The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-06

The last session of the Sixty-frst Con-
gress got under way yesterday.
AT the tick OF noon Vice President Sher-
mans gavel descended in the Senate and
Uncle joe Cannon's in the House de-
claring TO the assembled members and ths
crowded galleries that the legislative work
for the winter had begun
The usual committees were appointed
by the Senate and the House 10 waie
upon each other with the annOuncement
that everything was ready for business.
and joint committee was named 10 calf
upon the President and inform him that
| Congress was ready to receive any com
munications he might care 70 transmit to-
them
This formal business over. both ths
Senate and the House adjourned in mem-
ory OF the members who have been Iost
/ by death since the close OF the last ses-
sion
The opening scenes Of the session wera
marked by mingled JOY and sadness. but
| the sadness seemed 10 be in larger chunks.
Ninety-eisht defeated Republicans, VIC
/ tins of the Democratic landslide. gath
cred in the House for their farewell ses-
sion. while over on the Senate side four
teen. among them veterans Of many a
legislative battle. were taking their seats
! for final service.
'iame Ducks in sorrow.
Most Of the lame ducks bore up under
I the trying experience without ruaiing A
feather. but few of them showed plain
ly that they were deeply affected Rep
resentative W. " Cocks. Of the Oyster
/ Bay district. seemed 10 take the opening
a little harder than most Of the other
mained members Of the New York state
delegation, but he found no difficulty in
getting plenty OF coincidence.
Public interest centered chiefly in the
| opening scenes in the House. Long be-
/ fore the noon hour every seat in the gall
| leries was taken, and long lines were
clamoFing for admission in the corridors.
! On the floor the Republicans gathered
| early. sharing their sorrows and mingling
! their tears It was easy enough to tell
/ a Democrat by the look on his face as
! he entered the chamber. As he pene-
| trated the area OF Republican gloom.
/ however. the smile invariably left his
1 face. and, hike some u0urners at q state
/ funeral. he seemed TO be saying 10 him
/ self: 1t would be shame 10 appear
cheerful here"
/ For the most part the Democrats re-
l Trained from bringing up unpleasant
/ memories, and contented themselves
with renewing their acquaintance with
/ their Republican colleagues by a friendly
/ shake Of the hand Occasionally, how
ever. the Democratic joy would md a
vent, and there would be a slapping OF
backs and a lot OF half-smOthered
chuckies from groups Of the minority
! party.
Reelected Republicans in the House,
regulars and insurgents alike, also OBJ
served the conventions and the decencies
that usually govern the conduct OF sOr-
/ rowing relatives in a house of mourning
and refrained from expressing any per-
sonal satisfaction over their own good
luck Many Of them. though. seem stII
10 be offering up prayers of thanks.
While the members Of the House gath
cred on the floor, pointing fingers in the
galleries jabbed the air in the direction
OF members OF the ''old guard. some or
them with a score or more of years OF
service 10 their credit. who VIII pick up
the threads of their private business
after March l. Eager eyes scanned the
Democratic side for sight OF those party
leaders who have long labOred under
the handicap Of belonging TO the minor
ity, and who VIII be controlling factors
in the House for at least the two years
Of the SiXty-second Congress.
Keifer In Usual Garb.
The lame ducks" however, seemed to
attract the most attention from the
crowded galleries. and they appeared 10
be fully conscious Of the fact Gen. J..
Warren KeifeF. the only living dress
suit statesman, hooked his defeated col
leagues calmly in the face and urged
them 10 cheer up tie felt down-hearted
quarter Of a century OF so ago. when
he was defeated after having served fsur
terms But he took a rest and came
back. He declares that be is going to
repeat the performance. The general iS
only about seventy-five years old now.
Leonidas F. Livingston-''Uncle Lon''
they call him in Washington-is another
old gentleman who has designs on his
seat two years hence, according to his
own story. He is inst Gen Keifer's age
has served twenty years in the House
and does not think his successor is going
to be able to stand the pace. Too much
regularity Of an irregular Democratic
sort is what beat Uncle Lon.
But 10 mention the names Of all the
defeated who appeared in the mournfuI
gathering on the House side yesterday
would be to transfer to print a consid-
erabie section OF the Congressional Di-
rectory, There was Tawney Of Minne-
sofa. who for several years has held the
purse strings of the House, as chairman
Of the Appropriations Committee; Alex
ander OF New York. who as chairman OF
the River and HarbOr Committee has
had a good deal to say about the dis
pensing of pork; Boutell. Of Illinois. who
is a reader of reputation. and who has
always been called to the front in the
House when the members want to listen
TO Washingtons Farewell Address or the
Declaration OF Independence; there was
Derby. Of Michigan. another Republican
war horse, and Washington Gardner. OF
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