62nd United States Congress
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The Sixty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1911 to March 4, 1913, during the third and fourth years of William H. Taft's presidency.
The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the Twelfth Census of the United States in 1900. Additional House seats were assigned to the two new states of New Mexico and Arizona. The size of the House was to be 435 starting with the new Congress coming into session in 1913. The Senate had a Republican majority, and the House had a Democratic majority.
Major events
- April 27, 1911: Following the resignation and death of William P. Frye, a compromise is reached to rotate the office of President pro tempore of the United States Senate.
- April 30, 1911: Great Fire of 1911
- May 15, 1911: The Supreme Court declared Standard Oil to be an "unreasonable" monopoly under the Sherman Antitrust Act and ordered the company to be dissolved.
- April 15, 1912: The RMS Titanic sank.
- June 5, 1912: U.S. Marines landed in Cuba.
- June 18, 1912: The Republican National Convention nominated incumbent President William Taft in Chicago, defeating a challenge by former President Theodore Roosevelt, whose delegates bolted the convention.
- June 25, 1912: The Democratic National Convention nominated New Jersey Gov. Woodrow Wilson in Baltimore.
- August 5, 1912: Dissident Republicans formed the Progressive or Bull Moose Party, and nominated former President Theodore Roosevelt as their presidential candidate.
- October 30, 1912: Vice President James S. Sherman died.
- November 5, 1912: U.S. presidential election, 1912: Woodrow Wilson (D) beat incumbent William Howard Taft (R) and Theodore Roosevelt (P).
Major legislation
- August 8, 1911: Public Law 62-5, Pub.L. 62–5 (set House of Representatives size at 435 members)
- August 24, 1912: Lloyd–La Follette Act, ch. 389, §6, 37 Stat. 539
- February 13, 1913: Carlin Act
- March 1, 1913: Webb–Kenyon Act
- March 1, 1913: Railway Evaluation Act
- March 3, 1913: Publicity In Taking Evidence Act
- March 3, 1913: Virus-Serum-Toxin Act
- March 3, 1913: Gould Amendment
- March 4, 1913: Arlington Memorial Amphitheater Act
- March 4, 1913: Road and Trails Fund Act
- March 4, 1913: Burnett Act
- March 4, 1913: Weeks–McLean Act
- March 4, 1913: Federal Revenue Sharing Act
- March 4, 1913: Rivers and Harbors Act of 1913
- March 4, 1913: Burnt Timber Act
- March 4, 1913: Labor Department Act, 37 Stat. 736
Constitutional amendments
- May 13, 1912: 17th Amendment passed Congress and sent to the states for ratification. It would create a popularly elected U.S. Senate instead of the original process of appointment by state legislatures.
- February 3, 1913: 16th Amendment was ratified, authorizing the Federal government to impose and collect income taxes.
States admitted and territories created
- January 6, 1912: New Mexico admitted to the Union.
- February 14, 1912: Arizona admitted to the Union
- August 24, 1912: Alaska Territory created.
Party summary
Senate
Party (Shading shows control) |
Total | Vacant | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic (D) |
Progressive (P) | Republican (R) | |||
End of the previous congress | 32 | 0 | 60 | 92 | 0 |
Begin | 43 | 0 | 48 | 91 | 1 |
End | 47 | 95 | |||
Final voting share | 49.5% | 0.0% | 50.5% | ||
Beginning of the next congress | 49 | 1 | 42 | 92 | 4 |
House of Representatives
- Democratic (D): 230 (majority)
- Republican (R): 162
- Socialist (S): 1
- Independent (I): 1
TOTAL members: 394
Leaders
Senate
- President: James S. Sherman, died October 30, 1912; thereafter vacant
- Presidents pro tempore: William P. Frye (R), until April 27, 1911, having resigned due to ill health.
- For the remainder of this Congress, the office rotated among five Senators. The Senate at that time was split between progressive Republicans, conservative Republicans, and Democrats. Each put forth a candidate, and the ballots were deadlocked until August 1911 when a compromise was reached. Democrat Augustus Bacon served for one day on August 14, 1911, and thereafter he and four Republicans rotated holding the seat for the remainder of the Congress. These Republicans were: Charles Curtis, Jacob H. Gallinger, Frank B. Brandegee, and Henry Cabot Lodge. (For details, see President pro tempore of the United States Senate#List of Presidents pro tempore of the United States Senate.)
House of Representatives
- Speaker: Champ Clark (D)
Majority (Democratic) leadership
- Majority Leader: Oscar Underwood
- Majority Whip: vacant
Minority (Republican) leadership
Members
Senate
At this time, most Senators were elected by the state legislatures every two years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress. A few senators were elected directly by the residents of the state. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election.
