Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 December 1899 — CONGRESS AT WORK. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CONGRESS AT WORK.

THE OPENING SESSIONS IN BOTH HOUSES. General Henderson of lowa Elected Speaker—Opposition to Certain Members Elect Taking the Oath Adjournment Out of Respect to Hobart. Washington correspondence: Promptly at 12 o’clock Monday the two houses of the LVlth Congress were called to order, the Senate by Mr. Frye of Maine and the House by its clerk, Mr. McDowell. The*opening attracted more than the usual widespread attention which always attaches to the annual assembling of the national lawmakers. There was added interest in the event this year, for the many far-leaching questions awaiting consideration gave unusual importance to the return of Congress. Aside from this, the Roberts case introduced a phase which promised something outside of the ordinary developments of an opening day. As early as 10:30 o’clock the conspicuous figures of Congress began to arrive and this served to give the waiting throngs a. temporary diversion. Gen. Henderson went direct to the Speaker’s private office, where he shared his time with the House leaders and with those

pleading for admission cards. Representative Richardson of Tennessee, the Democratic House leader, was also early on the scene, conferring with his lieutenants. Very early in the day a monster petition, said to consist of 7,000,000 names, protesting against the seating of Mr. Roberts, was brought into the hall. It had been collected by a New York newspaper. It consisted of twenty-eight rolls of names each about two feet in diameter, incased in the American flag. These rolls were stacked up in th'e area ill front of the clerk’s desk and were viewed with great curiosity. Later, Maj. McDowell, clerk of the House, ordered all except two of the rolls taken out into the lobby. At *51:30 a shrill-voiced clerk directed those not entitled to the floor to retire, and officers and pages rapidly cleared out those already in. As the minute hand of the clock opposite the Speaker’s rostrum overtook the hour hand at noon, the gavel of Clerk McDowell descended with a bang. The members arose and the spectators in the galleries bowed their heads. In this stillness the voice of the blind chaplain, Rev. Henry Couden of Michigan, was elevated and his prayer made the occasion reverent. After the invocation the reading clerk began calling the roll. Mr. Roberts, when his name was called, responded “here” in a loud voice. But he looked nervous and ill at ease. There were no demonstrations during the roll call. When it concluded Clerk McDowell announced that 352 members had answered to their names—a quorum. Mr. Hepburn of lowa offered a resolution, which was adopted viva voce, providing that the House proceed to the election of a Speaker for the Fifty-sixth Congress. Thereupon Mr. Grosveuor of Ohio, as chairman of the Republican caucus, presented the name of David B. Henderson of lowa. The mention of the name of Gen. Henderson was greeted with a round of applause from the Republican side. Mr. Hay bf Virginia, chairman of the Democratic caucus, nominated James D. Richardson of Tennessee, aud his name drew the plaudits of the Democratic side. Mr. Ridgely of Kansas nominated John C. Bell of Colorado as the Populist candidate, and Mr. Wilson of Idaho placed Francis G. Newlauds of Nevada in nomination as the candidate of the Silver party. The rollcall resulted: Henderson 177, Richardson 153, Bell 4, Newlands 2. The clerk thereupon announced the election of Mr; Henderson amid great Republican applause. He designated Mr. Richardson, Mr. Bell and Mr. Newlands as a committee to escort the Speaker to the chair. In the shadow of the recent death the Senate convened at noon in its first session of the LVlth Congress. The death of Vice-President Hobart cast a pall over the preliminary proceedings at the north end of the great marble capitol. Mr. Frye of Maine, president pro tern., called the Senate to order. The chaplain, the Rev. Dr. Milburn, pronounced the invocation, making a beautiful and touching reference to the death of Vice-President Hobart. Remonstrances aud memorials against the seating of Mr. Quay were presented by Mr. Burrows (Rep., Mich.) and Mr. Jones (Dem., Ark.). By direction of the chair the new Senators . were then presented at the secretary’s desk, where the oath of office was administered to them by the president pro tern. Usually the President’s annual message to Congress is received on the first day’s session. This procedure, however, was postponed at this session, out of respect to the memory of the late Vice-President Hobart. The official announcement to Congress of his death was made by Senator Sewall.

Judge Chambers of Alabama, Chief Justice for Samoa, expresses great satisfaction at the settlement of the Samoan question. England, Germany and the United States standing together, he says, are invincible in war or commerce. The minister of justice' of Santo Domingo has stopped the sale of the late President Ueureaux’s real estate, on the grouud that it lielougs to the Government. Buddhists are taking steps to erect a temple in San Francisco.

SPEAKER.HENDERSON.