The Monticellonian., 1899-12-08

nous demand. The ladies and mem. bers' galleries were filled with bril. liantly -gowned women, the wives of members and their friends. The ex, eeutive gallery was filled with high dignitaries of the government and the diplomatic gallery resplendent with the representatives of foreign govern. ments.
 A Monster Petition.
 A monster petition, said to consist of 100000 names, protesting against the seating of MT. Roberts, was brought into the hall. It had been collected by New York newspaper. It consisted of 2S rolls of names each about two feet in diameter, encased in the Amer, ican flag. These rolls were stacked up in the area in front of the clerks desk and were viewed with great curiosity,
 Later, Maj Mcdowell, clerk of :hc house, ordered all except two of the rolls taken out into the lobby.
 Clear the Floor. At II: 90 a shrill-voiced clerk directed those not entitled to the floor to re. tire, and officers and pages rapidly | cleared out those already in. Conspicuous on the floor were the old veterans, Paine, of New York, the leader of the majority; Gen. Grosvener of Ohio; Mr. Hepburn, of Iowa; NIT Dalzell, of Pennsylvania; Mr Bailey, of Texas; MT. Mcclellan and Mir. SuL ger, of New York.
 Earnest Conferences.
 Senator Rawiins, of Utah, came over from the senate wing, and held an earnest conference with Mir Roberts
 MT. LentZ, of Ohio, took part in the conference. After it was over, the re. port was circulated that Mir. Robert, would not presenA himself to be sworn in. But this was immediately denied Mir. Roberts himself said he had not decided what he would do, but that he might desire to be heard when his cGse came up. He took seat to the right of the main aisle, and soon be, came the exposure of all eyes. His daughter sat in the members gallery
 Mir. Tayler (O), who represents President Mekinley's district, who was to conduct the case against Mir. Rob, erts, was conferring with his col. leagues on the republican side.
 Called to Order. As the minute hand of the clock op. posite the speakers rostrum overlook the hour hand at noon, the gavel of the clerk of the last house, Maj. Me. Dowell, descended with a bang. The iadescribable buzz ceased. The mem, bers arose, and the spectators in the gallueries bowed their heads. In this stiffness the voice of the chaplain, Rev, Henry Couden, of Michigan. was ele. Sated, and his prayer made the ocea. sion reverent.
 After the invocation. the reading clerk began calling the rcll, and a min. ute later the buzz had recommended making noisy background for the staccato notes of the clerk as he called cut the names.
 MT. Roberts sat listening intently for his name, and when it was called he responded "here" in loud voice But he looked nervous and i'll at ease There were no demonstrations during
 
 Clerk Mcdowell announced that %! members had answered to the names, quorum. The next thing in order. announced the clerk, lis tie election of speaker
 Roberts Listened IntentIy.
 Mir. Hepburn Clap offered a resolu- ton, which was adopted vive yoce, pro viding that the house proceed to the election of a speaker for the Fifty sixth congress. Thereupon Mir. Grosve- nor lOD, as chairman of the republican caucus, presnted the name of David |. Henderson, of Iowa. The mention of the name of Gen. Henderson was greet ed with a round of applause from the republican side.
 Mir. Hay (Na4, chairman of the dem ocratic caucus, nominated James D. Richardson, of Tennessee, and his name drew the plaudits of the demo- cratic side
 Election of speaker.
 Mir. RidgeIev (Kas.) nominted John (. Bell, of Colorado, as the populist candidate. and Mr. Wilson Qdahol placed Francis c. Newlands, of Ne vada. in nomination as the candidate of the silver party.
 Henderson Duly Elected.
 The rol-eall resulted: HeRders' n, IF; Richardson, 153; Bell, 4; Nv lands, 2.
 The clerk therupon announce the election of Mir. Henderson, amid great republican applause. He des gnated Mr. Richardson, Mir. Bell and \ r. New lands as conmittee to e cort the speaker 10 the chair.
 The New speniSe'
 The committee retired tc ~the lobby. and after a short wait the doorssaf the main portal of the house swung open. and Gen. Henderson entered upon the arm of MT. Richardson, followed by the two other members of the com nlittee.
 When the new speaker ascended the rostrum Mr. Richardson, in q neat speech, introduced him, and in re- sponse to the hearty cheers, he ad- dressed the house.
 The oath Administerd
 In accordance with the time-honored custom, the oldest member Of the house in point of service Mir. farmer (Pa.). administered the oath to the speaker.
 The speaker then announced that the path would be administered to the members by states. As the names of Inc members were called, they appeared st the bar in groups of about a dozen,