Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-02

With a program OF legislation
that extends little beyond the pas
sage of the annual appropriation
bills, the Senate and House met
today for the third or closing ses-
sion OF the Sixty-second Congress.
Promptly at noon, in the presence
pf crowded galleries, President
Pro Tempore Bacon tapped with
The glass cube for order in the
Senate and Speaker Champ Clark
pounded the presiding officers
desk in the House and said: "The
House will be in order"
Significance of the Session.
Although the legislative program is not
ext nsive. the session opened with the
1sual picturesqueness today. has an un-
usual significance. 1t VIII be marked by
tie swan songs" of a coterie of men
in both houses of the national Iegisla-
t-re. who have had guiding hands on the
relns tor many years. And it will be
wound up to make way for the inaugura-
ion of "a new President and Vice Presi-
dent of the United States, for the trans
fer of the executive and legislative func-
tons of the government complete from
the republicans to the democrats, and
generally for an era of new policies and
new leaders in federal government af-
fairs. -.--
II is this prospect OF ushering In new
mel and new policies for the control of
the government that is the determining
factor in making this session of Congress
one OF marking time. but there will be
n winding up OF the old regime and TAX
Ing of the necessary steps, by the pas
sage OF appropriation bills, for carrying
On the government business: there will be
preparations for the new era. plans made
for making effective the new policies for
which the new administration stands. and
steps taken TO avoid delays in inaugural
ing the new policies Immediately after
the control of the government shifts
The spirit OF the democratic victory
~ the polls November ) was the domi-
nant note of todayS resumption of Con-
e-ess. The House democrats smiled In
The knowledge that their control of the
lower branch had been continued for an
other two years. the Senate democrats
carried an air OF triumph. but showed a
spirit of indulgence toward the repub-
leans who will soon be compelled to turn
over the responsibilities and powers of
the upper house 10 them.
Sorrow for the Departed.
But with the spirit of democratic as
cendancy was a tinge of sorrow. deep
feeling Of sorrow at the death of Vice
President James Schoolcraft Sherman
was manifest. especially in the Senate.
over which he had presided with so much
informal dignity and evident fairness.
The Senate. too. felt keenly the loss of
two of its prominent members-Senators
William B. Heyburn of Idaho and Isidor
Rayner OF Maryland. There was a SINH
lar strain of regret among the House
members. for several who had been in
their seats when the House last met have
since passed TO the great beyond
The prospective passing. out of the ma
uOnal legislative halls of scores of men
VINO have been prominent in congress
slonal affairs for many years and tho
were defeated or did not run for re-elec-
tfion 10 the next House and therefore
faced the last three months OF service
also gave a touch of personality to the
gathering Conspicuous among these were
FORMER Speaker ncie Joe" Cannon and
Senator Shelby NJ. Cullom. both of I'LL
nois. Mr. Cannon is rounding out nine.
teen terms of service in the lower house
Of Congress; Mr.. Cullom is completing q
career in Congress that has extended. al
most continuously. since 1866. While they
were the victims of political defeat
Senator Joseph w. Bailey of Texas. one
Of the powerful democrats and persuasive
orators of the last decade, faced retire
ment March next by his own voluntary
act
Representatives SulZer of New York
and Cox of Ohio brought into the legis-
lative halls the titles of governor elect
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