The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-12-02
That Seems to be Work Of Con.
gress Which Assembled Today
IS LAST SESSION FOR MANY
Recent Political Upheaval Will Next
March Transfer All the Executive
and Legislative Branches to
Democratic Control.

Washington, D. c., Dec. 2.-The thir,
session OF the 62d Congress began a
noon to-day under circumstances of un
usual interest. 1t came together afte
political upheaval of far.reaching ex
tent, which will soon transfer all tn,
executive and legislative branches of the
federal government to Democratic con
troll
While the present session is merely
A the expiring stage of a Congress sooli
To go out of existence and to be super
seded in political control and policy aft
er March 4, yet to-day's sessions in
the Senate and House bring together for
the first time since the recent overturn-
ing these leaders and elements Of the
various parties who have been most
prominent in public affairs. The old
faces and figures are again in evidence
to-day, although some of them, like
ex-Speaker Cannon, will soon pass off
the congressional stage, while Others,
like Speaker Clark and Chairman Under
wood have had their tenures renewed
and strengthened.
As whole. however, the dominant
note as both branches of Congress as
scmble is that new conditions, new poll
cies and new men have been ushered in
as result of the recent election and
that about the only function of the pres
ent short session, lasting until March A.
is to pass annual supply bills and wind
up what remains of the old regime.
In the Senate, Vice President Sherman
has been removed by death from the pre-
siding officers chair. which will be filled
= L., H.. of
Georgia and Gallinger OF New Hamp-
shire. alternating. The Republican con-
troll of the Senate, with about so votes
as against the present Democratic
strength of about AZ. will continue until
March A. although this control is con-
ditoned largely by the presence of two
elements. regular and progressive, in the
Republican total of 80 Senators Hey
burn of Idaho and Rayner of Maryland,
have died since the last session closed,
but in other aspects the personnel con-
times unchanged until March 4.
In the House Speaker Clark and the
various ehairmen of the two preceding
sessions continue to direct affairs, with
u total Democratic vote of $50, giving a
Democratic majority of about 33.
Air of Democratic Victory.
The personal aspect was very pro-
nounced as the session began to-day, the
air of Democratic victory pervading the
capitol from end to end. Scores of men
whose names have been prominently
identified with affairs of Congress for |
many years, and who have shaped poll |
tics and legislation. faced their last three
months of service as the session opened |
In this notable company were the |
deans of the House and Senate, 'Uncle |
Joe Cannon, former speaker and center |
OF many turbulent sessions of the House.
and Senator Shelby H. Cullom. for thir-
ty years senator from Illinois, a per-
sonal friend and contemporary of Lin
coin and who was elected to his first |
term in the national House of Represen-
tatives in 1865.
Both Cannon and CulIom came back
for the winters work the victims of
political defeat. Senator Joseph w. Bal
ley of Texas, long a Democratic leader
in debate, came with the voluntary an
nouncement of his retirement; Represen
tatives Cox of Ohio and Sulzer of New
York brought into the legislative halls
the titles of goveInor-elect, respective
ly. Of Ohio and New York.
Senator Crane of Massachusetts, long
regarded as the Republican whip" of
the Senate, who also retired voluntarily; 4
Senators Bourne of Oregon. Guggenheim
of Colorado, Wetmore of Rhode Island,
Curtis of Kansas, Paynter of Kentucky,
Gamble of South Dakota, Brown of Ne
braska and many others, Democrats and
Republicans alike, began to-day their
last three months of service before vol
untary or enforced retirement to private
life.
Sorrow for the late Vice-P President .
Sherman overshadowed the spirit OF ,
Democratic triumph in the Senate, and /,
tempered the spirit of greetings amongst
returning members Custom decreed that !
the upper house should adjourn imme-
diately after meeting to-day. out of re- :
spect for the momory of the yiee-pres
ident
The outline Of the winters work
seemed inextricably mixed. as senator's
and congressman met in friendly confer {
ences. with the prospect of tariff revi-
sion in the special session that is to
assemble under President Wilson. next r
spring. In the Senate Republican lead
ers were slow TO admit the certainty of :
Democratic control on all tariff prob
lens. even with the great increase in =
membership that is to come with the :
new Congress.
Changes in the House. In
The reassembling Of the House drew b
together a host Of men long prominently d
Identified with Republican affairs in that
body TO whom the elections had brought
political disaster. Among them were
Nicholas Longworth Of Ohio, John Dali n
zcll of Pennsylvania. Ebenezer y. Hill
of Connecticut. and John A. Needham
~ California. all members Of the pow
prful ways and means committee ana Il
leaders in advocation end defense OF Re "
publican tariffs. Il
Of the so-called @oh Republican "
guard the force that supported and v
framed the PAYNE Aldrich tariff law in
he opening Of President Taft's admin u
stration. but two members viii remain q
IN the WAYS and means committee after q
March 8. Representative PAYNE Of New 4
York and Representative Fordney of
Michigan. s
In the ranks q the last terrners,- N
Iiso. were Representative McKinlav. "