Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-02
Business to be Wound Up
to Prepare for Incom-
ing Regime.
HOUSE CALL BY CLARK
Senator Bacon PreSideS in the
Senate-SorroW for Late
Vice President.

Washington, Dec 2--Congress met
promptly at noon today for q short
session that win terminate with the in
coming democratic administrator On
March 4. Crowded galleries looked
down on animated scenes on the floor
as Speaker Clark in the house, and
Senator Bacon presiding IN the senate,
raped their respective bodies to Or
der.
The senate adjourned at 1922 until
IL tomorrow out Of respect for the
memory of Vice President Sherman
and Senators Hepburn and Rayner.
The house adjourned at 1:1O until
noon tomorrow.
The first bill introduced was one by
Representative DeForest of New York
TO pension former presidents and wild
ows of former presidents.
A resolution calling for early ac-
tion by the banking and currency COM
nittee in it's investigation Of the
money trust was introduced in the
house by Lindbergh, (Minn.), author
of the original money trust" inquiry
resolution.
FOLLOWS UPHEAVAL.
The third session of the Sixty second
congress begins at noon today under
circumstances of unusual interest. 1t
comes together after political upheav-
al Of far reaching extent which will
soon transfer all the executive and
legislative branches of the federal gov
ernment to democratic control
While the present session is mere
ly the expiring stage Of congress soon
10 go oUt of existence and to be super
ceded in political control and policy
after March 4, yet today's sessions
in the senate and, house bring togeth
or for the first time since the recent
oyer,uruing those leaders and elements
o. the various parties who have been
most prominent in public affairs. The
old faces and figures are again in evi-
dence today, although some of them,
like ex-senator Cannon, will soon pass
OF the congressional stage, while
others. like Speaker Clark and Chair
man Underwood have had their tenures
renewed and strengthened.
AS a whole, however, the dominant
note as both branches of congress as
scmb'e is that new conditions, new
policies and new men have been ush-
erred in as a result of the recent cleo
ton and that about the only function
of the present short session, lasting
until March 4. is to pass annual supply
bills and wind up what remains of the
old regime.
IN VICE PRESIDENTS CHAIR.
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 republi-
can control of the senate, with about
80 votes as against the present demo
cratic strength of about AZ, will con-
tinue until March (. although this con-
troll is conditioned largely by the pres
enCe Of two elements, regular and pro
gressive, in the republican total of SO.
Senators Hepburn of Idaho and Rayner
of Maryland have died since the late
session closed but in other aspects
the personnel continues unchanged
until March 1.
In the house Speaker Clark and the
various chairmen Of the two preced-
ing sessions, continue TO direct affairs,
with a total democratic vote of 2SO,
giving a democratic majority Of
about SO.
The personal aspect was very pro-
nounced as the session began today,
the air Of democratic victory pervad-
ing the capitol from end to end. Scores
of men whose names have been promi-
nently identified with affairs of con-
gress for many years, and who have
shaped politics and legislation, faced
tIeir last three months of service as
the session opened.
TWO NOTABLE VICTIMS.
In this notable company were the
deans Of house and senate: Uncle
joe Cannon, former speaker and cen
ter Of many turbulent sessions OF the
house, and Senator Shelby NJ. Gull
lon. for so years a senator from Hi
nois. a personal friend and contem-
pcrary OF Lincoln. and who was elect
ed to his first term in the national
house of representatives in 1865.
Both Cannon and CullOm came back
for the winters work the victims of
political defeat Senator Joseph w.
Bailey OF Texas, long democratic
leader in debate, came with the vol
untary announcement of his retire
ment; Representatives Cox of Ohio and
Sulzer OF New York brought into the