Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-12-07
SHORT SESSIONS
IN BOTH HOUSES
House of Representatives Sits But
Forty Minutes and the Senate
But Thirteen.
LETTING LARGELY SOCIAL
Senator Bailey Makes Attempt to
Have Sessions Begin at 2 O'clock.
COMMITTEE WAITS ON PRESIDENT
Announcement Made that Annual
Message Will Come Today.
MANY BILLS ARE INTRODUCED
EARLY Adjournment is Taken Out Of
Respect TO Memory of Members
who Died During the
Recess.
Senator Bailey Makes Attempt to
Have Sessions Begin at 2 O'clock.
COMMITTEE WAITS ON PRESIDENT
Announcement Made that Annual
Message Will Come Today.
MANY BILLS ARE INTRODUCED

WASHINGTON Dec. 6-The two houses
Of congress convened today for the first
regular session Of the Sixty-first congress,
but the days proceedings were in great
part OF a social nature and practically no
business was transacted.
Brief as was the senate's thirteen min
utes II was enlivened by an unsuccessful
effort on the part OF Senator Bailey to
defeat the passage of the usual resolution
that the daily sessions begin at noon?
suggesting that the senate should con-
vene instead at 2 O'Clock. Mr. Bailey said
he would Ike to see the senate hold night
sessions in order that senators might de-
vote the day to individual business. No
objection was offered when similar
resolution was introduced in the house
A comcittee was named by both houses
to wait upon the president and to inform
him that congress was In session and
ready for any business he might wish to
lay before 1t. The presidents response
will constitute his annual message, the
reading Of which will consume practically
all Of tomorrow's sessions of the two
houses.
The house session continued forty min
utes, during which W. w. McCredie, the
new representative from the Second Wash
ington district, who succeeds the ate Fran
els w. Cushman. was sworn In. The
greater part Of the session was taken
up by the roll call
Many Bills Introduced.
Although only Sn members responded to
their names, almost a full membership
appeared on the house floor. and there
were few among them that did not have
one or more bills to offer. These included
one by Representative Garner CPa.) for an
investigation by congress of the entire
customs service. particularly in regard to
sugar frauds recently brought to light;
one by Representative Hitchcock (Neb.) for
the establishment OF postal savings banks:
one by Representative Mann m) for
federal regulation OF the white slave
trade" and another by Mr. Mann for the
free admission of wood pulp and one by
Representative Hamilton (Mich.) to grant
statehood to New Mexico and Arizona
There were the customary crowds in the
galleries Of the two houses and the usual
scenes attending an opening day of con-
gress were re-enacted on the floors. The
leaders of the majority and the minority
were there and conversed amiably, all OF
the bitterness engendered by the tariff
fight Of last summer apparently having
been forgotten for the time being at east
Resolutions Of respect for the memory OF
Senator johnson Of North Dakota, Repre-,
sentatives De Almond and Lasssller who
died during the recess, were adopted and
as a further mark of respect, the two
houses adjourned until noon tomorrow
the senate at 1918 and the house at 1874
p. m.
Galleries Crowded in House.
An animated scene presented Itself t,
Speaker Cannon when he appeared in tn
house at noon today TO call to order tn
house of representatives, in the sixty-firs
congress.
The galleries were crowded to the door
long before the hour arrived.
round Of applause greeted the speake
when he entered the chamber. For
moment he stood in his place nervousl!
lingering the gRveL While the applaus
was subsiding, the gaveI descended witt
resounding left-handed whack
The house will be in order. The chap
ain win offer prayer"
In allusion to the tragic death Of Rep
resentatve De Armond OF Missouri, VIII,
was burned to death in his home, the chap
lain prayed:
And now, Oh, Father, profoundly move,
by the recent tragic death Of one Of tn,
most distinguished members Of this house
who for years has been conspicuous in tn,
affairs OF his state and nation; we mos
fervently pray for that consolation whicl
Thou alone canst give for his colleagues
and especially for the stricken wife an,
cbffdrer