Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-07
INITIAL SESSION OF THE HOUSE.
Organization of the Body Perfected
md IerisIatiye wheels started.

the Senate, extended over very Dil'A
space Of time. but the proceedings were
highly interesting:
Precisely at the noon hour Mr.. Thomas
II. Bigger raped three times with the
gavel. and said: by authority vested in
me as Clerk. | call this body to order;
the Sergeant-at-Arms will please close
the door: the members will please find
seats" The request to the members was
promptly obeyed, and the hubbub which
had prevailed was silenc6d as Rev. Mr..
Barr arose and invoked Divine guidance
and blessing. His prayer was.as follows:
Almighty and ever blessed God, before
the mountains were brought forth or
even Thou hadst formed the earth ana
the world. even from everlasting 10 ever
lasting Thou art God. Thou sittest upon
the circle Of the earth and its inhabltantS
in Thy presence are but dust Before
Thee angels veil their faces and all the
hosts Of Heaven cry: Holy, holy, nOiy'
Lord God almighty. But we adore lnee
not only for Thy great glory, but Tor
Thv condescensiOn in coming niSn 10 us
through Thy Son, Jesus Christ. AS we
look forward to the season that COM
memorates His coming 10 Visit US III
great humility, we adore Ihee not only
because Thou art the high and molly one
in the image Of Thy Son we behold Thee
speaking TO MS and forgiving US and
making us one with Thyself. so thar,
poor and sinful though we be. we may
come boldly to n throne of grace.
Through Thy Son we know that Thou
dost rule in human destinies. and we
render Thee our thanks for my mercles
10 US as a nation; for Thy protection IN
all upheavais, for all heroic deeds Ihou
hast inspired; for every righteous VIC
tory Thou hast permitted; Tor al the
strengthening OF our hands, ana Tor All
restraints Thou hast imposed we render
Thee our thanks And we thank 1hee
for Thy goodness TO us as q common
wealth. for our abundance ana PROS
perity: for our traditions and history;
for the way in which Thou hast led us
even through fiery trial into a large ana
wealthy place. we yield Tnee GRATITUDE
And mayest Thou. the God or our IA
theirs. give US grace to be faithful 10 1nee
always, and remember, in every Crisis
that may befan. that only righteousness
exaltcth n people.
Be with those who are gathered here
to represent and conserve the interests
Of our great Commonwealth. quicken
the conscience and understanding or each
that he may be faithful as steward
and diligent as 4 servant. Preside over
and guide all the deliberations or TINS
body. 10 the end that justice and right
eousness may flourish I'm all our borders
Almighty God. the fountain Of all Wis
dom who knOwest our necessities before
we ask, and our ignorance In asking, we
besoech Thee to have compassion upon
our inhrmities and those things whicn
for our unwOrthiness we dare not, and
for our blindness We cannot, ask, Vouchc
safe TO give us for the Worthiness or
Thy Son. Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen
As soon as the prayer had been con-
GUIDED Mr.. Bigger retired from the desk
Goth ta41 for
many years presided. and left the hall
Mr.. Sam w. Bigger called the roll Of the
House. each OF the one hundred members
responding to his name, except Mr.. Harry
]. Ayres. OF wise county. The oath of
office was administered TO the delegates.
standing after which the business Of or
ganizing the body was proceeded with.
Mr.. w. p. McRae. of Petersburg, In n
few well-ch0sen words, nominated Hon.
r. W. Saunders. Of Franklin, to be
Speaker OF the House. Mr.. Saunders re-
ceived ninety-eight votes. one member
being present hut not voting. lie was de-
clared duly elected TO the speakership,
and Messrs McRae. Boaz. and Folkes
were appointed a committee TO notify
him of his election.
SPEECH OF THE NEW SPEAKER.
When Mr.. Saunders entered the hall
he was given loud applause. As he as
cended to the Speaker chair, Mr.. Bigger
presented him with the savel. the in
sigma Of his office, and Mr. {. Lee Moore
administered the oath OF office. Mr..
Saunders, as soon as he had subscribed 70
the oath, addressed the House, max
ING a strong speech. full of thankfulness
for the honor conferred upon him.
Mr.. Saunders first returned his thanks
70 the body for the high honor confer
red upon him, and pledged his efforts TO
nresjde fairly over the deliberations OF
the body He paid a high tribute to mis-
PREDECESSOR. Hon. John f.. Ryan. and
alluded in glowing terms to the care
which had always been exercised by the
members OF Virginia's House of Delegates
i'm examining and scrut.aizllg proposed
legislation.
OTHER OFFICERS ARE ELECTED.
Mr.. Saunders was loudly applauded
when he took his seat When the applause
had subsidized the Speaker called fof
nominations for the office of Clerk OF the
House. Mr.. HUBBARD, of Buckingham,
placed Mr. William Henry Mann, OF Pc
tersburg. in nomination, and the young
nominee was elected by reclamation. Mr..
Hubbard was delegated TO bring Mr.. Mann
before the House. and he, too, was liDe-
rally applauded as he entered. He was
sworn In by Mr.. Moore. and after SUD-
scrlblng 20 the oath of Office returned
his thanks TO the body. He said: Il de-
sire merely TO renew the thanks which
| extended the caucus last night, and to
pledge my best efforts TO the fuliilmenI
of the duties of the office with which you
have honored me-
Mr.. J. NJ. Johnson, OF Rockbridge. was
then elected Sergeant-at-Armsi Mr. Ar
thur O. Sullivan. OF Montgomery, was
elected First Doorkeeper. and Mr.
Lipscomb. of King and Queen, was elect
ed Second Doorkeeper.
This completed the organization OF the
House. and Mr.. Pitcher moved that the
rules OF the last House be made appli-
cable TO this. This was adopted, and the
Sneaker appointed Mr.. McRae 20 notify
the Senate that the House was ready t'
nroceed with business. Hon. III. T. Wick
ham al that moment appeared and gave
ike information with reference 70 th'
| Senate.
Mr.. Dupuy offered joint resolution
| that a committee OF ne from the Senate
and seven from the touse be appointed
10 notify the Governor that the Genera
| Assembly had organized. The resolution
| was adopted. and the Speaker appointed
| Mcssrs. Dupuy Galleher. Gregory, Ayers
Nottingham. Barclay, and Davis as th'
committee on the part OF the House.
TRIBUTE TO COLONEL BIGGER.
While this committee was out Hon
| 1, = ID potfasan offereu the following