The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-05
VAST CROWDS At
OPENING SCENES
Roberts Takes No Oath But
Secures a Seat.
A MONSTER PETITION
A COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO
INVESTIGATE ROBERTS CASE
ADOPTION OF THE RULES OF CAR RE ED
Henderson Elected Speaker. The Ship Subsidy
Bill Introduced into the House. Memorials
Against the Seating Of Senator Quay.
The North Carolina Delegation.

tic NUiliI OdUtiiid DCIES
Washington, Dec. 4.Enormous
crowds witnessed the opening scenes i'll
the House today. The principal inter
est eentered in the disposition of the
case of Mr.. Roberts, the Mormon Rep
resentatiye from Utah. Those who an
ticipated a sensational denouement We're
disappointed. The program outlined by
the Republican leaders at their confer
ence on Friday night was partially car
ried out. The objection to the admin
istration of oath to Mr.. Roberts was
entered by Mr. Tayler of Ohio, as pre-
dicted. and Roberts stepped aside with
out protest except to ask il by doing so
he waived any of his rights. To this
the Speaker responded in the negative.
Although Mr.. Roberts was not sworn
in today he secured a seat. This. how
ever, was by an accident pure and SIM
pie. In the seat-draWing lottery no pro-
vision had been made for Mr.. Roberts.
but when the drawing was completed
two others as well as himself had not
been provided with seats, and the
Speaker asked and secured from the
House general permission for those mem
hers who had not drawn seats TO make
sItch selections as they could. Under
this authority Mr.. Roberts got a seat
iai an obscure portion of the hall. Mr..
Roberts was the observed of all obsery-
ers throughout the day. His daughter
sat in the gallery and watched the pro-
ceedings.
The only feature out of the ordinary
was the adoption of the Reed rules lor
the present Congress. The Democrats
knew it was futile to more than protest
against the adoption of these rules after
the Republicans had decided upon this
course in caucus, and the debate upon
the resolutions to adopt them was very
brief They We're adopted by strict
party vote.
Very early in the day the monster pc
tition. 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 In consisted of 2S rolls Of
names each about two feet in diameter
encascd in the American flag. These
rolls were stacked up in the area il
front of the clerks desk and We're wit
messed with great curiosity.
Later Major Mcdowell, clerk of the
House. ordered all except two of The
rolls taken out into the lobby and The
big barrier against Mr.. Roberts dwindlee
to the Size Of barrel sawed in half
wrapped in bunting.
As the minute hand of the clock op
posite the Speakers rostrum overlook
the hour hand at noon, the gavel Of tht
clerk of the last House, Major Ne
Dowell, standing at the desk below tht
Speakers rostrllm descended with 9
hang.
The blind chaplain, Rev. Henry Cou
den, of Michigan, offered prayer. Ther
the reading clerk began calling the roll
Mr.. Roberts sat listening intently fol
his name. and when his name WAS calle6
he responded Here" in a loud voice
Put he looked nervous and i'll at ease
There We're no demonstrations durin.
the roll call. When it was concludet
Clerk Mcdowell annloinced that 30.
members had answered To their names
d quorum. ''Ilhe next thing in order
announced the clerk, .'is the election OF
Speaker"
Mr.. Hepburn. of Iowa. offered reso
lntion which was adopted viva voce pro
yiding that the House proceed to fiht
election of q Speaker for the Fifty-sixtl
Congress. 1nereupon 9ir. Grosvenor
OF Ohio. as Chairman of the Republican
caucus. presented the name Of David i
Henderson. OF Iowa The mention Of tht
name of General Henderson was greet
ed with a round of applause from thu
Republican side. Mr.. Hay. Of Virginia
chairman of the Democratic caucus
nominated James j.. Richardson, q
Tennessee. and his name drew thu
plaudits of the Democratic side. Mr.
Ridgely, of Kansas, nominated JOIN
G.. Bell. of Colorado. as the Populs
candidate, and Mr.. Wilson, of Idaho
placed Francis q. Newlands, Of Neya
da, in nomination as the candidate fol
the Silver party.
Each party having put forward lt'
candidate by the direction OF the clerk
the roll was called and each membel
voted for the candidate Of his poltica
affiliatien.
The roll cali resulted: Henderson 1T
Richardson 1853: Bell 4, and Newlands 2
The clerk thereupon announced The
election of Mr.. Henderson, amid great
Republican applause. lie designated
Mr.. Richardson, Mr.. Bell and Mr.. New
lands as a committee TO escort thu
Speaker to the chair.
The committee retired TO the lobby. anl
after a short wait the doors of the mali
portal of the House swung open ang
General Henderson entered upon th'