Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1899-12-04
CONGRESS- CONVENES.
Immense CroSds Gather at the
National Capitol.
Monster Petition Presented to the
House Against Roberts.
Legal Proceedings to Release Uaited
Mine-worker From jail.
suPRHMR COURT DECISION.

Washington, Dec. 4.-The opening Of
the Fifty sixth congress at noon TO day
attracted widespread attention. Far
reaching questions awaiting considera-
ti0n gave unusual Importance to the re-
turn Of congress. Aside from this, the
Roberts case introduced q phase which
promised something outside Of the ordi.
nary Developments VI the opening day.
karly In the day thr0ngs began CON
verging at the capitol. seldom II ever
has such q crowd sought admission.
Admission was only by card.
HOUSE.
Scattered through the galleries were
people prominent In the political. social
and financial world. monster petition
sal ] TO consist OF seven million names
protesting against seating Roberts OF
Utah was brought into the hall. 1t had
been collected by q New York newspaper.
1t consisted Of twenty eight rolls each
about two feet In diameter encased In an
American flag.
Mr.. Richardson, Of Tenn, who was
selected "a leader Of the minority on Sat.
urday. came up on the door early and
was surrounded BY democrats.
Roberts came Into the hall shortly
after II o'clock but retired to q cloak
room almost Immediately.
Senator Rawlins, Of Utah. came over
from the senate wing and held an earn
est conference with Roberts.
This death OF yice. President Hobart
cast pail over the proceedings.
Lenz. OF Ohio, took part In the confer.
ence. After II was over report was cir
culated that Roberts would not present
himself TO be sworn In. This was i'm.
mediately denied. Roberts said he had
not decided what he would do. but he
might desire TO be heard when his case
came up. He took a seat to the right OF
the main aisle.
Taylor. Of Ohio. who represents Presi.
dent McKinley's district. who was to con
duct the case against Roberts, was con-
ierrinR with bis colleagues on the repub.
lican side. At noon the gavel Of the
clock OF a. tor Mcdowell descended with
bang. The blind chaplain, Rev. Henry
tion. The reading clerk began calling
tbs roll. Roberts sat listen.
lug intently for his name and
when It was called responded
"here" In loud voice, but he looked ner
vous and III at ease. Clerk Mcdowell IN
nounced that 352 members had answered
to their names.
Hepburn, Of Iowa, offered resolution
which was adopted viva vote providing
that the house proceed TO the election OF
. speaker Of the Fifty-s' xth congress.
GrosveDOr "a chairman Of the republican
caucus. presented the name Of David B.
Henderson, OF Iowa. Nay, Virginia,
chairman OF the democratic caucus,
nominated James ID. Richardson, Of
Tennessee, RiRgley, Kansas, nominated
John c. Bell, OF Colorado, ss the populist
candidate. Wilson, OF Idaho, placed
Francis q. Newlsnds, OF Nevada, In
nomination as the candidate OF the silver
party. A roll call resulted: Henderson,
III; Richardson, 1853; Bell, 8; Newlands,
2. The clerk thereupOn announced the
election OF Henderson amid great re
publican applause.
When the speaker assembled the ros-
trum, Richardson introduced him and In
response TO cheers he addressed the house
briefly, pledging himself to impsrtially
administer the laws adopted for the
house. and asking the cooperation OF the
members. The Oldest member OF the
house. Harmer. Of Pennsylv admin
istered the oath to the new speaker. The
speaker then announced that the oath
would be administered to the members by
states. When the name OF Brigham II.
Roberts was reached. the Utah member
elect proceeded alone to the area in front
OF the speakers desk and awaited the sd
ministration OF the oath. At the same
time. Representative TAYLOR, OF Ohio, se.
cured recognition, and amidst great In.
tetest protested against the swearing In
OF Roberts on the ground OF his being q
polygamist and not properly q natural.
lied American citizen.
Taylor spoke dispassionstely. Roberts
stood gazing intently at him. Represen-
tativs McRae. Of Arkansas. followed
with q protest from the democratic side,
saying that this issue was one involving
the sscredness OF American home senti-
msnt, that brought an outburst Of ap-
plause. Speaker Henderson then sd-
dressed Roberts. saying: "will the
gentleman stand aside until roll call is
completed" Roberts assented with the