The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1909-03-18
THE 6lST CONGRESS-
Predicted That Extraordinary
Session Viii Be Short 0ne
SPEAKER CANNON REFLECTED
Senate Meets and is 'Ready-House
Elects MIR. Cannon Speaker, But
Changes the Rules.

The Sixty-First Congress of the
United States Assembled in Called
Session in Washington City IN Mon
day.
When the Senate assembled Sc
Senators answered to their names
When Vice President Sherman
called the Senate to order, the Re-
publican side had a full represen-
tation present, while but Is Demo-
Gratis were in their seats.
Senators Alrich and Money were
appointed a committee to wait upon
the President to inform him of the
meeting of the Senate and to notify
him that that body al ready to re-
ceive any message he might wish to
commupicate.
At 2 O'Clock the Senate, after re-
ceiving word of the election of Speak
er Cannon, adjourned for the day.
Five Democratic Senators, all from
the South were absent from the open
ing of Congress on account of illness.
Senator Tillman is at his home in
South Carolina, suffering from a gen.
eral breakdown similar to that which
compelled his trip to Europe about a
year ago.
After one of the stormiest sessions
in its history, the House of Represen-
tatives regardless Of party alignment,
adopted, 211 to 172, a resolution by
Mr.. Fitzgerald, (Democrat), of New
York, whereby the rules were amend
ed in several important particulars.
The resolution was a substitute
for one offered by Mr.. Clark, of
Missouri.
Its adoption vas accomplished only
after the insurgents, with the aid
of the Democrats, with one or two
exceptions, had won a decided pre-
liminary victory by voting down a
resolution by Mr.. Dalzell, of Pennsyl-
vania, making the unamended rules
of the Sixtieth Congress applicable
to the present Congress. The call
of the roll on the Clark resolution
was followed with interest.
AS analysed by parliamentarians
the amendment makes three impor-
tant changes:
First, it establishes a calendar for
unanimous consents the effect of,
which is to enable a member to have
a proposition brought before the
House without having to go to the
Speaker for recognition. This change,
they say, will be a relief to the
Speaker.
Second. When consideration of a
bill is concluded and the previous
question is ordered the rules hereto
fore have provided for a motion to
commit with or without instructions.
1t has been the practice to recognize
a member Of the majority party to
make this motion and thus prevent
the minority from offering such in
structions as it may desire. The new
rule gives the minority the preference
in making such a motion and thus
enables it to get a record vote on
propositions which would otherwise
be settled in committee of the whole
house, where no record vote is pos
sible.
Third. 1t protects the calendar
Wednesday by requiring a two-third
instead of a majority vote to set it
aside.
Three hundred and eight-two mem
bers responded to their names, more
than a quorum, when the House
convened. Mr. Currier, of New Hamp-
shire, nominated Joseph G. Common,
of Illinois, for Speaker and Mr.. Clay
ton, of Alabama, presented the name
of Champ Clark, of Missouri. Mr..
Cannon was elected by a vote of 204
to 166 for Clark.