The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-08
IN MEMORY OF VICE PRESIDENT
Adjourn After the FormaIities of
Organizing senate Refers Senator
Quay's Credentials t. Committee.
Henderson Elected Speaker of the
Roberts Not Allowed to
Take the Oath of Omce-A Committee
to Investigate His Eligibility.
SENATE.

OF Ine flIUy-SlxLn congress. Inc SSS-
sion lasted only thirty-three minutes
only the most formal and necessary
business was transacted. After the
adoption of the usual routine resolu>
tions and the administration to the new
members Of the of oath Of office, Sena-
tor Sewell, of New Jersey, presented
fitting resolutions upon the death of
the vice president. The resolutions
were ordered to be communicated to
the house OF representatives; and the
session, on motion of Senator Kean, OF
New Jersey, was suspended at 1890
O'Clock p. m.
Senator Frye, of Maine, president
pro tenn, called the senate to order at
noon.
Senator Bacon. of Georgia, was the
first member to be recognized by the
chair. He presented on behalf Of Sen
ator Mallory, Of Florida, who was de-
tained from the session by illness, the
credentials of Senator-elect Taliaferro,
of Florida. They We're filed.
Senator Penrose, OF Pennsylvania,
presented the credentials Of Matthew
Stanley Quay, appointed senator from
Pennsylvania by the governor.
On motion of Senator Cockerel. OF
Missouri, the credentials of Senator
QUAY were referred to the committee
on privileges and elections. In this
connection Senator Chandler, of New
Hampshire, offered a resolution that
Senator Quay be admitted as a member
from Pennsylvania. .
This resolution also went to the COM
mittee ON privileges and elections.
demonstrations and memorials
against the seating of Senator Quay
were presented by Senator Burrows,
republican, of Michigan and Senator
Jones, democrat, OF Arkansas.
By. direction of the chair, the new
senators then were presented at the
secretary's desk where the oath or Office
was administered to them by the pres
ident pro tenn.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Enormous crowds witnessed the
Denim scenes in the house today. Tbs
principal interest centered in the dis
position Of the case OF Mr.. Roberts,
the Mormon representative from Utah.
The programme outlined by the repub-
lican leaders at their conference on
Friday night was partially carried out.
The objection to the administration OF
the oath to Mr.. Roberts was entered
by Mr.. Tayler, of Ohio, as predicted
and Mr.. Roberts stepped aside with
out protest, except to ask II by DONG
so he waived any of his rights. To this
the speaker responded in the negative.
Although Mr.. Roberts was not sworn
in today he secured a seat. This, now
ever, was by an accident pure and SIM
ple. In the seat drawing lottery no
provision had been made for Mr.. ROD
erts, but when the drawing was com
pleted two others as we'll as h1mselI
had not been provided with seats and
the speaker asked and secured from
the house general permission for those
members who had not drawn seats to
make such selections as they could.
Under this authority Mr.. Roberts got
a seat in an obscure portion OF the nan.
Mr.. Roberts was the observed or all
observers throughout the lay. HIS
daughter sat in the gallery ana WATCH
ed the proceedings.
The only feature out of the ordinary
was the adoption Of the Reed rules for
the present congress-. The democrats
knew it was futile to more than pro-
test against the adoption OF these rules
after the republicans had decided upon
this course in caucus and the deDate
upon the resolutions to adopt them was
very brief. They were adopted by a
strict party vote.
Very early in the day the monster
petition. said to consist of 1000, 600
names, protesting against the seating
of Mr.. Roberts, was brought into the
hall. 1t had been collected by a New
York newspaper. 1t consisted or tWen-
ty-eight rolls Of names, each about two
feet in diameter, encased in the Amer
lean flag. These rolls were stacked up
in the area in front Of the clerks desk
and were viewed with great curiosity.
Later, Major Mcdowell, clerk OF the
house, ordered all except two OF the
rolls taken out into the lobby and the
big barrier against Mr.. Roberts dwln-
died to the size of a barrel sawed in
I half, wrapped in bunting.
( AS the minute hand Of the clock OPP
Tposite the speakers rostrum overlook
the hour hand at noon, the gaVel or
the clerk of the last house, Major Nc
Dowell, standing at the desk below
the speakers rostrum, descended with
a bang. Z.
The blind chaplain, Rev. Henry Cou-
den, of Michigan, offered prayer. Then
the reading clerk began calling the
roll.
Mr.. Roberts sat listening intently for
his name and when his name was call
ed he responded here in a loud voice.
But he looked nervous and i'll at ease.
There were no demonstrations during
the roll call. When it was concluded
Clerk Mcdowell announced that 3o2
members ndO answered. " lIlI hpiAS
"a quorum. 1.-The neXt thing IN order,
announced the clerk. lis the election
of q speaker
Mr.. Hepburn, of Iowa, offered a res
olution. which was adopted, viva Voce,
providing that the hOu proceed 10 me
election of a speaker for the F1tty-
sixth congress-. ThereupOn, MI. eros
venOr, of Ohio, as chairman OF the re-
publican caucus, presented the name
of David 3. Henderson, of Iowa. The
mention of the name of General Hen
derson was greeted with a round or ap-
pIause from the republican side. Mr..
Hay. of Virginia, chairman or the
democratic caucus, nominated Ja<nes
D. Richardson, of Tennessee, and MS
name drew the plaudits of the demo
cratic side.
Mr.. Ridgley, Of Kansas, nominated
John c.. Bell, of Colorado, as the popu-
list candidate, and Mr.. Wilson, of Ida.
no placed Francis G. Newlands. OF
Nevada. in nomination as the candi-
date for the silver party.
uoCN boxipo mt for.