The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1899-12-09
IHE F|FTY-S|XTH CONGRESS
CONGRESS is NOW IN SESSION.
Hcnderson of Iowa Elected Speaker
vi the House of Representative
n Monster Petition of Seven Mill
aon Names Was Presented Protest
Ing Against Seating of Roberts.

Washington, Dec. 5.-The opening Of
the Fifty-sixth congress at noon yester-
day attracted that widespread attention
(which always attaches to the annual as
-sssnblages of the national lawmakers
There was an added interest in the event
4his year, for the many far-reaching ques-
tions awaiting consideration gave unusual
importance to the return of congress.
Aside from this, the Roberts case intro
duced a phase which promised something
outside of the ordinary developments Oh
an opening day.
Early in the day the throngs began
.converging at the capitol The day was
bright and propitious, and the thorough
fares leading to the building presented a
gay and animated appearance, while with
an the building all was hustle and excite
ment. Long before the hour for calling
ahe house to order the outer doors were
open to all, and through these flowed con-
tinuous 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 arrive,
throngs temporary diversion.
General Henderson went directly TO
the speakers private once, where he
shared his time with the house leaders
and with those pleading for admission
cards.
Representative Richardson, OF Tennes-
see, made his way through the crowd to
the members private lobby. Here he
CHANGED to meet Mr.. Richardson, and the
two held short conference as to whether
MIR. Roberts would seek to address the
house.
A buzz of comment followed the gen
tleman from Utah wherever he went, but
there was no disrespectful demonstra-
1ioa.
Very early in the day a monster petit
tion, said to consist of 100000 names,
protesting against the seating of Mr.. Rob-
.erts, was brought into the hall. 1t had been
collected by New York newspaper.
The New Speaker of the House.
The eyes of the nation are focused on
David II. Henderson, whom the republic
ans have selected to be the next speaker
of the house of representatives. He was
born in Old Deer. Scotland, March Ia.
ls40. His parents came to the United
States when he was years of age, set
thing finally in Iowa in l849. He obtained
his earlier education in the public schools
of that state, and subsequently took a
course in the Upper Iowa university
When the civil war broke out he gave up
the study of law and shouldered a musket
and went to the front as a private lie
was with the regiment in numerous eh-
cagements and was wounded slightly sew
eral times. In a subsequent engagement
he lost one of his legs. After the wounds
were healed he re-enlisted as Il colonel Of
the Forty-sixth Iowa volunteer infantry
and served at the head of his regiment
until the close Of the war. He was ad
nitted to the bar in 1865, and from that
time until 1869 he served as collector o.
snternal revenue for the Third district o
Iowa. For two years he was assistant
United States district attorney for the
northern division of the district o
Iowa. In 1883 he was elected to the house
of representatives, in which capacity HI
HAS since served continuously.
In the senate.
Washington, Dec 4-IR the shadow o
the recent death, the senate convened a
noon today in its session Of the fifty-sixti
congress- The death of Vice Presiden
Hobart cast a pail over the preliminary
proceedings in the senate. As usual Oh
the opening days of congress the senat
chamber was veritable conservatory
Pending the actual convention of tn
senate the chamber presented a most an
imated and picturesque scene. The gal
leries were filled with brilliant and dis
tinguished audience Promptly at nool
MIR. Frye, of Maine, president pro TEN
called the senate to order. The blin
chaplain, Mr.. Milburn, pronounced the in
vocation, making a beautiful and touch
ing reference to the death of Mr. Hobart
Mr.. Penrose, of Pennsylvania, presente
the credentials Of Mr. Quay, which wer
presented to the committee on privilege
II o1aofsona