The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-04-04
Opening Exercises of the
House Attended by Un-
usual Interest Because
Democrats We're in Con-
troll for First Time in Is
Years.

Washington, d. c., April 4-Called
into extraordinary session by President
Taft to consider the question OF Cam
adian reciprocity, which failed in the
last session because of fiIibuster
against it in the Senate, the sixty-sec-
ond Congress was called to order
promptly at noon to-day The session,
because of the anomalous situation
created by one party being in control
in one branch and the rival in power
at the other end of the capitol, is eN-
pected to be long and filed with turmoil
and political chickering's.
Forestalling action by the Democrats
10 the House, Representatives Mccall
OF Massachusetts introduced the Cam
ndan reciprocity bill which was passed
by the House at the last session. The
opening ceremonies OF the House held
unusual interest 1t was the first time
IN sixteen years that the Democrats had
taken up the conduct OF affairs in the
lower branch of the national legisla-
ture.
Clark Had III Votes.
Representative Champ Clark OF Mis-.
kouri was elected speaker. He polled
2l7 votes against l3l for James r.
Mann of illinois, I6 for Henry A. Coop
er of Wisconsin and one for George W.
Norris of Nebraska, the three last-named
being Republicans.
Notwithstanding that the initial cere
monies of the extra session in the Sen
ate were quite secondary III interest TO
those of the House, there still was a
large attendance in the galleries, aud the
scene was animated. The ceremonies
were brief and formal, consisting in the
main of brief prayer by the Senate
chaplain, the reading OF the message
railing the special session and the swear
ing in of the thirty newly elected SEN
Rtors. OF the senators sworn in sew
enteen were men who never before had
occupied seats In the Senate. Twelve
were Democrats and five Republicans,
The weather for the opening of a new
Congress was atrocious A steady rain,
driven before cold east wind made
the day most disagreeable.
At Republican caucus last night. Mr.. !
Mann of Illinois was nominated for the
speakership and elected leader of the
minority, having been presented by eN
Speaker Cannon. Mr.. Mann protested |
against the unfair action of the Demo
Gratis in increasing the majority side
of Is committees without giving the Re |
publicans any part OF the increase, and
demanding that these committees be in
creased from 2l to % members, so that |
DRs more Republican member could be |
placed ON the minority side in each.
Mr. Olmsted of Pennsylvania offered |
n resolution providing that Mr.. Mann |
should name the minority members of /
committees. Mr.. Roberts of Massachu- |
setts proposed substitute that the
whole matter of the appointment of the /
members of the committees be
passed over to the Democratic commit
Tee on committees. Mr. Good of Iowa.
an nsurgent, offered resolution TO
have a committee of seven with Mann
ut the head of it, appoint committee
men This was the msurgent demand
as TO the disposition of committee places.
Mr. Gardner of Massachusetts offered
an amendment TO the Olmsted resom-
tion providing that the four minority
OF the committee on rules be
named BY the caucus and the Repubh-
can membership of all other committees
be named by Mr.. Mann.
After lengthy debate, the caucus
placed in the hands OF Mr. Manu. au-
thority TO name the Republican members
Of the standing committees. A plan
calling for the special committee was
voted down by 10 to 80, but the Repuh
licsns present were left free to take
whatever action they desired in the
House in supporting or opposing a rule
providing for a committee on commit
tees.