The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-12-05
Initial Session Of Both Houses of
Congress Today of Short Dur
alton, and No Business
is Done
TAFT'S MESSAGE TOMORROW
Opening of Lower House Resembles
First Day Of SehooI-Members
Rejoice in Renewing Old
Acquaintance.

Washington, ID. c., Dec. 5.-Scenes
that were familiar but none the less
itors who packed the galleries of the
House today at the opening of the fin
al session of the Sixty-first Congress
The crowds came early. and when the
Speakers gavel fell promptly on the
stroke of twelve, the galleries were FILL
ded much to the picturesqueness OF
the scene.
The most of the members also put
in an early appearance and for two
hours before the House was called to
order the chamber resembled some
what an exciting day on the Stock Ex-
change In New York. Victors and an
quished were there to congratulate
ard sympathize with one another over
the results of the November ballot
To the onlooker it was difficult to dis
tinguish between thhe two. Everybody
was jovially slapping everybody else
en- the back. and all the members were
acting like lot of boys at the begin.
ming of school.
Applause For "Uncie Joe."
The appearance of Speaker Cannon
in the chamber was the signal for a
hearty round of applause from both
members and the gallery.
Seated atshis old desk and surround
ed by a bevy of friends was Champ
Clark, leader of the minority in the
present session and the probable
Speaker in the next. From the man
ner in which his colleagues were
laughing. Mr.. Clark evidently had
brought back with him a new stock of
stories.
Walking up and down the aisle
greeting old friends was Gen. III. H..
Bingham, OF the First Pennsylvania
district, whose continuous service of
over thirty years has entitled him to
be called "The Father OF the House"
Gen. Bingham entered upon his seven
tieth year yesterday, but he might
pass for fifty.
When Speaker Cannon, with two
Fiibi idIfo VI Ills SdNtis heib tahNt NV
House to order, the buzz of CONVEX
sation was hushed while the chaplain
offered the opening prayer. A few
minor formalities were disposed of and
attention was called to the deaths of
three members of the Hor = during
the recess. Inaccordance \ tn GUS
tom a resolution to adjourn was then
offered and adopted as a further mark
of respect to the memory of the de-
ceased.
Senate Session Short.
In the Senate the initial session
was equally short. The public gal
leries were filled when Vice President
Sherman called the body to order. In
the audience were the families OF
many senators and men in public life.
Several members of the diplomatic
corps were present. A few changes
were noticeable in the membership OF
the senate. Death had removed Sena-
tors Daniel of Virginia, Clay of Geor-
gia, Dolliver OF Iowa, McLaurin of
Mississippi and McEnery Of Louisiana.
The successors of most of these, by
gubernatorial appointments, were on
hand ready to take the oath of office.
When the two houses reassemble
tomorrow the annual message of Pres
ident Taft will be received and read.
Then both House and Senate will be
ready to take up the regular grind of
business.
Little Legislation Expected.
Many members, Speaker Cannon
among them, are of the opinion that
the session will witness little legisla-
tion beyond the passage of the ap-
preparation bills. The session. which
will end March by constitutional
limitation. will be broken by the hol
iday recess usually of two weeks dur
alton. putting further limitation upon
the legislative activity. Three days
each week are to be set aside under
special rules-the reforms inaugurat-
cd by the Progressives and Democrats
at the last session-and IL Is the gem
eral opinion that the residuary time
will be little more than sufficient for
careful consideration OF the appro-
priation bills, especially as the ad-
ministration's demand for economy in
expenditure is to be met as far as pos
sible.
There is plenty of work at hand. II
Congress chooses to take IL up. The
committees are organized and over