The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1899-12-07
CONGRESS IS IN SESSION.
Galleries Thronged With Spectators
to Witness the Opening
IOB[RTs' CASE THE CENTER OF INTEREST
Henderson Elected Speaker of the
House---Ffght Opens Against
Quay---Hobart's Death Cast
Gloom Over the Senate.

WASHINGTON (SpeciaD.-The open
ing Of the Fifty-slxth congress al
noon Monday attracted that wide
spread attention which always at.
taches to the annual assembling oi
the national lawmakers. Enormous
crowds witnessed the opening scenes
In the house. The principal interest
centered in the disposition of the case
OF Mr.. Roberts, the Mormon repre-.
sentative from Utah. Those who
anticipated a sensational denouement
were disappointed. The program
outlined by the republican leaders
at their conference Friday night was
partly carried out. The objection to
the administration OF the oath to Mr..
Roberts was entered by Mr.. Taylor,
OF Ohio, as predicted, and he stepped
aside without protest, except to ask
II by doing so he waived any OF his
rights. To this the speaker respond
ed In the negative.
There was not a protest from any
quarter against the objection to the
administration Of the oath to Mr..
Roberts, but, on the contrary, the
only voice raised except that of Mr..
Taylor was that of Mr.. McRae, a
democrat, OF Arkansas, who joined
with Mr.. Taylor in his protest. Mr..
Taylor offered his resolution to refer
the case to special committee, but,
by mutual arrangement, the consid-
GRAFTON of the resolution was post
poned until Tuesday in order that the
routine business in connection with
the Organization might be transacted.
At IL 80 shrill.voiced clerk d.
rected those not entitled to the floor
to retire, and officers and pages rap
idly cleared out those already in.
AS the minute hand of the clock
opposite the speakers rostrum over
took the hour hand at noon, the gavel
of the clerk OF the last house, Major
Mcdowell, descended with a bang
The indescribable buzz ceased The
members rose and the spectators in
the house bowed the heads. In the
stiffness the voice OF the blind chap
lain. Rev. Henry Coulden OF Michi-
gan, was elevated and his prayer
1 made the occasion reverent.
clerk began calling the roll. When
1t was concluded Clerk Mcdowell an
nounced that 852 members had
answered to their names-a quorum.
s'The next thing in order" an
nounced the clerk, "is the election OF
speaker
Mr.. Hepburn, OF Iowa, offered a res
olution which was adopted viva voce,
providing that the house proceed to
the election of speaker for the Fifty
sixth congress. Thereupon Mr..
Grosvenor, OF Ohio. as chairman OF
the republican caucus, presented the
name OF David B. Henderson, of Iowa.
The name of General Henderson was
greeted with round OF applause from
the republican side OF the house, and
Mr.. Hay, of Vermont. chairman OF
the democratic caucus, nominated
James d. Richardson, OF Tennessee,
and his name drew the plaudits OF the
democratic side. !,
Mr.. Ridgeley, of Kansas, nominated
John G. Bell, OF Colorado, as the pop
ulist candidate, and Mr.. Wilson, OF
Idaho, placed Francis G. Newlands,
Of Nevada, in nomination as the can
didate OF the silver party.
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 affiliations.
The roll call resulted: Henderson
III; Richardson. l5s JBell' 4; New
lands, 2.
The clerk thereuposnn snnnounced the
election Of Mr.. Henderson amid great
republican applause. e designated
MI. Richardsdn, Nj eh and Mr:
NeHlan ~ Comm ZEE TO esoort
t|1s epee| ~ ehe chelr. Mr.. Hen.
derson took e oath epd announced
y that he Vas re3dy t0 minister the
oath to the members bF states :,
Y TIE officers Of the use selected
by tho republican q n lsst Sat
urday we're then elect Alexander
EcpoWel, Of Penns snit, clerk /,
Henfy son, Of Wiscd <6in, ssergeant'
at-Arlae ". j Glenn. ~ New York,