The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-05
OPENING OF
FIFTY-SlXTH
CONGRESS
The Roberts Case Commanded the
Unusual1ntores Of the Mem
bers and Spectators.
REFERRED TO A COMMITTEE.
Henderson 1nducted Into oAee as
Speaker = Reed Rules
Adopted.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. Dec. 4.--sel-
dom, lf ever, have such enormous
crowds swarmed about the house to wlt-
ness the opening scenes OF the session a.
besIegad the doors to-day. The assem-
bling OF a new Congress always attracts
a Dig attendance. To-day the proceed
ings in the case of Representative-elect
Roberts, which promised to be exciting
AID, possibly sensational, furnished an
additional attraction. For hours be-
fore noon, the hour for the house to
meet, people streamed through the cor
rldors TO the galleries, which looked
down upon the arena where the states
men were cohgregating. BY II O'Clock
a brilliant gathering had ASSEMBLED.
| The galleries were black with people.
and through the swinging doors could
be seen hundreds who were unable 20
gain admission. Entrance was only
obtained by card, for which there was
an enormous demand. The ladies' and
members galleries were tilled with brill
| llantly-gowned women, the wives or
members and their friends The exeeu-
tive gallery was filled with high dlgni-
Itaries OF the government, and the dlplo-
matte gallery was resplendent with the
Representatives OF foreign govern
ments.
Scattered through the galleries were
people prominent In the political! social
and financial world. Very early IN the
day a monster petition, said to consist
Of seven million names, protesting
against the seating Of MT, Roberts, was
| brought into the hail. II had been
collected by New York newspaper. IT
consisted OF twenty-six rolls of names.
ench about two feet In diameter, encased
In the American nag. These rolls were
stacked up In the area In front OF the
cterk's desk, and were viewed With great
curiosity.
house, ordered all except two OF the rolls
taken out into the lobby,
As the minute hand of the clock OPP
posite the speakers rostraHn overlook
the hour hand at noon, the gavel OF the
clerk OF the house, Major Mcdowell, de-
scended with bang. The indescriba-
bio buzz ceased. The members arose,
land the spectators In the galleries bowed
| ttieir heads In this stiffness the voice
OF the blind chaplain, Rev. Henry Cou-
dcn. OF Michigan, was elevated, ana his
prayer made the OCCASION reVerent,
After- the Invocation thp-readtng rteFis
begeu calling the roll. and minute la
ter the bU2z had recommended, making
Il noisy background for the StRccato
notes OF the clerk as he called out the
names.
Mr.. Roberts sat listening intently for
his name. and when 1t was called he re-
sponded Here" in u loud voice. But he
looked nervous, and III at ease. There
were no demonstrations during the roll
call. When 1t was concluded Clerk Nc
| TN,v,nJI oVV,nUuCn5 thnt 0ED NOM hers had
answered to their names-a quorum.
"The next thing in order" announced
the clerk, "is the election Of speaker" ="
Mr.. Hepburn, of Iowa, offered a reSo-
luton, which was adopted viVe Voce,
providing that the house proceed to the
election OF speaker for the Flfty-siXth
Congress. Thereupon Mr.. Grosvenor,
of Ohio, aR chairman OF the Republican
caucus, presented ;he name OF David B.
Henderson, OF Iowa. The mention or
the name OF General Henderson was
greeted with round of applause from
the Republican side. Mr. Hay, OF Vir-
Ginia, chairman OF the Democratic cau-
Gus, nominated James d, Richardson, OF
Tennessee, and his name drew the plau-
| dts OF the Democratic side, Mr.. Ridg-
ley, OF Kansas, nominated John c. Bell,
OF Colorado. as the POpulist candidate,
( and MFR. Wilson, OF Idaho, placed Fran
els G. NewlRnds OF Nevada, in nomina-
tiOn as the candidate OF the Silver par
tY Each party having put forward its
candidate, by the direction OF the clerk
the roll was called, and each member
| voted for the candidate OF his political
afiIllintlon.
MIR. Morris, of Minnesota. Mr.. Over
street, of Indiana, and Mr.. Carmack, Of
Tennessee. were appointed tellers.
Mr.. Newlandg, himself q candidate:
voted for Mr. Richardson, The roll call
resulted Henderson, III; Richardson.
15S: Bell, 4: Newlands, 2. The clerk
thereupOn announced the election OF
Mr. Henderson, amid great Republican
applause. He designated Mr.. Richard
son, Mr.. Bell and Mr.. Newlands as
commltte to escort the speaker to the
chair.
The committc retired to the lobby,
and after a short wait the doors OF the
main portal OF the house swung open,
and General Henderson entered. upon
the arm Of Mr.. Richardson. followed by
| the two other members Of the commit
tee. When the new speaker ascended
the rostrum Mr.. Richardson, In a neat
speech. introduced him. and in response
| to the hearty cheers, he addressed the
| house as follows:
"Gentlemen Of the House OF Repre-
tatlves:-The voice Of this house has
called me to grave responsibilities For
that call am most profoundly grateful,
and I am keenly sensible to the weight
| OF the responsibilities 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-
proval OF ones own conscience, the at
| tninment 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.
ut is my duty. as Il will be my aim
and pleasure, TO impartially administer
tho laws adopted for our government,
hut no speaker can be successful unless
he has the cooperation Of the members
| OF this house.
"The generous Partially and kindness
that have been shown to me by the en-
tire membership here, encourages me to
believe that such imperfectlons ns l
may have Will be modified by the con-
slderAtlon and support OF those consts-
tuiInE this great body"
In accordance with the time-honorcd
custom, the oldest member OF the house
in point OF service, Mr.. Hnrmer. OF
Pennsylvania, administered the onth TO
the speaker The speaker then an
nuunccd that the oath would be admin
islrcd to the members by states. As the
names OF the mcmbers were called they
appeared at tile bar In groups OF about
n dozen, and there. with raised hands
were sworn IN by the clerk.
Tho moment for which all present
were nnxiousiy waiting came when the
state Of Utah and Mr.. Roberts name