Evening star., 1899-12-04
56TH CONGRESS
Interest in the Opening
Of the Session,
THOUSANDS At THE CAPITOL
Taylor Objects to Roberts
Admission.
CASE POSTPONED UNTIL TOMORROW
Senate Adjouns After Short
Session.
Case POSTPONED UNTIL TOMORROW
SCENES IN BOTH HOUSES

Congress opened with the Roberts case
in the House of Representatives and the
Quay. the Clark and the Scott cases in the
Senate as the matters Of special interest.
The fact that Mr. Quay was not here to
be presented to the Senate with the COVER
nor's credentials deprived the Senate of
It's chief feature. for II was intended by his
friends to try to have him sworn in and to
have the case settled out of hand. 1t is
said, however. that he will not present
himself before the 10th. and perhaps not
before the 2jJh. Members Of the commit
Tee on privileges and elections held private
conferences last night and again this morn
ing 70 consider the line of procedure on be
half Of the committee in all three of the
contest cases.
An Unprecedented ThrOne.
The House was the great object Of inter-
est for thu crowd From an early hour
there was push and scramble for places
In the galleries cor even in the corridors
Never IN the mem"rg of any one alive We're
ther" before So l-auG women in attend
ance upon the oI. ming Of the House II
was evident that gae women felt that the
fight against Robots was their fight and
they We're assembled 10 see II out All the
galleries IF the House We're reserved for
admission by card and fully ~ per cent
Of those in the galleries were women. The
corridors also were "rowded with those
trying TO gain admission and during the
early hours, whil- they could go upon the
floor Of the House. they were swarming
Ike bees around the clerks desk. where
were piled the anti-ROberts petitions. while
half the seats We're occupied by women
and the aisles crowded
After the floor was cleared. the crowd,
stil retaining the same proportion Of wo-
men stood patiently in the corridors wait
ing To hear the announcement Of the Utah
Mormon's fate
The House Called 10 Order
Nearly every menber of the House was
IN his seat when Clerk Mcdowell called the
House to order at u o'clock with three raps
Of the gavel. The restrained excitement of
these eager for the Roberts incident to
open. was held in absolute silence during
the earnest prayer Of the chaplain. only
to manifest Itself In a confused intangible
mJrmur al the word Amen" During the
prayer there was an unusual attitude of de-
youtness on the part Of the galleries hold
ing so many earnest and enthusiastic wo-
men.
Immediately after the prayer the roll of
the members was called
During he morning there was much con-
sUlting among the minority as 10 the course
TO- he followed by them when objection
was made 10 Roberts taking his oath Mr
Richardson having been selected as leader
Of the minority. he was very generally con-
suited on the subject. Some Individual
members were much exercised over the
prospect OF dangerous precedent being
made by the method Of procedure proposed
and wanted to make a strong minority
protest against Il on constitutional grounds
Tie consensus Of opinion. however. an
Ueared To be that party should not be con-
sidered in the matter. but that each indi-
vidual member sho uld decide his course for
himself, most Of The minority being ready
To- vote to uns-at Roberts by expulsion after
due form Of a hearing.
1t was generally agreed among them that
all they would want would be an oppor-
tunity 10 state their views OF the way the
matter shOuli bc reached and 70 protest
against The precedent OF objection TO oath
of "a member duly certified.
Program of the Majority
The majority prepared their program
carefully before the House met providing
for any contingency OF opposition.
II was decided that Mr Taylor Of Ohio. in
making the objection TO Roberts and offer
ing the resolution referring the matter 10
8 CCmUajrtee. should hold the floor ready to
call the previous question at any minute.
merely yielding time TO those desiring to
discuss the matter. 1t was decided also
that Il any objection was made to another
member taking the oath by way of reprisaI
the case should be decided by vote in each
Instance every member voting except the
one whose case might be under considera-
uoH- This was merely a precautionary
measure
Nominations for Speaker
-Four names were put in nomination when
II came 20 tho election Of Speaker.
Mr- Grosveaor presented the name Of
Gen Henderson Of Iowa for the ren,bu
cans. Mr.. Hay presented the name or NJ
Richardson Of Tennessee for the democrats.
Mr.. Ridgely presented the name OF Bell of
Colorado for the popunsts and Mr.. Wilson
named Newlands for the silver republicans
Gen. Henderson Elected.
Mr.. Morris Of Minnesota Mr. Overstreet
of Indiana and Mr. Carmack OF Tennessee
were appointed teliers.
Mr.. NewIands himself candidate. voted
for Mr. Richardson The roll call resulted:
Henderson. III; Richardson IaS: Bell. 4.
and y =wlands , The clerk thereupon an
nOunced the election of Mr.. Henderson
amid great republican applause. He desig-
mated Mr. Richardson, Mr.. Bell and Mr.