Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-05

a bang. The indescribable buzz ceased. The
members arose and the spectators In the
galleries bowed their heads. In this still
ness the voice of the blind chaplain, Rev
Henry Couden of Michigan, was elevated and
his prayer made the occasion reverent.
After the invocation the reading clerk
began calling the roll and minute later
the buzz had recommended, making noisy
background for the staccato notes of the
clerk as he called out the names.
Mr.. Roberts sat listening lntently for his
name and when it was called he responded
"Here!" in a loud voice. But he looked
nervous and Ill at ease. There were nc
demonstrations during the roll call. When
It was concluded Clerk Mcdowell announced
that 352 members had answered to thelI
names, quorum.
THE next thing in order" announced the
clerk, sis the election OF speaker"
Mr. Hepburn OF Iowa offered a resolution
which was adopted viva voce, providing that
the house proceed to the election OF q
speaker for the Fifty sixth congress. There
upon Mr. Grosvenor of Ohio as chairman oI
the republican caucus presented the name
OF David B. Henderson OF Iowa The men,
tion OF the name Of General Henderson was
greeted with a round of applause from the
republican side. Mr.. Hay of Virginia, chair
man of the democratic caucus, nominated
James D. Richardson OF Tennessee, and hie
name drew the plaudits OF the democratic
side Mr. Ridgely Of Kansas nominated Johr
c. Bell of Colorado as the populist candi-
date and Mr. Wilson of Idaho placed Francis
G. Newlands of Nevada in nomination as TIL:
candidate OF the silver party. Each party
having put forward its candidate, by tbs
direction of the clerk, the roll was called
and each member voted for the candidate o!
his political affilation.
Mr.. Morris of Minnesota, Mr.. Overstreet o
Indiana and Mr.. Carmack Of Tennessee were
appointed tellers. Mr.. Newlands, himself {
candidate, voted for Mr.. Richardson.
The roll call resulted: Henderson, III
Richardson, 1853; Bell, 4, and Newlands, 2
The clerk thereupon announced the election
OF Mr.. Henderson amid great republican ap'
pause. He designated Mr.. Richardson, Mr.
Bell and Mr.. Newlands as a committee tt
escort the speaker to the chair
The committee retired to the lobby and
after short wait the doors of the main por-
tai of the house swung open and General
Henderson entered upon the arm of Mr.
Richardson, followed by the two other mem
bers of the committee.
Henderson Takes the Chair.
When the new speaker assembled the ros-
trum Mr.. Richardson in a neat speech intro
duced him and in response to the hearty
cheers he addressed the house as follows:
Gentlemen OF the House Of Representa-
tives: The voice of this house mas called me
to grave responsibilities. For that call
am most profoundly grateful, and l an
keenly sensible of the weight of the respon-
ell hat IN pff1
am encouraged, however by the thought that
no member of this body can escape respon-
sbility, either to his people or to his coun-
try. All OF US are under bonds to do ouI
best.
THE approval OF the country, the ap-
proval of ones own conscience, the attain.
ment of great results are not secured by
petty contests on narrow fields, but mus
be sought and won on broad, patriotic lines
OF thought and action.
"It is my duty, as it will be my aim ant
pleasure, to impartally administer the laws
adopted for our government, but no speaker
can be successful unless he has the CO.
operation of the members OF this house
The generous impartiality and kindness that
have been shown to me by the entire mem
bership here encourage me to believe thai
such imperfections as / may have will bt
disposition of those constituting this great
body. am ready to take the oath o.
office"
In accordance with the time -honored Gus
tom the oldest member OF the house in point
OF service, Mr.. Harmer OF Pennsylvania, ad.
ministered the oath to the speaker. The
speaker then announced that the oath would
be administered to the members by states
AS the names of the members were called
they appeared at the bar in groups OF abou
q dozen and there, with raised hands, were
sworn in by the speaker.
The remaining members were then sworI
In, after which Mr. Tayler immedatel.
offered his resolution to refer the case o
Mr.. Roberts to a special committee.
An agreement was then reached by whicl
The consideration of the resolution shoulC
be postponed until tomorrow after the read
Ing of the presidents message. The excite
nent thereupon quickly subsided and man!
Of the spectators left the galleries.
\ The officers of the house selected by thu
Republican caucus last Saturday were theI
lected; Alexander Mcdowell of Pennsyl
mia, clerk; Henry Casson of Wisconsin
sgeant-at- arms; w. ]. Glenn of New
TX, doorkeeper, and j, c. McElroy o
o, postmaster. after which the usua