The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-05

Disposed Of-ROberts Case Will
He Considered in Committee
Senate Session Brief, In Respect
to Late Vice President Hobart.
WASHINGTON, Dec 4-Enormous
crowds witnessed the opening scenes in
the house today. The principal interest
centered in the disposition of the case OF
Mr.. Roberts, Mormon member from Utah.
Those who anticipated a sensational de-
nouement were disappointed. The pro-
gramme outlined by the Republican lead
ers at their conference on Thursday
night was practically carried out. The
objection to the administration of the
oath to Mr.. Roberts was entered by Mr.
Taylor, Of Ohio. as predicted, and he
stepped aside without protest, except to
ask If by doing 50 he waived any OF his
rights. To this the speaker responded
in the negative.
There WIS not a protest from any quar-
ter against the objection to the adminis-
tration of The oath to Mr.. Roberts. But
on the contrary, the only voice raised.
except that of Mr.. Taylor's, was that Of
Mr.. McRae, a Democrat of Arkansas,
test.
Mr.. Taylor offered his resolution to re-
fer the case to a special committee but
by mutual arrangement the consideration
of the resolution was postponed until to-
morrow in order that the routine business
in connection with the organization might
be transacted today.
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 gem
eral permission for those members who
had not dli wn seats to make such selec-
tions as they could. Under this author
ity Mr.. Roberts got a seat in an OBJ
scure portion of the hall. His daughter
sat in the gallery and watched the pro-
ceedings from beginning to end.
The election of Speaker Henderson and
his introduction into office, the appoint
ment Of the usual committees to wait
upon the president, the seat drawing con-
test, with the usual amusing features,
went off without a hitch. The only
other feature out of the ordinary was
the adoption Of the Reed rules for the
present congress. The Democrats knew
it was futile to more than protest against
the adoption of these rules after the Re-
publicans had decided upon this course in
caucus, and the debate upon the resolu-
ton to adopt them was very brief They
were adopted by a strictly party vote
While the roll was being called a large
floral gavel from the Union Veterans
Union of Dubuque, To-, and a beautiful
basket of flowers from his old comrades
from Hyde post, G. A. R, of Dubuque,
were placed on the speakers desk The
resolution for the adoption of the rules
was carried 177-15S.
DRAWING FOR SEATS
A resolution for biennial seat drawing
was then adopted but by unanimous con-
sent MIR. Grow Pa.). as an ex-speaker
of the house, and Mr.. Harter Pa9. the
oldest member, were granted The privilege
Of selecting their seats before the draw
ing. Each selected his old seat. The
members then retired behind the rails.
In the rear Of the seats, leaving the floor
vacant, and, blindfolded, Griffin Hal
stead, a son of Murat Halstead, drew the
little balls containing the numbers from
box. Each ball was numbered, and the
number Of the memher corresponding wa c
given an opportunity to select seat as
his name was called The name of AIR
Adamson (Ga.) was first called. and he
selected the seat occupied ir the last
congress by the late Speaker Crisp. The
names of Mr. Steele, of Indiana. and Mr.
Babcock, Of Wisconsin, were drawn
early, and amid the. applause of their col
lee CUES they selected prominent positions
on the Republican side.
Mr.. Hit, of Illinois, chairman Of the
foreign affairs committee in the last
congress, who had a seat In the "Cher-
okee strip" in the last house, was called
early and got prominent seat On the
main Isle. Messrs. Cannon Qo1, Dol
liver Qo) and Overstreet Qnd1 Sc
lected adjoining seats in the right center
OF the Republican side. Mr., Bailey,
CIeX) got conspicuous seat near his
old place. Mr. Richardson (Tennl oot
his old seat, although his name was called
late. His colleagues reserved tha eea+
roses was placed on his desk, and the
house irrespective of party, applauded
vigorously. He was also the recinfent of
several large baskets of chrysanthennms
The name Of Mr.. Payne On. W was a1eo
called late, but he got conspicuous saa +
In the front row which had been over
looked. Mr.. DalzelI (Pa.) and Mr. Gros-
Venor (OO were not called until the and
had been almost reached, but each man
aged to get good seat. Mr. Hepburn ne
Iowa. was the first prominent Republica ~
who was forced to go the "Cherokaa
strip" on the Democratic side, for eeat
He was received with applause by the
democrats.
ROBERTS CREEPs IN.
All during the call CT names Mr.. Ro-
berts (Ctah) had been standing in the
rear OF the railing, eagerly listening for
ms name, but when the balls were ex.
nausted his name had not been called
AS he had not taken the oath. no hall
had been LACED in the box for him. hut
by an accident he secured g, seat Tho
names of two Republican members had
not been called when the balls were ex-
haUsted. o
The speaker explained that the balls
were exhausted, and asked IL any mem
bers had not been provided with seats.