The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-12-07
TIE OPENING OF CONGRESS.
The ROBBERS Case.

case
lin the galleries the women were
constantly Jumping up and peering over
each others shoulders in the search FOR
Roberts, the star performer OF the day.
They did not care to have any other
person pointed out to them. Roberts
was the man they wanted, and they
were not satisfied until he came In.
Mr.. Roberts made his appearance about
quarter past IL o'clock. AS he passed
through the lobby in the rear OF the
Speakers chair his eye fell upon the
great stacks Of petitions against him.
which were piled 10 feet high and 10
feet wide, coming, as is understood,
from every State in the Union.
Mr.. Roberts took a conspicuous
seat on the Democratic side. evinced
perfect self possession and surveyed the
scene with as much Of an air OF curios-
ity and unoonoern as any other member
He frequently looked up at the CALLER
les. and, Of course il was not very long
before he was spotted II his ears are
quick, he must have heard some Of the
very audible comments passed upon the
horrible creature. He was rather let
alone by the members, for very few OF
them accosted him. Senator Rawlins,
Of Utah, who has in measure taken
Up the oudgel for Roberts. soon joined
him and sat by him in earnest CONVEX
sation until the House was called to
order. Although, as said. members did
not come near the Mormon. every one
took peep at him. Among those on
the floor were great many ex-Senators
and ex. Representatives.
At noon scarcely seat was empty.
At the tap Of the clerks gavel Demo
Gratis and Republicans arose in solid
mass, separated by tho central aisle
They stood with bowed heads, although
with manifest effort during the lengthy
prayer OF the chaplain. Mr.. Brooks,
the correspondent Of the London ENG
land News, was in the press gallery,
and ouriously inquired whether the
prayers Of legislative chaplains in
America were usually 80 lengthy and
so political. He said in the British
Parliament the prayers were required
TO be brief, and only the clerks listened
to them.
On completion Of the roll call nomi-
nations for Speaker were made, the
Republicans and Democrats applauding
alternately for their own candidate, and
both sides applaudiug vociferously the
nomination Of Bell (Populist), who got
4 votes, and Newlands Silver Republi-
cam who received 2 Ii is customary
for the defeated candidates for Speaker
to conduct the successful opponent to
the chair. The clerk named Messrs.
Newlands and Bell, with Mr.. Richard.
son, 30 perform that ceremony for Mr.
Henderson. The whole House broke
into excessive laughter, which was, OF
course, for the benefit Of Newlands and
Bell, and they tried hard, but not with
complete SUGGEST, to enter into the spirit
Of the thing
Mr.. Henderson, with his three at
tendants, came through the big front
door, and, with the aid Of his good leg
and his wooden leg. hobbled down the
aisle and walked up the broad steps 10
the chair. AS he took the seat where
for six years Thomas B. Reed reigned
in absolute and uncontrolled power he
was greeted with a sincere demonstra-
ton Of respect from the entire House
His fair and temperate address was
we'll taken by the Democrats, who feel
hopeful that the Reed rules will not be
administered altogether la Reed
UTAH MEMBER NOT SWORN IN.
The Speaker, having taken the oath
Of office, proceeded to complete the or
ganization of the House by swearing in
the members, which, according to Gus
tom. was done by calling the States in
alphabetical order. An understanding
having been previously reached be-
tween the leaders on both sides as TO
the disposition Of the Roberts case,
there was no particular interest on that
subject on the floor. bat the galleries
were q spectacle. They contained them
selves with ill-conceived impatience'
all anxious to reach Utah, when the
grand performance Of the day was ex-
pected. Utah is pretty far down on the
list. When it was at last reached the
clerk called Brigham H Roberts.
Twenty or thirty members are usually
sworn in in one batch. to save time.
The clerk did not proceed, however, but
made pause. which increased the
dramatic effect.
"Mr. Roberts had been bending for
word in his seat for some few minutes,
with bis hand to his ear Instantly,
upon hearing his name. he rose from
the sixth row back, where he was seat
ed, and walked slowly, but with very
erect mien, down the aisle. He could
not be unconscious that thousands OF
eyes were steadily centered upon him.
and could not help showing It, Mr.
Tayler, Of Ohio. who had been deputed
to take charge. was quickly on his
feet, and sang out, in q clear, shriil
tone: Mr.. Speaker, / object to the
oath being administered to the gentle
man from UTAH. At the sound OF bis
voice Roberts stopped abruptly, just as
he was about to step to tho area In
front Of the Speaker. He stood at the
end of the row, his hands resting on
the desk on either side of him, and
steadily, without fiinching, looked into