Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-05
Mr.. ROBERTS STOOD ASIDE
The Case Of the Mormon Representative
Referred

Referred
TO A SPECIAL COMMITTEE WHICH
WILL GIVE A FULL INVESTIGA-
TION BEFORE FINAL ACTON IS
| TAKEN-T4E OATH OF OFFICES
NOT ADaIINISTERED-UNUS-
UAL CROWDS DRAWN TO THE
HOUSE BY THE ROBERTS CASE.
Mr.. HENDERSON ELECTED
SPEAKER, AND THE REED
RULES AGAIN ADOPTED.
WASHINGTON. December 4.-Enor-
nous crowds witnessed the opening
scenes in the House to-day. The prin-
cipal interest conferred in the DISPOSE
ton Of the case Of Mr.. Roberts. the
Mormon representative from Utah.
Those who anticipated sensational
announcement, were disappointed.
There was not a protest from any
/ quarter against the objection to the
administration OF the oath to Mr.. Rob
erts but on the contrary, the only voice
raised except that of Mr.. Taylor's was
| that OF McRae, a Democrat. Of Ar
kansas, who joined with Mr.. Taylor in
his protest.
/ "A +I DNao rA
| in to-day, he secured a seat. This, how
ever, was by an accident pure and
simple. In the seat drawing lottery,
no provision had been made for Mr..
/ Roberts, but when the drawing was
I completed, two others as we'll as him
I SELF had not been provided with seats
and the Speaker asked and secured
from the House the general permission
/ for those members who had not drawn
seats to make such selections as they
could. Under this authority Mr.. Rob-
erts got a seat in an obscure portion
of the hall His daughter sat in the
gallery and watched the proceedings
/ from beginning to END.
Seldom, if ever, have such enormous
| crowds swarmed about the house to
witness the opening scenes of the ses-
sion as hesieged the doors to-day.
For hours before noon people streamed
| through the corridors to the galleries
The ladies' and members galleries
were filed with brilliantly gowned
women, the wives of members and
their friends. The executive gallery
was filled with high dignitaries of the
| government and the diplomatic gal
| lery respondent with the representa-
tives of foreign governments.
Very early in the day a monster
petition, said to consist of seven mil
| lion names, protesting against the
seating of Mr.. Roberts was brought
into the hall. 1t had been collected
by New York newspaper. It consist
ed of twenty-eight rolls of names, each
I about two feet in diameter, encased in
the American 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
Mr.. Richardson, of Tennessee, came
early and was soon surrounded by a
group of Democrats. Mr. Roberts
came shortly after II o'clock, but he
was not generally recognized, and he
retired to the cloak room almost i'm
mediately.
Conspicuous on the floor were the
old veterans. Payne. of New York, the
leader Of the majority; Gen. Grosven-
or, of Ohio; Mr.. Hepburn, of Iowa;
Mr.. Dalzel, of Pennsylvania; Mr..
Bailey, of Texas; and Mr. Sulzer, of
New York.
Senator Rawlins, of Utah, came over
from the Senate wing and held an
earnest conference with Mr.. Roberts.
Mr.. Lentz, of Ohio, took part in the
| conference. Mr.. Roberts took a seat
to the right Of the main aisle and soon
became the cynosure of all eyes. His
daughter sat in the members gallery.
Mr.. Taylor, of Ohio, who represents
President McKinley's district, who was
to conduct the case against Mr.. Rob-
erts, was comforting with his col
leagues on the Republican side.
Mr.. Roberts sat listening intentiy
for his name, and when it was called
he responded Here" in a loud voice.
But he looked nervous and i'll at ease.
1.-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 pro-
coed to the election Of a Speaker for
the Fifty-sixth Congress. Dir. Gros-
venor, of Ohio, presented the name of
David B. Henderson, Of Iowa Mr..
Hay, of Virginia, nominated James D.
Richardson. OF Tennessee. Mr. Ridg-