House of Representatives
The names of members of the House of Representatives are preceded by their district numbers.
Changes in membership
Senate
There were 20 changes: 6 deaths, 2 resignations, 1 invalidated election, 6 appointees replaced by electees, 4 seats added from new states, and 1 seat vacant from the previous Congress. Democrats had a 4-seat net gain, and no other parties had a net change.
State (class) |
Vacator | Reason for vacancy | Subsequent | Date of successor's installation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Colorado (3) |
Vacant | Incumbent Charles J. Hughes, Jr. (D) died January 11, 1911, before the end of the previous Congress. Winner was elected to finish term ending March 4, 1915. | Charles S. Thomas (D) | January 15, 1913 |
Arizona (1) |
Vacant | New State Winners were elected March 27, 1912. |
Henry F. Ashurst (D) | April 2, 1912[1] |
Arizona (3) |
Marcus A. Smith (D) | |||
New Mexico (1) |
New State Winners were elected March 27, 1912. |
Thomas B. Catron (R) | ||
New Mexico (2) |
Albert B. Fall (R) | |||
Iowa (2) |
Lafayette Young (R) | Appointment expired April 11, 1911 upon successor's special election to finish term ending March 4, 1913. | William S. Kenyon (R) | April 12, 1911 |
Georgia (3) |
Joseph M. Terrell (D) | Resigned July 14, 1911, due to health reasons. Successor was elected in a special election. | Hoke Smith (D) | November 16, 1911 |
Maine (2) |
William P. Frye (R) | Died August 8, 1911. Successor was elected in a special election to finish term ending March 4, 1913. | Obadiah Gardner (D) | September 23, 1911 |
Tennessee (2) |
Robert Love Taylor (D) | Died March 31, 1912. Successor was appointed until a special election to finish term ending March 4, 1913. | Newell Sanders (R) | April 11, 1912 |
Nevada (1) |
George S. Nixon (R) | Died June 5, 1912. Successor was appointed until a special election. | William A. Massey (R) | July 1, 1912 |
Illinois (3) |
William Lorimer (R) | Senate invalidated election July 13, 1912. | Vacant until next Congress | |
Idaho (3) |
Weldon B. Heyburn (R) | Died October 17, 1912. Successor was appointed until a special election. | Kirtland I. Perky (D) | November 18, 1912 |
Maryland (1) |
Isidor Rayner (D) | Died November 25, 1912. Successor was appointed. | William P. Jackson (R) | November 29, 1912 |
Arkansas (2) |
Jeff Davis (D) | Died January 3, 1913. Successor was appointed until a special election to finish term ending March 4, 1913. | John N. Heiskell (D) | January 6, 1913 |
Texas (2) |
Joseph W. Bailey (D) | Resigned January 3, 1913 due to investigations brought to light suspicious income and financial ties to the oil industry. Successor was appointed until a special election to finish term ending March 4, 1913. | Rienzi Melville Johnston (D) | January 29, 1913 |
Tennessee (2) |
Newell Sanders (R) | Appointment expired January 24, 1913 upon successor's special election to finish term ending March 4, 1913. | William R. Webb (D) | January 24, 1913 |
Nevada (1) |
William A. Massey (R) | Appointment expired January 29, 1913 upon successor's special election. | Key Pittman (D) | January 29, 1913 |
Arkansas (2) |
John N. Heiskell (D) | Appointment expired January 29, 1913 upon successor's special election to finish term ending March 4, 1913. | William M. Kavanaugh (D) | |
Texas (2) |
Rienzi M. Johnston (D) | Morris Sheppard (D) | ||
Idaho (3) |
Kirtland I. Perky (D) | Appointment expired February 5, 1913 upon successor's special election. | James H. Brady (R) | February 6, 1913 |
House of Representatives
Sorted Chronologically by date of vacancy
House vacancies are only filled by elections. State laws regulate when (and if) there will be special elections.
