The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-04
Congress Convened At Noon Today By
 Speaker Clark
Session Soon Adjourned Out of Respect to Memory of
 Deceased Member
Vice-President Sunny Jim"
 Sherman ConveneS the Senate
 Which Also Quickly Adjourns

ASASht OulJ SHh
 Sherman C0nveneS the Senate
 Which Also Quickly Adjourns
 Washington, Dec. 4-With the thump of an ivory handled gavel in the good right hand of Speaker Champ Clark and the polite tapping of his desk by Vice President Sherman, the first ses- sion of the 62d Congress opened for business at precisely F o'clock to- day.
 Galleries were, as usual, filled to the limit with spectators. Feminine rela- lives of the members and lights of so- ciety made a resplendent display of the latest in winter fashions, gay gowns provided especially for this oc- casion and for society functions. to fol- low. About S5 per cent. of the mem- bers observed the custom of statesmen by wearing brand-new suits.
 For Washington it was the annual gala day, second only to inauguration day, and the townspeople awakened from the lethargy of vacation time. Hotels and rooming houses have been Tor weeks in disOrdered state from the activities of plumbers, paper hang CTS, painters and scrubwomen. The approaching arrival of nearly 800 statesmen. an army of employees and the crowd of smooth-looking gentle men in constant attendance through out sessions of Congress, behooved the commercial hosts to make alluring the quarters for prospective guests.
 On the floors of the Senate and House, members were busy shaking hands with one another and felicitat- ing their friends and other survivors of the torrid special session of the last summer. In striking contrast to the reunion of year ago there was an about 125 members of the Senate and House came from the November bat ties, wherein they were shot from their porches in the halls of fame. To- day they were in aerial spirits, beam ing and cheerful. Later scores of them will prance through the stately halls of the Capitol with wrinkled forward to the elections of next year. Records made during the session will boost or blast the ambitions of all the members of the House and of 31 Sem ators who will be returned or dropped out by the sovereign citizen when he goes to the polls next November.
 Confronted with the weightiest ques- tions of public policy. the Democratic House of Representatives met to pre- pare itself for what promises to be one of the most important sessions of Congress in the last half-century.
 With prospective candidate for the Speakers desk, the House came to order at noon, the floor filed with a fair attendance of both Democratic and Republican members. The right side of the center aisle,i where the Democrats sit, was we'll filled, and the Republican side of the House was be- sprinkled with members of the minor ity.
 The whole House settled down to business, despite the evident formality of the occasion, with a seemingly deep regard for the sessions prospects. With the tariff legislation and the law widely agitated, a stren- uous session for the lower body of the legislature, is assured.
 Minority Leader 'Jim'' Mann, of H. linois, took his place at the left of the dividing center aisle without ostenta- tion but with a serious air that be- tokened trouble from the majority. Mann carried his usual bundle of doc uments, bills and reports, and he indi- cated his usual attitude, a feeling of disdain for the Democratic side.
 
 Clark with round of applause as he ascended the rostrum to call the first of the session to order He bowed to the right and left, nodding to his friends on the floor as he pounded the marble desk with his gavel. A hush fell over the cham Der as the chaplain of the House, Rev. Henry N. Couden, arose to pray. As the blind chaplain implored the bless ing of the Almighty upon the gather ing, its accomplishments and it's aims, a hush fell upon the crowd. At the conclusion of the prayer Speaker Clark arose in his place. The babble Of whispers that followed the chaplain's prayer was silenced as he announc- ed:
 "The clerk will call the roll of the States to ascertain the presence of a quorum"
 Then the whispered murmur broke forth again as the clerk began the lenghty proceeding of calling the roll by States. The roll disclosed the pres ence of quorum and the new mem bers of the House. chosen at the fall election, were sworn in. The clerk was instructed to inform the Senate that the House was in session. and committee was appointed to join the Senate committee in notifying the President that Congress had assem- bled
 Thereupon the House. out of respect to the memory of the late Representa- tive Madison, of Kansas, adjourned.
 On the, dot of F o'clock, Vice Pres ident Sherman, immaculatelyg dressed. entered at a door beside the elevated chair and desk at his official station and a moment later, tapped for order. Senators arose for prayer, the first number on the program, by the chap lain of the Senate, Rev. Ulysses G. B. Pierce, pastor of the church of which President Taft is a member.
 Vice President Sherman directed the secretary to call the roll |, At the close a number of members arose to explain the absence of missing col leagues. Sherman announced that quorum was present.
 Then came the business of appoint ing two Senators, to act with a com mittee of the House, in informing President Taft that a quorum of both Houses was assembled and that Con gress is ready to receive any comnu- nication he may be pleased to make" The secretary was directed to notify the House that quorum of the Sen ate had assembled and was ready for .-s.,