The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-05
OPENING EVENTS N
NATIONAL CONGRESS.
Continued From Page one.

Continued From Page one.
adopt them was very brief. They we're
adopted by strict party vote.
Monster Anti-Roberts Petition.
Very early In the day monster petit
ton, said to consist of 7.000.00O names.
protesting against the seating OF Mr..
Roberts. was brought into the hail. IL
had been collected by New York news
paper. 1t consisted of twenty-eight rolls
Of names, each about two feet In dame
ter, encased in the American nag. These
rolls were stacked up in the area In front
OF the clerks desk and we're viewed with
great curiosity. Later Major Mcdowell.
clerk OF the house. ordered all except two
Of the rolls taken out Of the lobby.
Mr. Richardson OF Tennessee. leader OF
the minority, came upon the hcor carry,
and was soon surrounded by group OF
Democrats.
Mr. Roberts came into the hail shortly
after II o'clock, but he was not generally
recognized. and he retired to the cloak
room almost Immediately. At 1l:3o shrtll
voiced clerk directed those not entitled to
the Moor to retire. and officers and pages
rapidly cleared out those already In.
Cynosure of All Eyes.
Senator Rawlins, OF Utah. came over
from the senate wing, and held an earnest
Ohio, took part in the conference. After
It was over, the report was circulated that
Mr.. Roberts would not present himself TO
be sworn in. But this was Immediately
denied. Mr.. Roberts, himself, said he had
not decided what he would do. but that he
might desire TO be heard when his case
came up. He took a seat TO the right OF
the main aisle, and soon became the cyno-
sure OF all eyes. His daughter sat In tho
members gallery.
Mr.. Taylor, Of Ohio, who represents Pres
ident McKinley's district, who was to con-.
duct the case against Mr. Roberts. was
comforting with his colleagues on the Re-
publican side.
House Called to Order.
As the minute hand OF the clock opposite
the speakers rostrum overlook the hour
hand. at noon. the gavel of the clerk OF the
last house, Maj. Mcdowell. descended with
a bang The indescribabie buzz ceased.
The members at once arose and the spec
tators In the galleries bowed their heads
In this stiffness the voice of the blind chap
lain was elevated. and his prayer made
the occasion reverent
After the Invocation, the reading clerk
began calling the roll Roberts sat listen
ing intently for his name. and when It was
called he responded. Here" in loud
voice, but he looked nervous and ill-at-
ease. There were no demonstrations dur
ing the roll call
When It was concluded Mr.. Mcdowell
announced $50 members had answered to
their names, q quorum.
Election of Speaker.
1.-THE next thing in order" announced the
clerk. SIS the election of speaker Gros-
venor (Ohio) presented the name Of Hen
derson Iowa. The mention Of the name of
Gen. Henderson was greeted with a round
Of applause from the Republican side Hay
(virginia) nominated Richardson CTennes-
see). and his name drew the plaudits of the
Democratic side. Ridgely (Kansas) nonain-
ated John g. Bell (Colorado) as the Popu-
list candidate, and Wilson. Of Idaho, placed
Francis q. Newlands, of Nevada, IN nonin-
alton as the candidate OF the silver party
The roll call resulted, Henderson, III;
Richardson, 153; Bell, 4: Newlands. O. The
clerk thereupon announced the election OF
Henderson amid great Republican APP
plause He designated Mr.. Richardson,
Mr. Bell and Mr.. Newlands as commit
tee to escort the speaker to the chair.
The committee retired to the lobby, and
after a short wait the main door of the
portal Of the house swung open and Gen.
Henderson entered upon the arm of Mr..
Richardson, followed by the two other
members Of tho committee.
spe sl<er Henderson's Address.
When the speaker assembled the rostrum
Mr.. Richardson, In a neat speech, intro
duced him, and, in response to the hearty
cheers, he addressed the house as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen of the house or representa-
tives: The voice of this house has called
me to grave responsibilities. For that call
am most profoundly grateful, and I am
keenly sensible of the weight of the re-
sponsibilities that attach to this great
Office. I am encouraged. however. by the
thought that no member of this body can
escape responsibility. either to his people
or to his country. All Of us are under
bonds to do our best.
THE approval OF the country, the ap-
prevail of ones own conscience, the at
tainment of great results, are not Sc
cured by petty contests on narrow fields.
but must be sought and won on broad,
patriotic lines of thought and action
1T is my duty, as II will be my aim
and pleasure. to impartially administer
the laws adopted by our government. but
no speaker can be successful unless he
has tho cooperation of the members of
this house.
THE generous partially and kindness
that have been shown to me by the en-
tire membership here encourage me to
believe that such imperfections as may
have will be modified by the considerable
and supporting disposition of those con-
shutting this great body.
II am ready to take the oath of Of
flee"
Members Sworn In.
In accordance with the time-honored
custom, the Oldest member Of the house
In point of service, Br. Harmon, of
Pennsylvania administered the oath ia
the speaker. The speaker then ANNOUNCE
ed that the oath would be administered
to the members by states. AS the names
of the members were called they appear
ed at the bar, in groups of about dozen,
and there. with raised hands, were sworn
in by the speaker
The moment for which all present were
anxiously waiting came when the state
of Utah and Mr.. Roberts name was
called. Instantly a hush fell upon the
assembly. Taylor of Ohio was ON his
feet asking for recognition. The speaker
recognized him Immediately.
oDJectfnE to Roberts.