Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 December 1910 — NATIONAL SOLONS IN SESSION AGAIN [ARTICLE]

NATIONAL SOLONS IN SESSION AGAIN

Begi.i Ninety-Day Struggle to Enect Legislation. With the opening at the national capital -ef-'the final session of the Sixtyfirst congress began the ninety-day struggle to enact'into law a score or more of Republican ideas that must be disposed of before the new Democratic house comes into power, if they are to become laws at ail. j An impelling curiosity to see how men, long in the public eye as statesmen of commanding influence, would bear up under the crumpling of their political fortunes, drew to the capitol at an early hour a crowd of unsual proportions. Many of those who are numbered year after year in the opening session gathered, like theater “first-nighters,” there as critics. They recogniz ed the faces of most of the prominent members of both branches of congress and, parading the corridors; they pointed out amerg the celebrities such members as were bitten by the hoar frost arid bleak -winds of Nov. 8. The running comment that could be heard by mingling with the throng was often ludicrous, and reasons were assigned for the defeat of this or that member that had ntv'tr occurred to tie political experts who searched for logical explanations.'

The fixed converting fiqur was 12 o’clock, but long before that time senators and representatives; nr d reached their office' rooms in the two splendid buildings near, the north and south ends of the ca; Pel building while (lie* crowds of spectators, who always holding a reconvening of congress dear to their hearts, were on hand early in the morning, waiting for vantage points in the galleries. The session of both the senate and the house was brief. After the two houses were called to order, invocations were delivered by the chaplains, resolutions were adopted by each notifying the other of its convening, appointments of the joint committee to notify the presi lent that the Sixtyfirst congress was ready to resume business in its final session were made, ahd* adjournment as the tribute to memories and members of the two houses who had died during the recess followed. Senators McEnery of Louisiana, of lowa, Daniel of Virginia and Clay of Georgia, all prominent figures in the upper house had died since recess. On the house side Representative Tirrel of Massachusetts, Gilmore of Louisinia and Foulkrod of Pennsylvania had passed away. Speaker Cannon received a remarkable ovation when he took up the gavel to announce the opening of the house session. « Just at the completion of the prayer In the house Representative Champ Clark of Missouri entered the chamber and the Democratic side burst into prolonged cheering,, hailing him as the next speaker. Mr. Clark acknowledged the ovation merely by bowing The White House was the Mecca cf many “insurgent” Republicans. Some said they were invited by the president while others came of their own volition. Senator Bristow of Kansas was among the first callers at the executive offices. He was quickly followed by Representatives Norris of Nebraska, 'Murdock arid Madison of Kansas and Hayes of California.