Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-04-04
THE OPENING or CONGRESS.

\ SlOTIIlctl lllc IlOuSS Cll0 VI tiC 'S"p''S4
the prize Of their November victory.
Champ Clark was the star feature
OF the occasion so joyous to his party
brethern. AS he saak onto the chair
the Cannon throne. the climax o.
party triumph seemed to have been
| reached and the acclamation OF the
democrats on the floor and in the bal.
comics was without bounds.
Since March 4, 1898, when Chas.
+. Crisp, Of Georgia. laid aside the
gayel, there had been no democrat in
the speakers chair.
Over in the Senate there had been
large shrinkase in the republican
majority but no change in party con-
troll and so there was no demonstration
to mark the dignity of the opening
ceremonies. Holdover senator's were
almost dazed by political warriors
appearing as successors Of battlc-scar-
red veterans who had bossed the Sen
ate for years.
At twelve O'Clock gavcl taps At both
ends OF the Capitol signalcd for order
aud the special session was under way.
President Taft had modified the states
men to get action on his reciprocity
trade agreement with Canada, which
vas passed by the last House but
neatly smothered by the Senate.
Democrats in the House expect TO
reach the subject by and BY and, in
the meantime, will try their hands
at revision Of features of the Payne
Aldrich tatiff Law. Reduced rates on
wool, Schedule X will be their first
offering. Predictions Of members rs
10 the length Of the session range IN
time from July 10 September.
Interest centered in the House be-
cause OF the turnover in control. Men
were willing to give high prices for the
privilege Of seeing Mr.. Cannon with the
minority on the floor and the Missouri
ian referse the do;ngs in the pit.
There was an awfnl jam. Men who
were children when the democrats last
held the House, and it seemed there
conld not be any speakers except
Tom" Reed and Joe" Cannon,
marched in columns 10 the Capitol,
hours before the Time for opening the
session. They packed the Railways and
patiently faced locked doors, biding
the time when they should be admitted
With The opening OF the way 10 the
seats there followed rush and q
scramble and the galleries were filled.
Women, composed at least half the
audience. Diplomats fillcdtheir reserva-
ton.
As new House is without form
and void it derolved upon Col. Alex.
Mcdowell. clerk of the lasl House, to
call the members to order. He called
upon the chaplain for prayer.
Mcdowell directed the reading OF
President Tait's proclamation calling
the special session. Then the roll was
clllcd.
Then came the great event OF the
day. the election OF the speaker. OF
course, the result was not in doubt but
the realization that in = few minutes
they would see Champ Clark passing
up the marble steps to the speakers
station keyed members and spectators
to a state OF excitement Clark was
modcstly absent during the operation
but it was proved later that he was
not far away.
Mcdowell named democrat and 4
republican as tellerS and they took
their places at the clerks desk. Each
member, as his name was called. an
nounced the name Of his choice for
speaker. The democrats piled up their
majority for Clark and roar OF
approval rumbled through the long
corridors Of the Capitol.
4 committee was appointed to
notify the Missouri leader OF the honor
given him. The committee accomplish
ed the task in few minutes and when
they returned the new speaker, smiling
and happy, was greeted with another
burst of applause.
| Clark made speech expressing his
deep appreciation Of the honor and hi:
realization Of the responsibility de
volving upon him. He took the oatt
OF Office and proceeded in turn to ad
minister ii TO the members. They
were called in groups TO clear the space
between tie seats and the clerks desE
and with appraised hands subscribed tc
the oath as pronounced by the speaker
Then followed the election OF tht
clerk, sergeaut-at.arms, the doorkeepel
and postmaster Of the House.
The clerk was ordered to notify the
president and the Senate that the House
bad completed its organization. A
committee was appointed to act viii
a committee OF Senators to inform th'
president that Congress was ready t.
, receive any communication he nigh
be pleased to make.
p A resolution adopting l. O'Clock q
the time for daily meeting vas adopted
\ A report was submitted by Chair
man Henry Dem. Tex, OF the com
mitsee on rules. ;.
Proceedings differed somewhat il
the Senate, it being continuing body
That is, one-third of the members re
tire or are elected every two years, bu
twc-thirds OF the membership are full
iiedged with authority aud qualities
) Tor business at the beginning of ney
: Congress.