Date seat became vacant | District | Previous | Reason for change | Subsequent | Date of successor's installation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
March 15, 1911 | Iowa 9th | Walter I. Smith (R) | Resigned (appointed to the 6th Circuit Court) | William R. Green (R) | June 5, 1911 |
July 7, 1911 | Kansas 2nd | Alexander C. Mitchell (R) | Died | Joseph Taggart (D) | November 7, 1911 |
July 24, 1911 | Pennsylvania 14th | George W. Kipp (D) | Died | William D.B. Ainey (R) | November 7, 1911 |
August 9, 1911 | Tennessee 10th | George W. Gordon (D) | Died | Kenneth McKellar (D) | December 4, 1911 |
August 12, 1911 | New Jersey 1st | Henry C. Loudenslager (R) | Died | William J. Browning (R) | November 7, 1911 |
September 11, 1911 | Nebraska 3rd | James P. Latta (D) | Died | Dan V. Stephens (D) | November 7, 1911 |
September 18, 1911 | Kansas 7th | Edmond H. Madison (R) | Died | George A. Neeley (D) | January 9, 1912 |
January 6, 1912 | New Mexico Territory At-Large | William Henry Andrews (R) | New State | (Seat eliminated) | |
January 6, 1912 | New Mexico At-large | (New seat) | New State | Harvey B. Fergusson (D) | January 8, 1912 |
January 6, 1912 | New Mexico At-large | (New seat) | New State | George Curry (R) | January 8, 1912 |
February 12, 1912 | Arizona At-large | Ralph H. Cameron (Territorial delegate) | New State | Carl Hayden (D) | February 19, 1912[2] |
March 21, 1912 | Vermont 1st | David J. Foster (R) | Died | Frank L. Greene (R) | July 30, 1912 |
March 22, 1912 | Pennsylvania 1st | Henry H. Bingham (R) | Died | William S. Vare (R) | May 24, 1912 |
June 4, 1912 | Iowa 11th | Elbert H. Hubbard (R) | Died | George Cromwell Scott (R) | November 5, 1912 |
June 11, 1912 | Louisiana 6th | Robert Charles Wickliffe (D) | Died | Lewis Lovering Morgan (D) | November 5, 1912 |
July 5, 1912 | New York 26th | George R. Malby (R) | Died | Edwin A. Merritt (R) | November 5, 1912 |
August 12, 1912 | Missouri 11th | Theron Ephron Catlin (R) | Election successfully contested | Patrick F. Gill (D) | August 12, 1912 |
September 27, 1912 | New Jersey 6th | William Hughes (D) | Resigned (appointed to the Passaic County Court of Common Pleas) | Archibald C. Hart (D) | November 5, 1912 |
October 1, 1912 | Ohio 13th | Carl C. Anderson (D) | Died | Vacant | |
October 30, 1912 | New York 21st | Richard E. Connell (D) | Died | Vacant | |
November 3, 1912 | Rhode Island 2nd | George H. Utter (R) | Died | Vacant | |
December 12, 1912 | Pennsylvania 11th | Charles C. Bowman (R) | Seat declared vacant | Vacant | |
December 27, 1912 | Pennsylvania 16th | John G. McHenry (D) | Died | Vacant | |
December 31, 1912 | New York 10th | William Sulzer (D) | Resigned (elected Governor of New York) | Vacant | |
January 2, 1913 | Michigan 2nd | William Wedemeyer (R) | Died | Vacant | |
January 7, 1913 | North Dakota 1st | Louis B. Hanna (R) | Resigned (elected Governor of North Dakota) | Vacant | |
January 12, 1913 | Ohio 3rd | James M. Cox (D) | Resigned (elected Governor of Ohio) | Vacant | |
January 14, 1913 | Arkansas 6th | Joseph Taylor Robinson (D) | Resigned (elected Governor of Arkansas) | Samuel M. Taylor (D) | January 15, 1913 |
January 26, 1913 | California 8th | Sylvester C. Smith (R) | Died | Vacant | |
January 31, 1913 | South Carolina 1st | George S. Legare (D) | Died | Vacant | |
February 3, 1913 | Texas 1st | J. Morris Sheppard (D) | Resigned (elected to the U.S. Senate) | Vacant |
Employees
Senate
- Chaplain: Ulysses G.B. Pierce, Unitarian
- Secretary: Charles G. Bennett of New York
- Sergeant at Arms:
- Daniel M. Ransdell of Indiana
- E. Livingston Cornelius of Maryland, elected December 10, 1912
House of Representatives
- Clerk: South Trimble of Kentucky
- Chaplain: Henry N. Couden, Universalist
- Clerk at the Speaker’s Table: Charles R. Crisp
- Doorkeeper: Joseph J. Sinnott of Virginia
- Postmaster: William M. Dunbar of Georgia
- Sergeant at Arms:
- W. Stokes Jackson of Indiana, died June 1912.
- Charles F. Riddell of Indiana, elected July 18, 1912.
References
- Gould, Lewis L. (2005). The Most Exclusive Club. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Books Group. ISBN 0-465-02778-4.
- Remini, Robert V. (2006). The House. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. ISBN 0-06-088434-7.
- U.S. Congress (2005). "Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress". Archived from the original on 1 June 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2006.
- U.S. House of Representatives (2006). "Congressional History". Archived from the original on 1 June 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2006.
- U.S. Senate (2006). "Statistics and Lists". Archived from the original on 1 June 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2006.
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