
from the minority as he did from his own
party.
Bryan or Floor
The appearance of William J. Bryan on
the floor of the house also was the occa-
sion for enthusiastic cheering by the
Democrats.
When the adoption of the rules for the
government of the house during the six
tieth congress came up the rules of the
last congress were opposed by John
Sharp Williams, and he was Joined in the
opposition by Democrats and by single
Republican, Mr.. Cooper of Wisconsin.
The old rules were declared to be too
autocratic, placing too much power In the
hands of the speaker. but after some
what acrimonious discussion they were
adopted by party vote
Committees were appointed by both
houses to inform the president that con-
gress had met and was ready to receive
any message he might wish to communi-
cate.
New senators and representatives were
sworn in, and both houses adjourned out
of respect to the memory OF members who
have died during the recess of congress.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-The vote on
the speakership resulted: Joseph Cannon,
207; John Sharp Williams, 154.
When the applause had subsideo
Speaker Cannon said:
The fundamental principles of free
government, eternal and unchanging rest
on the will and responsibility of the peo-
pie and are put in action through the de-
liberation and conscientious representa-
tives of that will.
Other departments have lofty and i'm.
portant functions, but to this house alone
belongs the peculiar, the delicate and the
all-surpassing function of interpreting and
putting in definite form the will of the
people.
SO far as the duty of organizing this
mouse shall devolve upon me shall en-
deavor to perform the duty in a way jus-
trying the confidence which your selec-
tion implies, and to promote the great
purposes for which we are assembled
But the duties of the hour rest not alone
on myself. They rest on each one of YOU
individually, and on your integrity, wis
dom and conservatism the people are re-
lying as well as on mine
The oath was then administered by Rep
resentative Bingham of PENNSYLVANIA.
the father of the house." and in turn the
speaker administered the oath to the
members, who lined up in front of his
desk in groups of twenty-five,
Oklahoma There
When Oklahoma was called the Demo
Gratis applauded the representatives from
The new state, who bowed their acknoWl-
edgements.
The Republican and Democratic caucus
appointments of the house officials then
were presented and the Republican nom
inees were elected.
The first fight of the session was in
augurated by Representative Williams,
who protested against the adoption of a
resolution making the rules of the last
house the governing laws of the present
house. Mr.. Williams asserted that too
much power was concentrated in the
hands of the speaker
To the delight of the Democrats Repre-
sentative Cooper. Republican. Wisconsin.
expressed approval of what Mr.. Williams
had said and added that the power given
the speaker was both unrepublican and
undemocratic Mr.. de Almond asked the
members why they desired to enslave
themselves under such rules
Now is the time to change the rules .
be continued, $50 that members as
towards and cravens' need not go back
to their homes and defend themselves
upon the mere miserable pretext that
these rules had controlled them and they
could do nothing else"
Mr.. Dalzell could not conceive Of any.
thing more unnecessary than discussion
of the rules. They had been the rules of
the last congress of the hfty-first con-
gress. both Republican, and substantially
of the fifty-second and ifty-third con-
crosses, both Democratic.
Cannon Explains
OpGdhCT N@tlllllOis dI SOtHc eX-
planned to the house the parliamentary
situation at the time of the request of
Mr.. De Almond for recognition in his
own right, and also in reply to Mr..
Cooper who thought the speaker should
occupy seat on the floor. The practice
had grown up, Speaker Cannon said. that
gentlemen seek the chair. and the chair
exercised his right as member to say
that 1t would be useless to grant recogni-
ole nh IA
chair would object in his capacity as a
member of the house. He said that the
right CT member to be recognized can
in most instances not be denied by the
chair.
Mr.. De Almond insinuated that the
speaker had not answered him.
.'If the gentleman has not been am
swered" said the speaker, suavely, ..it is
the misfortune os the chair or the mis-
tConsinued on Page Two,