Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-08-09
IN THE HOUSE YESTERDAY.
The Presidents Message Heard with
Marked AttentIon-A Contested Eleo-
tIon Case Disposed Of

The Presidents Message hesru WIN
Marked Attention-A Contested Eleo-
tIon Case Disposed Of
WASHINGTON. d. c., August s.
Early in the day it became apparent
that the time Of the House would be
consumed In reading the Presidents
message and OF deciding preliminary
questions of organization, and that no
substantial progress could be to-day
made In entering upon the financial
discussion.
Bya peculiar combination OF circum-
stance the communication OF the Presi-
dents message to the two houses was
DELAYED some time after the convening
OF Congress. The President fully ex-
pected TO send in the message yester-
day, but the Senate, after appointing
its members of the joint committee on
notification, adjourned until to-day, and
this precluded the receiving OF the
message on Yesterday.
When Mr.. Springer, chairman OF the
committee on the part of the House,
sought the Senate mem bers OF the joint
notification committee he found that
some of the Senators had made engage
ments which would prevent their per-
formAnce of the committee functions
this forenoon, and 1t was impossible TO
get a full meeting Of the joint commit
tee before noon to-day.
At exactly 12 o'clock the joint com
mittee met on the Senate side, alter
having made the suggestion that the
Journals OF the two Houses be road as
leisurely as possible, in order to pre-
clude the Intervening OF other business
before the reading Of the message.
When the House met the opening
prayer of the new chaplain was brief.
THY servants, On, Lord" said he,
"have come together In session extra
orninary; a session that will involve ex-
traordinary duties and the assumption
of extraordinary responsibilities and
the necessity of extraordinary blessings
from God 1t may please thee TO
vouchsafe these unto us and may the
results of this legislative body be felt
far and wide among all sections OF our
country and among all classes OF our
people and may the annals of this
Fifty-thiry Congress 60 down to the
ages to come full of assurance that IL
has contributed very largely to the
peace, to the plenty and prosperity OF
the nation, we ask for Christ's sake,
Amen"
The reading OF the Journal Of yester-
day was a mOnotonous proceeding and
consumed over half an hour.
Immediately after the reading OF the
Journal the Presidents message not yet
having arrived, Mr.. O'Ferrall, OF Vir-
ginia, who has charge OF the Be!knap-
Richardson contested election, stated
that be believed there was general
desire to hear the Presidents message
before entering upon the discussion OF
the election case ana he would there
fore move a recess until l2:45. The
motion was unanimously concurred in.
When the House reconvened at l2:45
the Presidents message was communi-
Gated TO Congress end read by the clerk
Of the House.
The message was listened to with
intense interest during its entire read
ing and there was a dead silence In the
House.
Gen. James B. Weaver, Of Iowa, the
late Peoples party candidate for the
presidency was on the floor bY virtue OF
his right as an ex-member and occupied
a seat besides Mr.. Hayes, of Iowa. Gen.
Weaver is an ardent free coinage man
and Mr.. Hayes, also q Democrat, is one
OF the most vigorous anti-silver men ia
the House. There were a number OF
broad smiles on the Republican side st
the presidents alluSion TO tariff reform
as a secondary issue just al this time,
but st the conclusion OF the message il
was loudly applsuded by the Democrats.
When order had been restored, Mr..
O'Ferrall called up the case OF Richard
son and Belknap, both claiming TO have
= prima facie title TO seat In the
House from the Fifth Michigan district.
Mr.. Burrows presented the case OF
Mr.. BeIknap, and contended that the
certificate which Mr.. Belknap held was
one of the best ever presented TO the
House. Mr.. WeadOck presented TIE
claims OF Mr.. Richardson. stating that
the action of the Supreme Court OF Mich
igan was clearly without Jurisdiction.
MeSSrs. Springer, Brown (lnd. J, Heard
and 0'Ferrall also maintained the legal.
ity OF Richardson's claims. and Mr..
Dalzell attacked il. Mr., Oates took s
middle course. He admitted that the
case was 8 difficnls one to decide. Two
members came from the same district,
each properly certified. The matter
should not be disposed OF Ia haste.
Members Of the House could afford tc
do right and in order that theS
might have an opportunity to do SO, be