The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1911-12-08
CONGRESS GETS
DOWN TO WORK
Lively Proceedings in the House
at the Start.
GALLERIES ALL CROWDED
Beginning Tame, But the Prediction
Is That History Will BE Made
Both Maryland Senators
On Hand.
Seen In Both Houses.


The two houses of the Sixty
second Congress convened prompt
ly at noon in the first regular
session.
The Senate adjourned after IL
minutes, committee being ap-
pointed to notify the President
that the national lawmaking body
had begun it's work.
In the House Representative
Littleton caused stir with his
speech denouncing those who had
charged that he was conspiring
to choke off the Steel Trust in
vestigation.
A number of ), among them
a resolution to Il. zeal the Russian
treaty of 1882 in regard to pass
ports, another to repeal the Sher-
man Antitrust law, measure to
amend the Sherman act and one
to put sugar on the free list were
introduced.
Crowds surged through the
Capitol and every seat in the gal.
leries was occupied.
President Taft looked down
upon the House proceedings from
the Executive gallery.
Washington.-Precisely as on every
opening Monday of December for Just
123 years past, Congress at noon con-
vened in. regular session
Sharp on the stroke of noon, Vice
President Sherman and Speaker
Clark raped Senate and House to
order and the members to their feet
to listen to the invocation.
1t was rather mild occasion. Con
gress got away from Washington three
months ago, after gruelling expert
ence, with blistering weather and the
passage of purposeless tariff bills for
politics and the veto ak. The vaca-
ton has been brief and busy for the
members, and they did not come back
full of enthusiasm to the prospect of
another long and wearing session.
Not in many years has the bulk of
membership arrived so late for the
opening. The midday trains were
bringing in scores of members, who
had not been able, or enough concern
ed, to get here an hour earlier than
absolutely necessary. Listlessness and
a feeling of resignation to the in
evitable siege characterized the Con
gressional state of mind Not until
Representative Littleton got well
along in his speech, full Of vitrolic
invective against the Antitrust
League, it's secretary, William J.
Bryan, and other persons and things
an oratorical effort, provoked by
charges that he was conspiring to
throttle the Steel Trust investigation,
was there sign OF animation in
either house. The New Workers.
fierce denunciation, however. caused q
stir. For time the Republican side
of the House contributed applause and
appreciative laughter that was in part
intended to irritate the majority, but
at the conclusion of Mr.. Littleton's
speech he was generously applauded
by both sides.
The listlessness, apart from the Lit
Teton incident, is perhaps merely on
the surface, for predictions are not
wanting that the initial regular SEES
sion of the Sixty-second Congress will
bring excitement enough.
"The most important session since
the Civil War;" was the prediction
made by many Democratic leaders.
Senators Turn Out.
There was an exceptionally full at
tendance of Senators and Represen
tatives. The galleries in both cham
bers were inadequate to accommodate
all the visitors. Party lines and per
sonal differences were seemingly
obliterated in the exchange of greet
ings among Senators and Representa-
tives, many of whom met for the first
time since adjournment last August
Senators Gallinger, of New Hamp-
shire, and Tillman, of South Carolina,
the former of whom was called away
from the extra session by the death
of his son and the latter forced away
by his own illness, were greeted with
especial warmth.
Senator Williams. Mississippi. was
present, although suffering from
recent accident in which he broke sew.
eral ribs.
Taft In Executive Gallery.
In the executive gallery of the
House guests of President Taft were
seated, and the diplomatic gallery was
well filed with cardholders from the
State Department.