El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-04
The Usual Scenes Of Life
And Bustle In the
House
THE ROBERTS PYRAMID
All Eyes Fixed On a Huge
Roll Of Three Million
Signatures And On
the Utah Man

WASHINGTON, Dec. All was
hustle and excitement about the capitol
this morning in anticipation of the
opening at noon of the first session of
the Fifty-sixth congress. The mem
bers OF both houses we're early in put
ting in an appearances and as the MEM
bers of the lower house gathered in
the cloak rooms and on the floor of the
chamber there was freeinterchapge ge
of congratulations between those who
are entering upon their second, third
or fourth terms, and a general levee
for the informal Introduction 4 the
new 10 EN- bers.
NEW FACES.
There were many new faces to be
seen in the house and more than the
usual number OF familiar personages
were missing. AS the old-time MEM
Der glanced at the seats so many years
filled by Dingley, MCMILLAN, Stone of
Pennsylvania, Bland, Dockery and
Savers; and found them occupied by
new men he realized that many old
and honored landmarks have been
The new member in the senate who
probably attracted most attention was
Senator Beveridge, of Indiana, who
was kept busy from the moment he
made his appearance in the snte-room
until the noon hour in making the &C
suaintance of those of his colleagues
whom he had not met before.
THE ROBERTS PYRAMID.
An expectsnt throng as early as ten
O'Clock buzzed around the public GAL
leries and crowded the floor. But few
of the house leaders were present at
that time. The "old timers" were not
so much In demand anyhow, as the pre-
vailing question of visitors seemed to
be, "where is Roberts?" At 1905 he
came in. All ewes were focused on
him and on pyramid which had slow
ly been erected in front OF the clerks
desk. This pyramid was high, beyond
the ordinary mans reach, and consist
ed of vast rolls. arranged according to
states aud covered with flags. They
comprised three million signatures, pro-
testing against the seating of Roberts
and were gathered by the League for
Social Service and the National Anti
polyeamy League. Roberts looked at
the huge pile and smile, perhaps
evoked to conceal his annoyance, fit
ted across his face. Then he fled into
the cloak room. The pyramid, each
section with it's back ground of sight
seers, was photographed.
THE HOUSE CALLED To ORDER.
Promptly at noon the members of the
fifby-sixth congress who were present
in the house were called to order by
Clerk Mcdowell. Every member able
to reach Washington was present.
There was tremendous crush in
the galleries and thousands were un-
able to gain admittance to the crowded
corridors.
Roberts of Utah. in whom the chief
interest centered, occupied d promi-
nent seat on the democratic side.
Flowers adorned the desks of num-
ber of the leaders of the house.
The members arose when Chaplain
Coudon offered prayer.
After roll call the voting for speaker
began, resulting as follows: Hender-
son, TT: Richardson, 15S; Bell. of Col
orado, 4: Newlands, 2,
On roll call Roberts voted for Rich
ardson, the democratic candidate.
During the confusion few persons not
ed Roberts taking part in the proce ed
ings. He is therefore a recognized
member.
Shortly after the election of Speaker
Henderson, the house adjourned.
IN THE SENATE CHAMBER.
AT IL o'clock tae senate was called to
order by Mr.. Frye, of Maine, president
protein of that body.
DIR. Milourne, the blind chapl ain, In
his prayer feelingly and appropriately
alluded to the death of Vice President
Hobart.
The senate adjourned at 12:1O out of