Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-12-04
! The FIftystxkh conetess Open
81: ca at Eoonin Presence Of
An Immense Crowd.
PROTEST AGAINST ROBERTS
Quay, OF Pennsylvania. Also
Comes In for Some Opposi-
tion. Likewise Clark
of Montana. So

Washington, Dec. 4-The opening
of the 56th Congress at noon today
attracted wide. spread attention. Far
reaching questions awaiting consid-
Grafton, gave unusual importance to
the return of Congress. Aside from
this, the Roberts case introduced a
pnase which promised something out
side of the ordinary, developments of
the opening day. Early in the day
throngs began converging. at the cap
itol. Seldom, If ever, had such a
crowd. sought; admission. Admission
was only by card.
Scattered through the galleries
were people prominent in the politi-
CAL social and financial world. Al
monster petition, said to consist of
1000, O0oS names. protesting against
the seating Of Roberts of Utah, was
. brought into the hail. 1t had been
collected sby a New York newspaper.
I 1t Consisted of ;2s rolls, each about
two feet in diameter, encased in an
American flag. Mr. Richardson of
Tennessee, swho was selected as the
ieader:of the. minority Saturday came
uponS the door early and was soon
surrounded by Democrats. Roberts
came into the hall shortly after II
oclocl1;S but retired to the cloak room
almost Immediately. Senator Raw
Inns, of Utah, came over from the
senate and held an earnest confer
enee with Roberts. The death of
Vice President Hobart cast pail over
the preliminary proceeding. AS usual
on opening days the session senate
chamber was a veritable conservatory
scarcely senator was forgotten in
the lavish floral display.
= SENATE.
Washington, Dec. A. Senate
Promptly at noon Mr.. FRYE, president
pro-tempore, called the Senate to or
der. The blind chaplain. Milburn,
pronounced the invocation. making a
touching reference to the death of
Hobart. Bacon, of Georgia, present
ed on behalf of Mallory of Florida,
who was detained by illness, the Gre
dentials OF Senator Elect Taliaferro,
OF Florida. They were filed Pen
rose of Pennsylvah' presented the
credentials of Matthew Stanley Quay,
appointed senator from Pennsylvania
by the governor. On motion Of Cock
rell of Missouri, the credentials OF
Quay were referred to the committee
on privileges and elections. Chand-
Ter of New hampshire introduced a
resolution that Quay be admitted as
senator from Pennsylvania The res
olution also went to the committee.
Remonstrances AMI memorials against
the seating Of. Quay were presented
by Burrows, Republican, Michigan,
and Jones, Democrat, Arkansas.
The credentials of Hayward, of Ne
braska, were presented and subse-
quently announcement was made by
Thurston of Nebraska, that owing 10
critical illness Hayward was unable to
be present.
BY direction of the chair the new
senators were presented to the sec
retary's desk, where the oath of of-
ace was administered by President
Frye. After administration Of the
OATH roll call showed the presence OF
7S members. ..js
Cullom, of Illinois, offered the usual
resolution that the secretary of the
senate inform the House Of Represen
tatives that it was ready to proceet
with business.
Carter, of Montana. presented {
protest against the seating of Senator
Elect Clark, of Montana; also a pc
tition from the governor and othe
prominent citizens Of Montana, fol
an early hearing. The entire matte
was referred to the committee OF
privileges and elections. Sewell
New Jersy, offered a resolution on th'
death of the vice president whicl
was adopted. The Senate then ad
journed.
HOUSE.
Washington, Dec. 4-Lenz, of Ohio
took part in the conference. After
was over a report was circulated tina
Roberts would not present himself t
be sworn in. This was immediatel
denied. Roberts said he had not Dc
etdea what he would do but he nigh
desire to be heard when bis gas
came up. He took his seat to tn
right Of the main aisle. Tayler
Ohio, who represents President M
Kinleys districtsand who was to col
duct the case against Roberts, wa
eonferring with his colleagues on tn
Republican side. At noon. the gray.
OF Clerk Major Mcdowell descende
with bang. blind chaplain, Re
Henry Couden, Michigan, offered a
Invocation. Reading clerk began cal
ing roll. s.
Roberts sat listening intentiy fc
his name and when 1t was ealle
responded here" In loud voice. Bt
he looked n0rvous and Ill at cas-
Clerk Mcdowell announced that 81
members answered to their name
Hepburn. of Iowa, offered a resol
tioh which was adopked.. viva voc
providing that the House proceed