The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-12-08
CONGRESS MEETS
Great Crowd at Opening
of Short Session.
TAFT'S MESSAGE READ TODAY
Opening Scenes Were Marked by
Joy and Sadness, as Many Re-
publicans Retire When
Session Ends.

Washington. Dec. 6.-Although the
last session OF the Sixty first congress
got under way yesterday. the first i'm
portant business took place today,
when President Tafts message was
read In both houses. The message was
very lengthy and consumed several
hours in being read. Great interest
was manifested In the house and SEN
ate, the galleries Of which were
crowded.
The opening session Of congress was
brief. The usual committees were
appointed to walt upon each other
with the announcement that every
thing was ready for business aud
a Joint committee was named 10 call
upon the president and inform him
that congress was ready to receive
any communications that he might
care to transmit to him. This formal
business over. both the senate and
house adjourned in memory OF the
members who have been lost by death
since the close Of the last session.
Mingled Joy and Sadness.
The opening scenes Of the session
weer marked by mingled Joy and sad
ness. but the sadness seemed to be IN
larger chunks Ninety-elght defeated
Republicans. victims OF the Demo
cratic landslide, gathered in the house
for their farewell session, while over
on the senate side fourteen. among
them veterans OF many a legislative
battle. we're taking their seats for final
service
Most OF the lame ducks" bore up
under the trying experience without
rufilng a feather. but few OF them
showed plainly that they were deeply
affected. Representative w W. Cocks
of the Oyster Bay district, seemed to
take the opening a little harder than
most Of the other manned members oil
the New York state delegation, but he
found no difficulty in getting plenty
Of coincidence
Public interest centered chiefly in
the opening scenes Of the house.
Every seat in the galleries was taken,
and long lines in the corridors were
clamoring for admission. Inside on
the floor the Republicans gathered
early, sharing their sorrows and min
Cling their tears. 1t was easy enough
TO tell a Democrat by the looks OF his
face as he entered the chamber. AS
he penetrated the area OF Republican
gloom, however. the smile invariably
faded and, like some mourners at
state funeral, he seemed to be saying
to himself: It'd be a shame to look
cheerful here"
Democratic Joy Won't Down.
For the most part the Democrats re-
Trained from bringing up unpleasant
memories and contented themselves
with renewing their acquaintance with
Republican colleagues by a friendly
shake OF the hand. Occasionally, how
ever, the Democratic Joy would md
vent and there would be slapping OF
backs and a lot Of half-smothered
CuuChicb AlOui BACuP' " 49,
party.
Reelected Republicans in the house,
regulars and insurgents alike. also OBJ
served the conventions and decencies
that usually govern the conduct OF
sorrowing relatives In house OF
mourning and refrained from express
ing any personal satisfaction over their
own good luck. Many Of them. though,
seemed still to be Offering up prayers
Of thanks.
Uncle Joe got a lively reception.
the Democratic side joining in the
racket. Uncle Joe appeared as calm
as an inland lake on June eve. He
returned to the house by a comfort
able majority and saved from defeat
by the hands Of his own party in his
candidacy for reelection to the speak
ership by the accident Of Democratic
house Uncle Joe was able to survive
the scene without any very affecting
sadness. He was in excellent humor
and smiled impartially on friend and
foe