The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-12-04
Reading of Message
Chief Feature.
Adjournment Out Of Respect
For Dead Members.

Washington, December 3.-Ths house
of Representatives presented brilliant
spectacle when Speaker Henderson called
the second session OF the 56th Congress
to order at noon today. Flowers adorned
the desks of half the members and gave
the vast hall the appearance OF a garden.
Tne great proportion Of the flowers We're
on the Republican side and one could
mark the geographical limits Of the VIC
torious party in the recent campaign by
the flowers AS the hands of the clock
opposite the Speakers desk pointed to
noon the Speaker entered the nall from
the rear lobby and assembled the rostrum,
and with stroke of his gayel called the
house to order.
The members arose in their places and
stood reverently with bowed heads while
the chaplain lifted up his voics in
prayer.
As soon as the prayer had been con-
oluded the Speaker directed the cierk to
call the roll.
Just before the roll was completed
message was received from the Senate
announcing that committee had been
appointed to Join a similar committee
from the House to notify the President
that the two houses were ready to receive
any communication he might make TO
them.
The Speaker announced that 275 mem
bers had responded to their names-a
ouorum-and that the House was ready
for business. A number OF members
elect then appeared at the bar Of the
House and took the oath.
MIR. Bailey OF Texas questioned the
form OF the resignation OF Representative
Doliver. He said he doubted the right
OF members TO reEign at p future fixed
date. He said he would not raise the
uoint but merely called attention TO 1t so
that In future it could not be brought
as a prenedant.
The Speaker stated that inasmuoh
as objection had been made MIR. Connor
would step aside until the protest hand
been disposed Of.
The Speaker announced the appoint
ment OF Mr. Baboock of Wisconsin on
the committee on WAYS and ~means tC
succeed MIR. Dolliver. Upon motion oi
Mr. Payne. Republican OF New York
the Speaker then appointed Msssrs
PAYNE Repu blican OF New York, Gros-
venor, Republican of Ohio and Richard
son, Democrat OF Tennessee, to join the
committee of the Senate to notify the
President that Congress was In session
and ready to receive any communication
from him. The clerk also was directed
BY resolution to notify the Senate thai
the House was ready to do business
After the adoption OF these formal reso-
lutiUns the House at l O'Clock took re-
cess until 2 O'Clock.
At 2 O'Clock the HOUSE reaseem bled.
Mr. Payne of the committee to wait
upon the President reported that the
committee mad performed Its duty and
that the Presidents would communicate
Immediately in writing. Thereupon
Major Prudsn, one OF the President s
secretaries, announced the message
which, by the direction OF the Speaker
was immedia tely laid before the House
The reading of the message was listened
to attentively. The reading occupied
two hours and ten minutes. There was
no demonstration during the reading, but
as the clerk finished there was q scatter
ing round of applause on the Republican
side.
The deaths of the late Representative
Hoffecker or Delaware, the late Repre-
sentative DAILY OF New Jersey, the late
Senator Gear Of Iowa, the late Senator
Davis of Minnesota were announced aud
after the adoption of resolutions of regret
the House, as n further mark OF respect
to the memory OF the deceased statesmen,
Mt 4 20 D. IN. adjourned.