Gavels

Senator and Mrs. William E. Borah of Idaho ceased sitting up at night to read about the Hall-Mills murder trial; Senator Tasker L. Oddie of Nevada forgot for the moment that he was being sued for a personal note of $6,232.50; many another lawmaker laid down the cares of domestic life and strode up the steps of the Capitol. In the Senate chamber the gavel of Vice President Dawes smote his desk; in the House the gavel of Speaker Nicholas Longworth did likewise. The 69th Congress had begun its last and its "lame duck" session.

It has some 12,000 bills left over, and a prospect of several hundred new ones. If it can act upon one-fifth of the pending and demanded measures, it will be a wonder Congress.

On the first day, both houses adjourned in memory of the late Senators Albert B. Cummins of Iowa and Bert M. Fernald of Maine; but not until stormy Senator Thomas J. Walsh of Montana had risen from his seat in the rear of the Senate to demand an investigation of corruption charges against Arthur R. Gould, who had just taken oath of office as Senator from Maine. On the second day, the President's message was read, and the House adjourned in memory of onetime Speaker Joseph G. ("Uncle Joe") Cannon. On the third day, came the President's annual budget message.