The Washington times., 1909-12-06
Senators and Representa-
tiveS in Large Numbers
Hear Gavel Fall.
SPEAKER CANNON
CHEERED BY ALL
Party Lines Are Forgotten When
Uncle Joe" Ascends the
Rostrum.

With distinguished Assem- bIages IN
the galleries and with an unusually
large representation of members on
the floors OF both the Senate and the
House, the second session Of the Sixty
first Congress was convened formally
at noon today.
According TO prearranged program.
almost immediate adjournments were
taken in both houses in hon9r OF the
memory Of those who have died since
the gavel fell at the close Of the ex-
traordinary session.
Rush of Bills.
A HOOD Of bills into the hopper or
both Senate and House was an open
ing day indication Of the great amount
Of important legislation thai must be
considered before the close OF this. the
long session. which. at best, hardly
can end before May next.
II many respects the opening Of the
regular session Of the Sixty-hrst Con-
gress was not unlike others that have
gone before IT.
Happy IN House.
There was the same air of dlsni;y
and subdued enthusiasm in the sen
ate; the House was again the scene
or more noisy renewals of aoquaint-
anceship and Of the old-time tunultu-
Gus applause when the Speaker. beam
Ing as though there wasn't an insur-
gent in existence ascended the roz-
trum and began 20 WELD the gaveI wita
his wcnted vigor.
And. regardless OF the fact that every
body knows that this is to be a rather
turbulent session. insurgent and reeu-
lar forgot their political differences for
once and acclaimed the venerable Tn
els Joe"
Only the old-tip1ers could fail to take
more than a passing interest in the
opening scenes Perfect Indian summer
weather brought steady streams OF
curious humanity 20 Capitol IIiu. the
advance guard arriving by o'clock,
at which time the doors OF the Capitol
are thrown open. II was with deep
chagrin that many OF these received
the information that upon opening DAY
I the galleries are reserved mainly FOR the
! families OF members, invited guests and
/ higher Government officials.
Many Disappointed
! The disappointed ones. and they we're
! legion, thronged the corridors until long
past the noon hour. partially content 10
catch a glimpse or passing statesmen
or to hear a word or two from The
momentuous proceedings within.
. The galleries presented a bewilderinS
panorama OF color. Women predoml-
mated. their brilliant gowns and hats
! resembling a rainbOw-colOTed fringe to
the staid picture IN black presented on
the floors below. The gallery sections
reserved for members, for the diplo-
matte corps. Tor the use of the Presi-
dent. and the Vice President as we'll
as the limited space sec aside for the
general public all eRntributed thelr
share toward making the event. from
! spectacular standpoint, one Ions 20 be
remembered oy every spectator, season
ed or otherwise
I In the Senate. many OF the elder
! statesmen, with evident desire to avoid
/ the limelighI. remained in the cloak
/ rooms until the actual hour OF con-
vening. The Senators came In BY ones
and twos, chatting quietly. Just as un-
ostentatious. perhaps. was the appear
\ ance or Vice President James :. Sher-
man, who gently raped for order with
small ivory gaVel and then announced
nrayer by the Chaplain the Rev T. q.
I b. Pierce. The customary roll call dis
closed the presence Of q quorum and the
legislative machinery of the upper body
was formally set in motion. when Sena-
tor Hill Of Maine presented A resolution.
which was passed, requesting the Secre-
tarv OF the Senate TO notify the House
that the former was assembled and
ready for business.
To Notify President
Senator AIdrich followed With the
- usual resolution that q committee ~
- three be named 90 notify the Fres5den-
: OF the United States that tH' Senate
was in session and ready 90 receive any
! communication from the Chief ENecu-
tive. Then came resolution by Senator
CuIIom of Illinois, who moved that the
daily session Of the Senate should be-
gin at u o'clock.
This constituted the set business for
the upper chamber and q moment later
, Senator McCumber Of North Dakota
! feeIfngly announced the recent death o.
his colleague. Senator Martin NJ. John
, son and moved that IN COp1r OF his
memory the Senate be adjourned u0-
til tomorrow Such action was taken.
Gather Early.
over on the House side the scenes
were somewhat different AS early rs
II o'clock some of the members we're
upon the floor, making little pilgrimagcs
from desk 10 desk. slappinz colleagues
upon the back and induging in othe.
, little pleasantries that have tended to
! make the lower body the less cCnveu-
tional Of the two. Old members had TO
become reminiscent a bit over former
sessions and new members had to be
introduced. Ten minutes before Speak
er Cannon was sue 20 arrive. the Houss
| floor vas a seeming polftlcal bedlafn.