The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-12-05

WA5QlnRtOut ooooubrk Hs--S~@~o.-@ -
ever have such enormous crowds swsrmed
about the House to witness the opsning
scenss of the session a. beseiged the doors
today. The assem- blage cf a new Congress
always attracts q big attsndance. To-
day the proceedings in the case Of Repre-
sentative elect Roberts which promised to
be exciting and possibly sensational fur
nishsd an additional attraction. For
hours before noon. the hour for the House
TO meet, people streamed through the oor-
ridors to the galleries which looked down
upon the arena whore the stat ,smen were
congregating. by eleven O'Clock brill
liant gathering had assembled. The gal
leriss were black with people and In front
Of ths doors could bs seen pushing hun
dreds who ware unable , gain adruission.
Entranoe was only obtained by cards. for
which there was nm enormous demand.
The ladies' and members galleries were
nIied with brilliantly gowned women,
the wives Of members and their friends.
Tho executive gallery was filed with
high dignitar.es Of the government and
the Diplomatic gallery resplendent with
representatives Of foreign governments.
Eariy In the day monster petition, said
to consist Of seven million names prote,t-
ing against the s,ating Of Mr.. Roberts
was brought into the hall 1t consisted OF
twenty -eig ht rolls Of namts each about
TWO feet in diameter encased In the
American flag. These rolls we:e stacked
up in the area In front OF the clerks desk
and were viewed with great curiosity.
Later, Major Mcdowell, clerk of the
House, ordered all excsps two of the rolls
taken Into the lobby.
Mr., Robsrts came into the hall shortly
after eleven O'Clock but he was not gener-
ally rsoognizei and he retired TO the
c'o,k re ON almost immediately.
Trese was a conference bstweeu Senator
kawlins OF Utah. MIR. Lentz Of Ohio and
Mr.. Roberts. After 1t was over the Ie-
tort was circulated that MIR. Roberts
would not present himsslf TO be sworn
10. But this was Immediately denied
Mr, Roberts hims,lf said he had not de-
eiied what he would do. but that be
might de- sire to b, hsard when his case
came up. He took q seat to the right OF
the main aisle. His daughter sat in tie
mem bsrs' gallery. Mr.. Taylor of Ohio,
who will conduct the oass against Mr..
Roberts, conferred with his colleagues on
the Republican side.
At noon the gavsl of the clerk of the
last House, Major NJ. 5. Dowell. de-
scended with bang. The members arose
and the spectators in the galleries bowel
their heads while prayer was offered by
the chaplain, the Rev. Henry Cousen.
After the invocation the reading clerk be-
gan calling the roll
MIR. ROBERTS SAT- LISTENING
intentiy for his name, and VIXEN II was
called he responded "here" In loud
voice. There was no demonstration dur
ing the roll call. When 1t was concluded
Cle.k Mcdowell announced that 20!
members hG Il answered TO their names, q
quorum. MIR. Hepburn Of Iowa, offered q
resolution which was adopted viva yoce
providing that the House proceed to the
election Of Sps,ksr tor the Fifty sixth
Congress. lhsreupon Mr.. Grosvenor Of
| Ohio, as Il the Republican caucus, pre-
sented the name OF David d. Henderson
of Iowa. The mention Of the name OF
Gensral Herdsrfon was. crested with a
round OF applause from tie Republican
side. Mr. Hay Of Virginia, chairman oi
the Democratic caucus presented the
name of James ID. Richards Of Iennes'
see aud his nams drew the plaudits OF the
Democratic side.
Mr.. Ridgsley OF Kansas, noninatsu
John g. Bell OF Colorado as thu Populisl
candidate and Mr.. Wilson OF Idaho
placed Francis G. Nswlands Of Nevada.
in nomination as the candidate of the
Silver party.
The roll was called and Mr.. NORRIS o
Minnesota, MIR. Overstreet OF Indiana ane
Mr.. Carmaek of Tennessee were appointed
teliers. Mr.. Newlands hims,lf candi
\ date, voted fer MIR. Richardson.
Aha roll call resulted; Henderson. IL
hich hardson, l5s; Bell. 4; Nswland, 2.