The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-06
House and SGnats DGIiber ate Briefly and Adjourn
 In Honor of Dead
CROWDED GALLERIES SEE
 OPENING CEREMONIES
Champ Clark Receives nm Ovation as He Enters the House Very soon After the ChapIain's Open
 ing Prayer

ing Prayer
 Washington, December 1.-The closing session of the Sixty-first Congress open ed at noon today. No business was trans acted, both branches meeting merely to appoint joint committee to formally arprize the President that the legislative branch of the government was ready to proceed, to call the rolls of members and to adjourn after adopting resolutions to the memory of those members who had 4joined the vast majority since Con gress last met. The usual animation marked the opening In both Senate and House but the reunion of old legislative of the heavy toll death had taken among their number in the last few months. In consequence the Senate was in session only a quarter of an hour. while the Hcuse occupied 50 minutes before Speak CT Cannon declared 1t adjourned until tomorrow. The members, like school boys released from class room, then
  ing snowstorm that had set in with the dawn of the opening day.
 More than usual interest was mani tested in the opening, because of the passing of the balance. of political pow CT from the republican party with the end of the session. As a result the gal leries were crowded.
 Four Senators Dead
 Since adjournment last June there have been four deaths In the senatorial ranks rendering 1t unnecessary to make of fcial announcement in each case when the Senate convened.
 Vice President Sherman was prompt in making his appearance In the chamber ana he brought the Senate to order with s rap of his gavel just as the two hands of the big white-faeed clock united 10 announce the arrival of the noon hour. Immediately afterward came the opening prayer by Dr. Ulysses Grant Pierce, who referred to the unusual number of deaths during the recess. The roll call that fol- lowed disclosed 80 senators present. only eight failing to respond to their names.
 Resolutions by Senators Hale and Gull lori providing for the nntification of the House and the President. respectively that the Senate was sitting and prepared for business. was adopted before the Senate took cogniZaHce of the work of the grim reaper Tn accordance with MT. Oullom's resolution the Illinois senator and MT Money of Mississippi were ap- pointed to await upon the President. The secretary of the Senate was instruct ed to carry the necessary information to tho House.
 Announcement of Deaths
 The death announcements were made in the order of seniority and each case by the colleague of the deceased member. Senator Martin of Virginia broke the off cinl news of the death of Senator Daniel of that state: Senator Bacon announced the death of Senator Clay of Georgia; Senator Foster performed like service in behalf of Senator McEnery of Louisi- ana, and the series closed with an an- nounoement of the death of Senator Dolli- yer of Iowa by Senator Cummins. All spoke in feeling terms of the departed, but the tribute in each case was confined to few words, as later the Senate will be called upon to listen to extended eulo- gies of each of them
 In connection with the announcements, resolutions expressing the profound sor- TOW of the Senate over each of the deaths were adopted, after which an adjourn ment was taken out of respect to the memory of the four men.
 In the House the entrance of Repre- sentative Champ Clark of Missouri elic- ted as much applause as that of Speaker Cannon. The face of MT. Clark as he walked down the aisle to his seat on the democratic side was as rosy and shining as was the bright pink carnation he wore in his buttonhoe
 Mr Clark did not appear upon the floor until after the chaplain had concluded the opening prayer
 House Called to Order
 Called to order by Speaker Cannons gavcl promptly on the stroke of 12 the House remained in session long enough onlv to hear prayer, the roll call to adopt resolutions of sympathy on the death of Representatives Brownow of Tennessee, Foulkrod of Pennsylvania TIrrell of Massachusetts, and Gilmore of Louisiana. and the members of the other House who have died since the adjourn nent of the previous session and to have the oath of office administered to three new members Representatives Tawney, and Clark were named by Sneaker Cannon as members of tile joint to call upon the President and notify him that Congress had assembled
 The new members who e'sered upon their 0ut1eS as 1tpitSthtttt 'tf' ci tiNt- districts today were John !. Mitchell or to succeed the late Charles c. Tirren: R. M. Lively of Texas, to sue eaed Gordon Russell, who resigned to be- come federal judge, and !. D. Mas scv of Tennessee, to succeed the late w. r. Brownlow.
 Worldwide arbitration to settle the diff ierences between nations was sought by the Rev Henry D. Couden in his open inc prayer in the House. The chaplain @ eSpressed the hope that disarmament O. inc worlds navies and armies might be | tyought about in the near future.
 Of the S91 members of the House 3sS an- suered to their names at tfe roll call.
 Few Bills Introduced
 Fewer bills and resolutions were intro ducerd in the House today than is usual cu the opening day of Congress. There were 3s public bills and resolutions As n,i outcrop of the House investigation ot rrdian contracts, MT. Burke of South Dakota, chairman of that committee, in ,roduced a measure requiring the ap- proval of Congress in order to establish. of future contracts or agree inents made by persons with any Indians or Indian tribes concerning litigation or demand predicated on any claim against