The record-union., 1899-12-05
The Galleries Thronged With People to
Witness the Proceedings.
Tribute Paid in the
Senate to the Memory of the
Late Vice President Hobart
Henderson Of Iowa Elected
Speaker of the House-The
Question of Seating Congress-
man-Elect Roberts to Come Up
for Discussion To-Day.

5000
to-day attracted that widespread at
tention which always attaches to the
annual assemblage of the national law
makers. There was added interest this
year, for many far-reaching questions
awaiting consideration gave unusual
Importance to the return of Congress.
Aside from this, the Roberts case in
troduced a phase which promised
something outside of the ordinary de-
velopments of an opening day.
Carly in the day the throngs began
inverging at the Capitol. The day
was bright and propitious, and the
thoroughfares leading to the building
presented a gay and animated appear
ance. Within the building all was bus
tie and excitement long before the hour
for calling the houses to order. The
outer doors were open to all, and
through these flowed continuous
streams of humanity, until the great
corridors, galleries and rotundas were
fairly packed.
As early as 1890 o'clock the conspic-
uous figures of Congress began to ar
rive, and this served to give the wait
ing throngs a temporary diversion.
Speakers private office, where he
shared his time with the House leaders
and with those pleading for admission
cards
Representative Richardson of Tennes-
see, the Democratic House leader, was
also early on the scene, comforting with
his lieutenantS.
Shortly before IL o'clock Mr.. Roberts
of Utah, in silk hat and black frock
suit made his way through the crowd
to the members private lobby. Here
he CHANGED to meet Mr.. Richardson,
and the two held a short conference as
to whether Mr.. Roberts would seek to
address the House. There was 10 DIS
respectful demonstration shown Mr.
Roberts.
Appropriate tribute to the memory
of the late Vice President Hobart was
paid by the Senate to-day at it's open
ing session The session lasted only
thirty-three minutes, and only the most
formal and necessary business was
transacted. After the adoption of the
usual routine, resolutions and the ad-
ministration to the new members of the
oath of office. Senator Sewell of New
upon the death of the Vice President.
The resolutions We're ordered to be COM
municated to the House, and the ses-
sion, on motion of Kean of New Jer-
sey was suspended.
Enormous crowds witnessed the
opening scenes in the House The
principal interest centered in the dis
position of Mr.. Roberts, the Mormon
Representative from Utah. Those
who anticipated a sensational de-
nouement were disappointed. The
program outlined by the Republican
leaders at their conference on Friday
night was partially carried out. The
objection to the administration of oath
to Mr.. Roberts was entered by Tay-
Ter of Ohio, as predicted, and he
stepped aside without protest, except
to ask If by doing so he waived any of
his rights. To this the Speaker re-
Sponded in the negative. There was
not protest from any quarter against
the objection to the administration OF
the oath to Mr.. Roberts, but, on the
contrary, the only voice raised except
that of Mr.. Tayler's, was that of Mr.
McRae, a Democrat of Arkansas, who
Joined with Mr.. Tayler in his protest
Mr.. Tayler offered his resolution to re-
fer the case to a special committee, and
by mutual agreement the consideration
of the resolution was postponed until
tomorrow, in order that routine bust
ton might be transacted to-day.
Although Mr.. Roberts was not sworr
in to-day, he secured a seat This
however, was by an accident. On the
seat-drawing lottery no provision had
been made for Mr.. Roberts, but wher
the drawing completed two others as
well as himself had not been provided
with seats, and the Speaker asked and
secured from the House permission fol
those members who had not drawn
seats to make such selections as they
could Under this authority, Mr.. Rob-
erts got seat in an obscure portion
of the hall. His daughter sat in the
gallery, and watched the proceeding
from beginning to end.
After the election of Speaker Hender-
son and his induction into office. the
appointment of the usual committees
to wait upon the President. the ssat-
drawing contest, with the usual anus
Ing features, went off without a hitch.
The only other feature out of the or
binary was the reception of the Reed
rules as the rules for the present ses-
sion. The Democrats knew it was
futile to more than protest against the
adoption of these rules, after the Re-
publican decision upon this course in
caucus, and the debate upon the reso-
luton to adopt them was very brief
They We're adopted by a strict party