Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-12-04

houses of congress were called to
order at noon, the senate by MIR.
Frye, of Maine, and the house by its
clerk, Mr.. Mcdowell.
Washington. Dec. 4.-The opening of
the Fifty-sixth congress at noon today
attracted that widespread attention
which always attaches to the annual
assembling of national lawmakers.
There was an added interest in the
event this year, for the many far
rea aching questions awaiting considera-
ton gave unusual Importance to the re-
turn Of congress. Aside from this, the
Roberts case introduced a phase which
promised something outside of the or
binary developments of the opening
day.
Early in the day the throngs began
conyerging at the capitol. The outer
doors We're open to all, and through
these flowed continuous streams OF hu'-
niah1ty until the great corridors, gall
leries and rotundas were fairly packed.
AS early as 1890 the conspicuous hg-
ures Of congress began to arrive, ana
this served to give the waiting throngs
a1temporary diversion. Col. Henderson
went direct to the speakers private of
flee. where he shared his time with the
house leaders and with those pleading
for admission cards.
Representative Richardson, of Ten
nessee, democratic house leader, was
also early on the scene comforting With
his lieutenants. Shortly before IL
o'clock Roberts, OF Utah, in a silk hat
and black frock suit, made his way
through the crowd to members in the
private lobby.
Here he met Richardson and the two
held short conference as to whether
Roberts would seek to address the
house. A buzz of comment followed
the gentleman from Utah wherever he
went, but there were no disrespectful
demonstrations.
Scattered through the galleries We're
people prominent in the political, So
cial and financial world. Very early in
the day a monster petition. said to
consist OF 100000 names. protesting
against the seating of Roberts, was
brought into the hall. 1t had been col-
lected by New York newspapers. II
consisted of twenty-eight rolls of
names, each about two feet in diameter,
encased in an American flag. These
rolls We're stacked up in the area in
front of the clerks desk and were
viewed with great curiosity. Later
Maj. Mcdowell, clerk of the house. or
dered all except two of the rolls taken
out into the lobby
Richardson, of Tennessee. who was
selected as leader of the minority on
Saturday, came upon the floor early and
was soon surrounded by group of
democrats. Roberts came into the hall
shortly after IL o'clock, but he was not
generally recognized and he retired to
the cloak room almost Immediately. All
1l:3O the shrill 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 We're the old veterans. Payne
OF New York, leader of the majority,
: Gen. Grosvenor of Ohio. Hepburn of
Iowa, Dalzell of Pennsylvania. Bailey
OF Texas. Mcclellan and Sulzer of New
York. Senator Rawlins. of Utah. came
over from the senate wing and held an
earnest conference with Roberts. Lentz
of Ohio, took part in the conference AT
ter 1t was over the report was circulat-
ed that Roberts would not present him
self to be sworn in. but this was imme-
diately denied. Roberts himself said he
had not decided what he would do, bui
that he might desire to be heard when
his case came up.
Congressman Taylor. who had the
case against Roberts in charge, was
comforting with his colleagues on the
republican side. Promptly at noon, af-
ter invocation by the blind chaplain
Rev. Henry Cowden, of Washington
the reading clerk began calling. Rob
erts sat listening intently for his name
and when 1t was called he responded
there" in a loud voice, but he looked
nervous and i'll at ease. There were nc
demonstrations during the roll call
When it was concluded Clerk Mcdowell
announced that 352 members had
answered to their names. quorum
"The next thing in order" announced
the clerk, lis the election ola speaker
Hepburn, of Iowa. offered a resolu.
ton. which was adopted viva yoce, pro.
viding that the house proceed to the
election Of a speaker for the Fifty-sixtf
congress. Thereupon Grosvenor, ol
Ohio, as chairman of the republican
caucus, presented the name of Davt
b. Henderson, of Iowa. Mention of the
name of Gen. Henderson was greeted
with a round of applause from the re.
publican side. Hay. of Virginia, chair.
man of the democratic caucus, nomi
mated James ID. Richardson, of Ten
nessee, and his name drew the plaudit.
of the democratic side. Ridgley, O.
Kansas, nominated John c. Bell O
Colorado. as the populist candidate
and Wilson, of Idaho. placed Franci.
G. Newiands. of Nevada, in nomination
as the candidate of the silver party
Each party having put forward its can
didate, by direction OF the clerk the rol
was called and each member voted f6