The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-04-04
DEMOCRATS TODAY ASSUME THE HELM
 OF SHIP OF STATE.
Enthusiastic Scenes in the House When Champ Clark Takes
 Speakers Chair
House Membership.
 New Democratic Members S1 New Republican Members, 45 New Socialist Member, 1

House Membership.
 New Democratic Members S1
 New Republican Members, 45
 New Socialist Member, Total number of new members 127
 Seven new Democrats and two new Republicans served in former Congresses.
 Total number of Democrats 22S
 Total number of Republicans 160
 Total Socialist number
 Democratic majority over
 Republicans, 6S
 Vacancies in the second Pennsylva- mia and ninth Iowa districts will be filled with Republicans, making the Democratic majority over the Repub- licans 66.
 New Democrats 12
 New Republicans ,
 Total number of new members 16
 Total number of Republicans 50
 Total number of Democrats Il
 Republican majority 10
 A vacancy in Colorado will be filled by a Democrat making the Republi- can majority s.
 Washington, April With riotous enthusiasm in the new Democratic House and solemn fornality In the Senate, the Sixty-Second Congress came into being at noon, today. It began a session, called by President Taft, for the consideration of Cana dian reciprocity, but destined appar- ently to be continued through 8 long struggle for tariff revision and the contest between parties for advantage in the coming Presidential campaign.
 Following his election as Speaker, Champ Clark, of Missouri, who re- ceived PIT of 365 votes cast, sounded the slogan of the Democratic party in a speech calling for tariff revision behalf of the millions of families who now find it difficult to live in decency and comfort"
 With Governor Harmon, of Ohio, and William Jennings Bryan, of Me- braska, on the floor, the triumphant tation and then sobered industriously to the responsibilities which Clark de- tailed.
 A cold rain fell all day and 8 bit did not cool the ardor of the Demo- crats who thronged the Capitol.
 The House was the main attraction and there the packed galleries roar ed applause at the flower-decked each other trying ts as.gor telegrs ms of congratula tions of which Speaker Clark received several basketfuls.
 The Republican minority, with it's new leader, Representative Mann, of Illinois. was on hand, ready for a fight or a frolic,'' and Uncle Joe" Cannon. the deposed Czar, looked on saw his Democratic successor take of- flee.
 On the Senate side, the new Sena- tors presented their credentials and the whole Senate was sworn in with the usual formalities. As the roll was called the members came forward and took oath. Vice-President Sherman was in the chair.
 Legions of happy Democrats today stormed the House end of the Capi- tol, the prize of their November vic tory.
 Stalwart Champ Clark was the star feature of the occasion. so joyous to gracefully onto the high-back chair, the Cannon throne,t the climax of par ty thriumph seemed to have been reached and the exclamation of the Democrats on the floor and in the balconies was without bounds.
 Since March 4, 1895, when Chas. F. Crisp, of Georgia, laid aside the gavel, there had been no Democrat in the Speakers chair.
 Over on the Senate of the house of there had been a large shrinkage in the Republican majority but no change in party control and so there was no demonstration to mar the dignity of the opening ceremonies. Holdover Senators were almost daze0 by the number of strange men in their midst, mostly unknown and uii- sung political warriors, appearing as of battle-scarred veterans who had boSse0 the Senate Iur years.
 ny> nf # both ends of the Capitol signaled for order and the special session was un- der way. President Taft had mobiliz- ed the statesmen to get action on his reciprocity trade agreement with Canada, which was passed by the last House but neatly smothered by the Senate.
 Democrats in the House expected to reach the subject by-and-by, and Tn the meantime, wills try their hands at a revision of features of the Payne Aldrich tariff law. Reduced rates on offering. Predictions of members, as to the length of the session range in time from July to September.
 Interest centered in the House because of the turnover in control. Men were willing to give high prices for the privilege of seeing Uncle Joe" Cannon with the minority on the floor and the valiant Missour1an. with the national flag as back ground and the terrible mace at his side, referee the doings in the pit.
 There was an awful jam Folks who were children when the Demo- crats last held the House and It seemed there could not be any speak CTS except From" Reed and "Joe" Cannon, marched in columns to the Capitol, hours before the time for opening the session. They packed the railways and patiently faced IcS,a- ed doors, biding the time when they should be admitted With the open- ing of the way to the seats there fol- lowed a rush and a scramble and the galleries were filled.
 NCnntinned nn Paccn