Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-05
ROBERTS STEPS ASIDE
Tayler Of Ohio objeo,s to Administration of
Oath to Utah Man.
MRAe ALSO ENTERS HIS PROTEST
Question Goes Over for a Day to Allow
House to Organise
HEPBURN TO SIT IN CHEROKEE STRIP
Given Splendid Reception When He
Moves Over to Democratic Side.
VETERANS GIVE HENDERSON A BOUQUET
Old Comrades mt Dubuque Show Their
Fricndship for the Man who Pre-
sides over the Deliberations
of the House.
WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-Enormous
crowds witnessed the opening scenes in the
house today. The principal interest centered
In the disposition OF the case OF Roberts
the Mormon representative from Utah.
Ihose who anticipated a sensational de-
nouement were disappointed. The pro-
gram outlined by the republican leaders at
their conference on Friday night was par
TALLY carried out The objection to the ad-
ministration OF the oath to Roberts was en-
tered by Tayler OF Ohio, as predicted, and
he stepped aside without protest. except IN
ask II by doing so he waived any of his
rights. To this the speaker responded I'm
the negative.
There was not a protest from any quarter
against the objection to the administration
OF the oath TO Roberts. But on the con-
trary, the only voice raised, except that of
| Taylers, was that of McRae. democrat OF
Arkansas, who Joined with Tayler in his
protest Tayler offered his resolution to re-
FER the case to a special committee, but by
mutual arrangement the consideration of
the resolution postponed until tomor-
row in order that the routine business in
connection with the organization might be
transacted.
Although Roberts was not sworn in. he
accident and simple. In the seat drawing
lottery no provision had been made for
| Roberts, but when the drawing was com
pleted two others as well as himself 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 Roberts got a
seat in an obscure portion Of the hall. His
daughter sat in the gallery and watched the
proceedings from beginning to end. The
election of Speaker Henderson and his in
PRODUCTION into office, the appointment of
the usual committees to wait upon the
tpresident, went off without a hitch. The
only other feature out of the ordinary was
the adoption of the Reed rules for the pres
ent congress- The democrats knew 1T was
futile to more than protest against the
adoption of these rules after the republicans
had decided upon this course in caucus and
the debate upon the resolution TO adopt
them was very brief. They were adopted
| by strict party vote
Throngs Come EARLY.
Early in the day the throngs began con-
verging at the capitol. The day was bright
and propitious and the thoroughfares lead
ing to the building presented gay and ami
mated appearance Within the building all
was hustle and excitement long before the
hour for calling the houses to order The
outer doors were open to all, and through
these flowed continuous streams Of human
ity, until the great corridors, galleries and
rotundas were fairly packed.
AS early as 1890 o'clock the conspicuous
figures of congress began to arrive, and
this served to give the waiting throngs a
temporary diversion. General Henderson
4 IN ia
where he shared his time with the house
leaders and with those pleading for admis-
sion cards.
| Representative Richardson of Tennessee
the democratic house leader, was also early
on the scene, comforting with his lieuten-
ants. Shortly before IL o'clock Mr.. Roberts
of Utah. in silk hat and black frock suit,
made his way through the crowd to the
members private lobby. Here he CHANGED
to meet Mr.. Richardson and the two held a
short conference as to whether Mr.. Roberts
would seek to address the house. A buzz
of comment followed the gentleman from
! Utah wherever he went, but there no
disrespectiul demonstration
Present Monster Petition.
Very early in the day monster petition,
said to consist of 100000 names, protesting
against the seating of Mr. Roberts, was
lected by a New York newspaper. In con-
sisted of twenty eight rolls of names, each
about two feet in diameter, encased in the
American flag These rolls were stacked up
in the arena 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, who was Sc
lected as the leader OF the minority Satur-
day, came upon the floor early and was soon
surrounded by a group Of democrats. Mr..
Roberts came into the hall shortly after II
O'Clock, but he was not generally recognized
and he retired to the cloak room almost I'M
mediately.
At 1870 a shrill-voiced clerk directed those
not entitled TO the floor to retire. and ofi-
GERS and pages rapidly cleared out those
already in.
Conspicuous on the floor were the old vet
erans, Payne OF New York, the leader of the
majority; General Grosvenor Of Ohio, Mr.
Hepburn OF Iowa, Mr.. Dalzell OF Pennsyl-
vania, Mr.. Bailey OF Texas, Mr.. Mcclellan
and Mr.. Sulzer of New York
RnwIins Confers with Roberts.
Senator Rawlins OF Utah came over from
the senate wing and held an earnest confer
ence with Mr. Roberts. Mr. Lentz of Ohio
took part in the conference. After 1t was
over the report was circulated that Mr.. Rob
erts would not present himself to be sworn
in. But this was Immediately denied. Mr.
Roberts himself said he had not decided
what he would do, but that he might desire
to be heard when his case came up. He
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.. Tayler OF Ohio, who represents Presi-
dent McKinley's district who was to con-
duct the case against Mr. Roberts, was
ferring with his colleagues on the repub-
lcan side.
AS the minute hand on the clock opposite
the speakers rostrum overlook the hour