Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-05
CONGRESS- BEGAN
final SESSION
STATESMEN GATHERED FOR THE
LAST LAP IN SIxTY-SECOND
CONGRESSIONAL MEETING.

Washington, Dec. 3.--The third ses-
sion Of the 62nd congress began yester-
day under circumstances Of unusual
interest. 1t came together after po-
litical upheaval of far reaching extent
which will soon transfer all the execu-
tive and Legislative branches OF the
federal government to democratic con-
troll.
While the present session is merely
the expiring stage Of congress soon
to go out of existence and to be SUPER
seeded In political control and policy
after March 4, yet the sessions in the
the first time since the recent over
turning those leaders and elements Of
the various parties who have been
most prominent in public affairs. The
old faces and figures were in evidence
although some Of them, like ex-Speak-
er Cannon, will soon pass off the con-
gressional stage, While others. like
Speaker Clark and Chairman Under
wood, have had their tenures renewed
and strengthened.
AZ whole, however, the dominant
note as both branches of congress as
semble again Is that new conditions,
new policies and new men have been
ushered in as result Of the recent
election and that about the only func-
ton Of the present short session, last
ing until March 4, Is to pass annual
supply bills and wind up what remains
Of the old regime.
Death Enters Senate.
In the senate, Vice President Sher-
man has been removed by death from
the presiding officers chair, which will
be filled temporarily by Senators
Bacon of Georgia and Gallinger of New
Hampshire, alternating The repub-
lcan control Of the senate, with about
fifty votes as against the present dem
ocratic strength Of about forty-two,
will continue until March 4, although
this control is conditioned largely by
the presence Of two elements, regular
and progressive, in the republican total
Of fifty. Senators Hepburn Of Idaho
and Rayner Of Maryland have died
since the last session closed, but in
other aspects the personnel continues
unchanged until March 4.
In the house Speaker Clark and the
various chairmen Of the two preceding
sessions, continue to direct affairs,
giving democratic majority Of about
SO.
:, Veterans Face Political End.
The, personal aspect was very pro-
nounced at the session yesterday. tho
air of democratic victory pervading
the capitol from end to end. Scores Of
men whose names have been promin-
emily identified with affairs of congress
for many years. and who have shaped
politics and legislation, faced their last
three months of service as the session
opened.
In this notable company were the
deans Of house and senate, Uncle Joe''
Cannon, former speaker, and center of
many turbulent sessions Of the house,
and Senator Shelby H. Cullom, for
thirty years senator from Illinois, q
personal friend and contemporary Of
Lincoln, and who was elected to his
first term in the national house of rep
resentatives in 1866.
Both Cannon and Cullom came back
for the winters work the victims OF
political defeat. Senator Joseph w
Bailey Of Texas, long a democratic
leader in debate. came with the yolun.
tary announcement Of his retirement
Representatives Cox of Ohio and
Sulzer Of New York brought into. the
Legislative halls the titles of governor
elect. respectively. of Ohio and New
York.
Senator Crane Of Massachusetts
long ~ Nded as the republican whip