The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-04
BILL BY Mr.. CRU MPACKER
Would Increase the House Member
ship From 357 365.
THIS STATE WOULD LOSE 4 coNGREssMEN
And the Representation Of Kansas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina
and Virginia Would be Cut
as We'll.
as Well.
(By the Associated Press.)


Washington, Dec S.-Girded by over
flowing galleries, bathed in light from the
stained glass windows overhead, the Hall
of Representatives presented a brilliant
spectacle when Speaker Davis Bremmer
Henderson called the second session of
the Fifty-sitxh Congress to order at noon
today. The desks of half of the members
were freighted with flowers. The wealth
and beauty of the capital, gowned in
smart winter frocks, were in the CALLER
les. The floral pieces were of infinite
beauty The greater portion were on the
Republican side.
AS the hands of the clock opposite the
Speakers desk pointed to noon, the
Speaker assembled the rostrum and called
the House to order. Then the chaplain,
lifted up his voice in prayer. The chap
lain referred feelingly to the deaths of
the late Representatives DAILY, of New
Jersey, and Hoeffecker, of Delaware,
which occurred during the recess. After
the prayer the clerk called the roll. The
confusion became SO great that the clerk
could not hear the responses and the
Speaker was obliged several times to call
for order. The. usual notifications were
received from the Senate that it was
ready for business and had appointed
Senators to wait on the President.
The Speaker announced that 275 mem
bers had responded to their names;
quorum and the House was ready for
business. The following members elected
then appeared at the bar of the House and
took the oath of allegiance:
Albert D. Shaw, who succeeds the late
Representative Chickering, of New York:
Allen F. McDermott, who succeeds the
late Representative DAILY, of New Jer-
sey: Walter o. Hoeffecker, who succeeds
the late Representative Hoeffecker Of
Delaware; Edward Dew. Morrell who sue
ceeds the late Representative Harmer, of
Pennsylvania: William Rich, who succeeds
General Joe Wheeler of Alabama; w. Fl.
Jackson, who succeeds Governor Smith,
of Maryland; Samuel d. Woods, who sue
ceeds Representative DeVries, of Cali
fornia.
Mr.. Bailey, of Texas, questioned the
form of the resignation of Representative
Dolliver, whose successor, Mr.. ]. P. Con-
nor, was present. He said he doubted the
right of a member to resign at future
fixed date. He said he would not raise
the point formally, but merely call atten-
eOurttion to it so that in future it could
not be used as precedent
Mr.. Delivers resignation, he said. had
been rendered to take effect December
LIST, so that Mr.. Conner had been elected
to fill vacancy which did not exist at
the time of the election. He cited a
court decision to show that this was not
a resignation in fact, but simply Motif
cation of a resignation ct be made in the
future.
The Speaker stated that inasmuch as
objection had been made Conner would
step aside until the protest had been
disposed of. The Speaker announced the
appointment of Mr.. Babcock, of Wiscon-
sin, on the Committee on Ways and
Means to succeed Mr.. Dolliver.
The Speaker appointed Messrs. Payne
(Rep.. NJ W; Grosvenor Rep) Ohio,
and Richardson Dem. TENN, TO join
committee OF the Senate to wait on the
President. The clerk of the House also
was directed to give similar notice to the
Senate, after which recess was taken I'M
til 2 o'clock. On reassembIing Mr.. Payne
announced the President would communi-
cate Immediately in writing. Thereupon
Major Pruden one of the Presidents
secretaries, announced the message which
by the direction of the Speaker, was i'm
mediately laid before the House. The
reading of the message was listened to
attentively. 1t occupied two hours and
ten minutes. There were no demonstra
tons during the reading.
The deaths of the late Representative
Hoffecker, of Delaware, the late Repre-
sentative Daily, Of New Jersey; the late
Senator Gear. of Iowa, and the late SEN
ator Davis, of Minnesota, were announced
and after the adoption of resolutions of
regret the House as a further mark of
respect to the memory of the deceased
statesman, at 4:2O p. m. adjourned