The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-12-05
Scenes that Were Familiar,
but None the Less interest
ing Met Eyes of People in
the Galleries.
MUCH KIDDING FOR
THE AGED SPEAKER
Noon Adjournment in Honor
of Members Who Died
During Recess Message
to Be Read Tuesday.
american News Servicel

Washington, Dec. 5.Scenes that
were familiar. but none the less in
teresting greeted the eyes of the visit
ors who packed the galleries of the
house today at the opening of the final
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
filled with gasly dressed women who
added 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
exchange in New York. victors and
vanquished were there to congratulate
the results of the November ballot.
To the onlooker it was difiicult to dis
tinguish between the two. Everybody
was jovially slapping everybody else
on the back. and all members were
acting like lot Of boys at the be-
ginning of school.
The appearance of Speaker Can
non in the chamber was the signal for
a hearty round OF applause from both
members and the gallery, though. II
the truth must be told, Uncle Joe"
had to stand for vast amount OF
kidding" during the day.
Seated at his old desk and sur.
rounded by a bevy OF friends was
Champ Clark, leader of the minority
| in the present session and the prob
able speaker in the next. From the
3manuer An Xhich~ his colleagues we're
| laughing MI. Clark evidently had
brought back with him new stock of
stories.
| "Father Of the House."
Walking UP and down the aisle
| greeting old friends was Gen. H. 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 sew
entieth year yesterday. but he might
pass for fifty.
| When Speaker Cannon, with two
sharp raps OF his gavel. had called
the house to order. the buzz of con-
versation was hushed while the chap
lain offered the opening prayer. A
few minor formalities were disposed
| of and attention was called to tho
deaths of three members OF the house
during the recess. In accordance with
custom resolution to adjourn was
then offered and adopted as further
mark of respect to the memory OF the
deceased.
In the senate the initial session was
equally short. The public galleries
were filed when Vice President Sher-
man called the body to order. In the
audience were the families OF many
senators and men in public life. Sew
eral members of the diplomatic corps
were present A few changes were
noticeable in the membership Of the
senate. Death had removed Senators
Daniel OF Virginia, Clay or Georgia.
Dolliver of Iowa, McLaurfn of Missis-
sippi and McEnery of Louisiana. The
successors of most Of these, by guber-
material appointments. were on hand
ready to take the oath OF Office.
When the two houses reassemble to-
morrow the annual message OF Presi-
dent Taft will be received and read.
Then both house and senate will be
ready to take up the regular grind OF
business.