The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-04

| OnlIeQ states, but 1t has always Deen
| so since the time of our fathers, and
| that it will continue I have no doubt.
The record of the senate, to which Its
] present membership has contributed,
| is made and is beyond recall. know
| of none better made bysany Legislative
assembly anywhere. In my judgment
| 1T will stand comparison with the rec
ord of the senate in it's elder days.
1t has been written by men learned in
the science of government inspired by
as patriotic purposes as actuated their
1llustriOuS predecessors.
THE senate of the United States
must remain an important part of
thoroughly independent, coordinate
branch of the government, neither ar
rogating to itself functions not devoly-
ed upon it under the constitution, nor.
upon the other hand, subtracting from
its legitimate powers Its legislative
duties are vast, while it's duties with
respect to treaties and appointments
to the public service are of very great
moment A servile senate was not
contemplated by its founders. The
senate is today as jealous as ever of
its proper dignities and its just pow
ers and as worthy as ever of the popu-
lar respect and confidence.
Confidence in the Future.
''It requires no gift of prophecy to
foretell that many varied and complex
questions will come here for solution
in the not very distant future-queS-
tions which will have a potential bear
ing upon the very structure of republi-
can government and an important in
fiuence upon our social and industrial
systems. To you who shall remain,
and to your successors, the country
will look, and I believe it will look
with confidence, for a solution which
will be in harmony with the genius of
American institutions and which will
comport with our national interest.
1.-THE senate. it is sometimes said, is
not always responsive to the popular
will. Such assumption is erroneous,'l 1
judging by the record of legislation ac-
complished. The will of the people
finds utterance in the public law in
due course; not that will which is the
unreasoning passionate expression of
the moment, but that will which is the
fruit of deliberate, intelligent ref1ec-
ton.
n DeIiberative Body.
"The senate of the United States
was designed by our fathers to be a
deliberative chamber in the fullest and
best senSe-a chamber where the pas
SiOnS of the hour might be arrested
and where the. better judgment of the
people would find ultimate express
sion. Those who in their unref1ecting
moments would sweep 1t away would
overturn one of the strongest safe
guards of our political fabric.
81 can not sever the personal ties
which have been formed here without
deep emotion. 1 am your grateful
debtor for countless courtesieS and
kindnesses. and to your generous as
sistance and thoughtful forbearance I
am indebted for whatever success may |
have attended my efforts as president
of the senate.
''It gives me pleasure to acknowl- |
edge the very great assistance which !
the Chair has always received from |
the officers of the senate and from |
these efficient, faithful gentlemen at |
the desk
'For the able and distinguished cit
izen who has been chosen by the peo- |
pie to succeed me 1 bespeak that con- |
siderate and effective support which |
you have given me.
'I wish for you each many years |
of strength and devotion to the in
tereStS of our common country whose |
welfare and whose honor you have
sought to safeguard and advance with
ceaseless vigilance and unvarying fl
deity.
'Under the operation of law we
have reached the close of the Sixtieth
Congress. and it becomes the duty Of
the Chair to declare the senate ad-
journed without day"
Senate Adjourns.
AS soon Mr.. Fairbanks had COM
pleted his remarks a motion to ad
journ the senate sine die was adopt
ed.
The gavel was then presented to
the new vice-president and Mr.. Sker-
man at once called to order the senate
of the 61st Congress, which had met
lamation convening an xtraordinary
session. Rev. Edward Everett Hale,
the distinguished chaplain, clad in
heavy silken robe, resembling the
gowns worn by the justices of the Su-
preme Court of the United States, in
voked the divine blessing, and in con-
clusion requested the entire assem-
blage to join in pronouncing the
Lords Prayer. The response was not
very general, but to the extent that
it was the occasion resembled for a
brief time, a religious rather than an
official ceremony.
DIR. Hale'S Prayer.
DIR. Hale's prayer was as follows:
Il will multiply my people, they
shall not be few
I will glorify them, and they shall
not be small.
Their congregation shall be estab-
lished before me;
And 1 will punish all that oppose
them.
Their mobiles shall be from them
selves and their governor from the
midst of them.
I will cause him to draw near
And he shall approach unto me. |
And We shall be my people and 1 will
be your God.
The law shall not depart from them
Be thou strong and of good cour-
Be not afraid, neither be discour-
aged
For the Lord thy God is with thee
thou goest
Father Almighty: this Nation is in
prayer before Thee today. We thank
Thee for Thine untold mercies in the
past, for Thy guidance to our Fathers
and Thy protection and blessing ex-
tended to them. And we ask Thee for
the days before US, for the same bless
ing, protection and care. Our Cover
nors are from ourselves and our Rul-
ers from the midst of us. Thy SER
wants whom this People have appoint
ed to execute their Laws need and ask
Thine Almighty help and blessing, as