Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-09
Few Congressman on the Floor
without One or More
to Offer.
ONLY SHORT SESSIONS HELD
Senate Declines to Meet Later
and Hold Night Sessions
Bitterness of Tariff Fight
Forgotten in House.

washington, Dec. 1.-THE two houses OF
Congress convened to-day fo- the first
regular session of the 6lst Congress. but
the days proceedings we're ir great part
of social nature and practically no
business was transacted.
The Sonates l3-minutc scssion was en-
ivened by an unsuccessful effort By
Senator Bailey to defeat the usual re-
solution that the daily sessions begin at
noon, Senator Bailey suggested that the
Senate should convene instead ct two
| o'clock, and he said he would like to see
the Senate hold night sessions in order
that senators might devote the day to
Individual business.
joint committee was named by both
| Houses to wait upon the President and
| to inform him that Congress was In SEES
| sion md ready for any business he might
wish to lay before 1t. The Presidents
| response will constitute his annual mes
sage, the reading Of which will consume
practically all to-morrow's sessions Of
the two Houses
The House session continued 40 minutes,
during which W. W. McCreit. the new
representative from tho second Wash.
ington district who succeeds the late
Francis w. Cushman. was sworn in. The
greater part Of the session was taken up
| by the roll call.
SOME OF THE NEW BILLS
Although only 34l members responded
to their names. almost a full membership
appeared on the House floor and there
were few amorg them that did not have
ono or more bills to offer. These includ-
ed one by Representative Garnec OF Penn
sylvania. for an investigation by Con-
gress OF the entire customs service, par
ticularly in regard to sugar frauds re
Gently brought to light; one by Represen-
| tative Hitchcock Of Nebraska, for tie es-
tablishment OF postal savings banks; one
by Representative Mann Of Illinois. 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 OF Michigan. tc
grant statehood to New Mexico ana ART.
IONA.
There were the customary crowds ir
the galleries Of the two houses and the
usual scenes attending an opening day
Of Congress were re-enacted on the floors
The leaders of the majority ant, the mi
nority were there and conversed aniably
all of the bitterness engendered by tn,
tariff fight OF last summer apparently
having beer forgotten for the time being
at least
Resolutions OF respect for the memory
o. Senator Johnson OF North Dakota
Representa- tives De Almond and Lassi
ter. who died during the recess. wer'
adopted. and as a further mark OF re
, spect tho two houses adjourned unit
noon tomorrow. the Senate at 1873 and
the House at 1870 .. m.
FOOLED DEMOCRATIC SENATOR'S
Washington. Dec. with great serious
: ness the democratic members Of tn,
, Senate met to-day to elect n successor
to Senator Cuiberson. who has deter
mined to resign a. chairman Of thu
caucus because Of Ill health.
r A tentative program had been ar
ranged by which Mr.. Money. vice-chair
man. was to be elevated to the leadership
and was TO decline the honor on accoun
OF Ill health Senator Bacon WAS theI
to be selected as chairman. With th
program agreed on, Senator culberson'
letter was read to the assemblaRe an,
then it was discovered that he had no
resigned the craftsmanship but had mere
ly stated his intention Of so doing.
Immediately all the we'll laid plan
" Of tho statesmen were upset and furth
or action was postponed until dehnit
action is taken by the Texas senator
The caucus elected Thomas W. Kelle
OF West virginia assistant doorkeeper
which position Is equivalent 10 the demo
cratic representative OF the sergeant a /
arms on tho floor OF the Senate. MI
Keller has heen in tine employ OF III
Senate for thirty years