The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-04-04
BHhhPsslRE



it was shown. Rad Invited guests to
the capacity OF fhe gallery Placed I'm.
der bis control by the house.
As a new House Is witheutIform and
void III devolved upon Col. Alex. Nc
Dowell. clerk Of the last House, TO call
the members togorder. This he did,
standing at his own desk In front OF
andSbel0@ the vacant chair provided
FOR the Speaker. He called upon the
Echaplain for prayer, the first prayer OF
a session which always is printed in
the, Congressional Record.
Mcdowell directed the reading OF
President Taft's proclamation calling
the special session. Then the roll was
called Alphabetically by States to re:
cord the names Of the members pres.
ent. Word passed among the mem.
bers that 127 substitute names for
those OF members present at the SEES.
sion that opened last December APP
peared on the roll.
Then came the great event of the
day. the election OF the Speaker. or.
course, the result was not. III doubt.
but the realization thatlin q few min
ntes they would see Champ elnrk's
giant form passing up the marble,
steps to the Speakers station keyed;
members aid sspecfgtots TO- q state of:
excitement. Clark tsas modestly alb.
sent during the Operation but ii was
proved later that h was not far away.
Mcdowell nanied Democrat and a
Republican, al. CELLARS and ltheyrtook.
their places atthe clerks desk. Each,
member. as his name was called, an
%nounced the name of3hiss choice for
| speaker. The Democrats piled up
their majority for Clark anil ii roar Of
approval rumbled through the long
corridors Of the capitol.
A committee was appointed to no.
tify the Missouri leader Of the honor
given him. The committee accom-.
plished the task infalfew minutes and
when they returned the new Speaker,
smiling and happy. was greeted with
another burst Of applause.
Clark made a speech expressing his
deep appreciation OF the honor and
his realization Of the responsibility de.
volving upon him. He took the oath
Of Office und proceeded in turn 10 ad.
minister It to the members. They
were called in groups to the clear
space betweenG. thepi seats and the
clerks desk and viii, appraised hands
subscribed to the oath as pronounced
by the Speaker. In 10 r ~
Upon mounting the rostrum to begin
the term as Speaker of the House,
Champ Clark iaidaiiown the Demo.
cratic program as follows:
First, an honest And Intelligent re-
vision Of the; tariff downward, to re:
duce the cost Of living and eradicate
some OF the enormities of the present
tariff: q Sd.
g.stcond, the passage OH resolution
submitting to,the Aeste disqualification
q Gonsiitutiohal ameaamena calling for
Ethsslectioh a gniEfa;statss Senator's
by popular s6te:a tFa ~
"Third, the following of the rules OIL
the, House OF an intelligent and prop,J
Ter liaiidlitis syof measures for the publ
s"Fsurth, Msonomy and retrenchmenta
insthesRnbIic expense, beginning at thea
proper place by cutting down the exJ
penses OF the House.. Il
Fifth. the publication OF campaign1
contributions and disbursements be5
fore elections. i
sixth. the admission of Arizona ,and1
New Mexico as States!
His ending was With a plea for pos
titfcat harmony.
"ClarkFasked that his oath be admin
istered by Representative Talbot, Of
Maryland.
There followed the election OF the
clerk, sergeant-at.arms. the doorkeen-
;er and postmaster OF the House.
The clerk was ordered to notify the
President and the Senate that the
House had completed its organization.
A committee was appointed to act
with a committee OF .eSnators TO In.
form the President that Congress was
ready TO receive any communication
he might be pleased to make.
A resolution adopting ~ o'clock as
the time for daily meeting was adopt.
A report was submitted by Chair.
man Henry (Dem.. Tex.). OF the com.
mittee on rules.
The Senate.
Proceedings differed somewhat in
the Senate, 1t'rbelng a continuing
body. That Is, one.third Of the mem.
bers retire or are: elected every two
years. but two.thlrds OF the member.
ship are 7ftfi.fledged with authority
and qualified for business at the begin.
ming Of a new Congress-.
With Aldrich, Hale, kean, Scott. Bur-
rows, Carter and Others OF the stand:
pat leaders missing the attendance on
the floor presented m almost startling
scene to those familiar with the Sen.
ate Of recent years. There was no
Aldrich to direct the proceedings. Pro;
gressives, with Hleir Increased Num-
'bers and prestige, showedand serene
and contented mood.
; Vice President Sherman, rudy with
the glow OF health. ,well.groomed us us.
ual. and also with a tlaring %carnatlon
on the lapel Of his, coat as usual, stop
ped into the chamber at one minute
to twelve as .sedatelyl us though there
had been no breaktin the session. He}
announced proyep by the chaplain and
when that was oyer the clerk was d.