The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-02

ers, like Speaker Clark and Chairman
Underwood. have had their tenures re-
| newed and strengthened.
AS q whole, however, the dominant
note as both branches of congress as
semble is that new conditions, new
policies and new men have been ushef-
ed 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 sup
Div bills and wind up what remains OF
the old regime.
In the senate, vice President Sher-
man has been removed by death from
the presiding officers chair, which will
be filed temporarily by Senators Bacon
of Georgia, and Gallinger of New
Hampshire, alternating. The Republic
can control of the senate, with about
30 votes as against the present Demo-
cratic strength of about AZ, will con-
tinue until March A. although this con-
troI is conditioned largely by the pres
ence of two elements, regular and pro-
gressive. in the Republican total of 80.
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.
In the house Speaker Clark and the
various chairmen of the two preceding
sessions, continue to direct affairs,
with a total Democratic vote of $50,
giving a Democratic majority of about
SO.
The personal aspect was very pro-
uouncad 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 prom
inently identified with affairs of con-
h0U
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. Gull
lom, for 80 years a senator from Ilh-
nois, a personal friend and contem-
porary of Lincoln, and who was elect
ed to his first term in the national
house of representatives in. 1866.
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 volun-
tarv announcement of his retirement;
REPRESENTATIVES Cox, of Ohio, and
Suizer. of New York. brought into the
legislative halls the titles of governor
erect, respectively, u OlA1O anu NEW
York
senator Crane. of Massachusetts,
long regarded as the Republican
whip of the senate, who also retired
voluntarily; Senators Bourne, of Ore
gon, Guggenheim, of Colorado, Wet
more. of Rhode Island, Curtis, of Kan
sas, Paynter, of Kentucky. Gamble. of
South Dakota, Brown, of Nebraska, and
many others, Democrats and Republic
cans alike, began today their last three
months of service, before voluntary or
enforced retirement to private life.
sherman Is Missed.
Sorrow for the late Vice President
Sherman overshadowed the spirit of
Democratic triumph in the senate, and
tempered the spirit of greetings
amongst returning members. Custom
deereed that the upper house should
day, out of respect for the memory of
the vice president; and in contempla-
ton of this. senators were early in their
seats.
The outline of the winters work
seemed inextricably mixed, as senators
and congressman met in friendly con-
ferences, with the prospect of tariff re-
vision in the special session that is to
assemble under President Wilson, next
spring. In the senate, Republican lead
ers We're 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.
The reassembling of the house drew
together a host of men long prominent
" identified with Republican affairs in
that body to whom the elections had