The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-04

Washington. Dec. 4-SeIdom. if ever
have such enormous crowds sWarme1
about the house to witness the opening
scenes of the session as besieged the
doors today. The assembling OF a new
congress always attracts a big attend
ance. Today the proceedings in the
case of epresentatiVe-elect Roberts
which promised to be exciting and pos
sibly sensational. furnished an addi-
tiOnal attraction. For hours before
noon. the hour for the house to meet,
people streamed through the corridors
to the galleries which looked down up
on the arena where the statesmen were
cOngrega ting.
Scattered through the galleries were
people prominent in political, social and
financial world. Very early in the day
monster petition, said to consist of
seven million names protesting against
the seating of Mr.. Roberts, was brought
into the hall. 1t had been collected by
New York newspaper. It consisted Of
2S rolls of names each about two feet
in diameter encased in the American
flag. These rolls were 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 except two of the rolls taken
out into the lobby
By Il o'clock a brilliant gathering
had assembled The galleries We're
black with people and through the
swinging doors could be seen pushing
hundreds who were unable to gain ad-
mission. Entrance was only obtained
by card, for which there was an enor-
nous demand The ladies and mem
bers' galleries were filed with bril-
liantly gowned women, the wives of
mem berS and their friends The exec
utiVe gallery was filled with high dignI-
taries Of the government and the di-
plOmatic gallery resplendent with the
representatives of foreign govern
mentS
Mr.. Richardson. of Tennessee. who
was selected as the leader of the min
Ority on Saturday came upon the floor
early and was soon surrounded by a
group of Democrats. Mr. Roberts came
into the hail shortly after Il O'Clock
but he was not generally recognized
and he retired to the cloak room almost
Immediately.
At 11:3o o'clock a shrilI-voiced clerk
directed those not entitled to the floor
to retire and officers and pages rapidly
cleared out those already in.
Conspicuous on the floor were the old
veterans. Payne. OF New York the
leader of the majority; General Gros-
venOr. of. Ohio; Mr. Hepburn, of Iowa;
MT DalzeI of Pennsylvania; Mr. Bal
ley. of Texas. AIr. Mcclellan and Mr..
SulzeT OF New York
Senator Rawlins. of Utah, came over
from the senate wing and held an earn
est conference with Mr.. Roberts.
Mr. LentZ. OF Ohio, took part in the
conference. After it was over. the re-
port was circulated that Mr.. Roberts
would not present himself to be sworn
in. But this was Immediately denied
Nr- Roberts himself said ne had not
decided what he would do, but that he
might desire to be heard when his case
came UP. He took a seat to the right
of the main aisle and soon became the
cynoSure of all eyes His daughter sat
in the members gallery. Mr.. Taylor
OF ONO, who represents President Nc
klniey's district, who was to conduct
the case against Mr. Roberts. was CON
rerring with his colleagues on the Re
publican side.
As the minute hand of the clock op-
poSlte the speakers rOstrum overlook
the hour hand at noon. the aavel from
the clerk of the last house Major. Nc
DOWel. descended with a bang The
tndescribable buzz ceased The mem
bers arose and the spectators in the
galleries bowed their heads In this
stiffness. the voice of the cbaDIain
Rev Henry Couden Of Michigan, was
elevated and his prayer made the Occa-
sion reverent.
After the Invocation. the reading
clerk began calling the roll and a min
ute later the buzz had recommended
making a noisy back ground for the
staccatO notes Of the clerk, as he called
out the names
Mr.. Roberts sat listening iD+en+1vv for
his name, and when it was called he
responded here" in a loud voice R1lt
he looked nervous and i'll a. ease. The-e
were no demonstrations during the roll
call When ii was concluded Clerk
Mcdowell announced that 352 members
had answered to their names. a quo
rum.
The next thing in order" /" announced
the clerk is the election of spea al1er. -
MI. Hepburn of Iowa offered a resO-
luton. which was adopted viva vOce
providing that the house proceed to the
election of a speaker for the Fifty-sixth
congress. Thereupon Mr.. Grosvenor, of