Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-12-07
MEETING OF CONGRESS.

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The ffty-sixth Congress of the United
States met at Washington d. c, Mon
day noon
In the House 1886 members answered
when their names were called-21 were
absent.
Representative Henderson, Rep, Of
Iowa, was elected Speaker over Rep.
Richardson, Dem, of Tennessee by a
vote of 1T to 153. Populist Bell re
ceived 4 votes and Silver Rep. Newlanda
votes. The Republicans have ma
jority in the House of Il over all.
When the members presented them
selves at the Bar Of the House to take
oath OF office Mr.. Taylor, of Ohio,
and Mr.. McRae, of Arkansas, objected
to Mr.. Roberts, of Utah, being sworn
in, and the Speaker directed Mr.. Rob
erts TO stand aside, and the case was re-
ferred to a special committee for con-
sideration next day.
The formal memorial and protest
against the admission Of Roberts was
circulated in printed form and placed
on the desks Of members during the
day The main points are that Roberts
is not citizen since, at all times after
1888 he was and now is a bigamist and
polygamist," contrary TO the law; that
he has been prosecuted and punished
for unlawful cohabitation with more
than one woman" that he was born OF
British parents within the British realm
and has never renounced his allegiance
to Queen Victoria After reciting the
legal and moral objections to Roberts,
the petition asks that be be not allowed
to take the oath of Office or to have a
seat in the House; that special com
mittee investigate the subject and that
Roberts seat be declared vacant. The
document is signed by Josiah Strong,
New York, president of League Of
Social Service, and many others.
The monster petition, said to consist
of z, ,OO0, 900 names, consisted Of % rolls
OF names, each about two feet in di-
ameter, 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.
The Democratic members have framed
an amendment to the Taylor resolution
providing for an Investigation OF the
moral character Of every appointee OF
the present Federal administration in
Utah. 1t Is said that a number Of these
appointees rest under the same charges
as Roberts.
For hours before noon, the hour for
the House to meet, people streamed
through the corridors to the galleries,
which looked down upon the arena
where the statesmen were congregating.
BY II o'clock brilliant gathering had
assembled. The galleries were black
with people, and through the swinging
doors could be seen pushing hundreds
who were unable to gain admission.
Entrance was obtained only by card,
for which there was an enormous de-
mand The women's and members
galleries were filled with brilliantly
gowned women. the wives Of members
and their friends. The executive gal
lery was filed with high dignitaries of
the Government, and the diplomatic
gallery was resplendent with the repre-
sentatives of foreign governments.
Alex Mcdowell was re rejected Clerk
of the House, and the old rules were
adfhPtffat IN ttft urawrug OF seacs rue pvpuon-
can leaders were singularly unlucky.
Representatives Dalzell, Grosvenor and
Payne barely escaped being compelled
to leaye the solid Republican left and
take seats in the Cherokee strip on
the Democratic right. while Represent
atiYe Hepburn had to take seat there
or stand. Two members of the Penn
sylyania delegation-ex-Speaker Grow
and Representative Harmer by
unanimous consent permitted to select
their seats in advance OF this drawing.
Representatives Graham, Jack, Ache
son, Showalter and Thropp secured
eligible seats in the center of the Re
publican side, while Representatives
Sibley, CASTOR and Hall were equally
fortunate on the Democratic side.
When the House settled to business
Representative Dovener Of Wheeling
introduced bill appropriating $1,000
900 for a new custom house and public
building at Wheeling. Capt. Dovener
says he will make determined fight
for the passage OF this bill
Mr. Showalter reintroduced his bill Of
the last congress 10 reimburse to Joseph
B. Orbison Of Butler the $500 that he
gave during the ciyil war to escape the
draft. AS he was an ex slave and not a
citizen he could not have been drafted.
Representative Sibley will introduce
bill authorizing the secretary of war
to give due recognition to the officers
and men Of the Pennsylvania militia
who were called into service by Gov.
Curtin in 1853 to repel the confederates
They served faithfully and even went
outside the state, but were never mus
tered into the service Of the United
States. The bill carries no right to
pension bounty or pay from the govern
ment
The Senate.
The Senate was called to order at
noon Monday, by Senator Frye, Pres
ident pro. TEN. by virtue of his election
as such last winter. The roll call show
ed 81 present. and the Republicans have
a majority Of IA.
When the credentials Of new mem
bers were called for Mr. Penrose, Re
publican, Pennsylvania. presented the
credentials Of Matthew Stanley Quay,
appointed Senator from Pennsylvania
by the Governor On motion Of Mr..
Cockrell, Democrat, Missouri, the ere
dent:als Of Mr.. Quay were referred to
the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
fiona Mr. Chandler PanuIIicop Nev