Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-12-03
HAS
SHORT SESSION
Got Down 10 Business Today
House is Joyful.

washington, Dec. 8.-Both branches
If congress got down to business tou"9.
r. took the senate only twenU-iouI
r,nutss and the house not much longer
n finish the formal opening business
Yesterday. and then both bodies Ao-
iourned until today in respect 10 'ne
memory Of Vice President Sherfn"a
ond members of congress who passeo
away during the vacation.
The scenes in the senate were ho
ao,amn even than usual. ADDED 10 the
Gloom caused by the vacant chalte W
the vice president and Senators my
burn of Idaho and Rayner OF MARY
land was the general depresslon
among the Republicans over the lac'
that they would soon be called upon
to hand the control of the senate over
TO the Democrats. A number OF Ike
nubIicon lame ~ducks-the venerable
Shelby M. Cullom of Illinois. Charles
Curtis of Kansas and others-Wan
dered about and greeted their col
leagues, but there seemed to be nttle
JOY IN the air.
Only sixty-six Of the ninety-six SEN
ators were present at the opening.
After the customary opening prayer
and the passage of the formal resolu-
lions declaring that the senate was
ready to transact business. Senator
Root announced with a brief eulogy
the death of Vice President Sherman
and offered a resolution of regret. The
death Of Mr. Hepburn was announced
by his colleague. Mr.. Borah. and that
Of Senator Rayner by Senator Smith
Of Maryland.
Senator Bacon Of Georgia presided
over the senate In It's opening deliber-
atoms as president pro tempore. He
was chosen before congress adjourned
to serve until Dec. 1e.
Joyful Scenes In tho House.
In the house the opening scenes were
in striking contrast to the dignihed
performance In the senate. The cham
Der was packed with members and
outsiders. The Democrats were in a
joyful frame Of mind over their recent
victory at the polls and the prospect Of
undisputed control Of the government.
On the other hand, the Republicans
were a bit downcast, although their
Progressive brethren seemed to be dis
posed to indulge in a sort Of jolE1ca-
ton meeting with the Democrats.
Such members Of the old guard as
Uncle Joe Cannon entered the chamber
with heads erect and with no outward
appearance that their spirit had been
crushed by defeat. Taken as a whole,
the occasion was a lively one. some
members being congratulated on vic
tory. while regrets We're expressed that
others had been defeated.
Representative Mann of Illinois. the
Republican leader, spent some time Oh
the Democratic side greeting his politi-
cal opponents, while Representative
Underwood, the Democratic leader,
wandered ove to the Republican side
to greet former Speaker Cannon, Rep
resentative Payne Of New York, Renre-
sentative Dalzell Of Pennsylvania and
others who have served in the house
with him for many years.
The features of the house opening
were the receptions given Speaker
Clark. former Speaker Cannon and
four governors elect who will soon re-
tire from congress to take up their / cw
duties
Governors Elect Sulzer of New York,
Cox of Ohio and Robinson of Arkansas
were l1onized by their Democratic fell
lows. Representative Hanna of NORTH
Dakota, Republican governor elect OF
that state, was given a fine reception
by both sides.