Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-12-05
CONGRESS ONCE
MORE AT WORK
Y-SEVENTH BODY OF LEGIS-
LATORs ORGANIZES.
BIC GATHERINGS PRESENT
But Proceedings Unmarked by Any
Sensational Features-Gen. Hen
derson Reelected Speaker of
House and Mr.Frye Resumes Gavel
in Senate-Flowers for Solons.

Washington. Dec. 3.-The opening
day Of the first session Of the 57th
congress in the house furnished a
spectacle that delighted the crowded
galleries. The machinery of the
house is cumbrous and set in motion
Gy laboriou5 process, but the spec
,ators Yesterday evidently did not con
slider it TEDIOUS as they clung to their
nIacas through the entire proceed
ingg which lased four and one half
hours, probably half the time being
consumed in monotonOus calling OF
the roll. The organization Of the
house was accomplished according to
the ,irue-hOnOrcd precedents.
Every chair except those IL the dip
lon.atlc and executive galleries was
occupied when at Y o'clock Clerk
Mcdowell announced that prayer
would be offered. The members and
many spectators arose and stood With
bowed heads as Rev MI COuden, The
blind chaplain, invoked divine bless
ing. The roll Of members was then
called and the election Of speaker be
Gan resulting in the choice Of MI.
Henderson Of Iowa by 1870 to 149 for
Mr.. Richardson Of Tennessee. The
speaker was warmly received and
after being escorted to the chair said
"Tbis high honor which you have con
ferred upon me, / profoundly appre-
ciate. All the more do ! appreciate
il coming as it does with this gener-
GUS expression from both sides OF
the chamber There ~ yet left
another method for a presiding OF
fiCer 10 express appreciation OF such
honor; that is, by kindly, firm and
faithful administration of law and the
rules that govern this body. 1t will
be my aim to discharge impartially
the duties Of this office. AS | said at
the opening Of the last congress no
presiding officer can successfully ad-
minister the duties Of his office unless
he has the support of the body over
which he presides. ! asked for it
then. YOU gave it to me throughout
the entire congress. Permit me
once more to invoke that patience,
kind and splendid support which was
accorded me in tn last congress.
The maker Of laws should not be the
breaker Of the laws. We proceed
under law and rules; and the duties
devOlving upon each and all in this
house will be far better conserved if
this principle is kept in mind and
acted upon"
Speaker Henderson was sworn in
by General Bingham father of the
house" and after delivering a very
graceful speech in recognition Of
the honor bestowed upon him he in
tMrn administered the oath to the
members-elcCt The usual commit
tees We're appointed to inform the
president and senate that the house
was organized and ready to do bust
ness. A committee of three. consist
ing Of Hessrs. Payne, Bingham and
Richardson was appointed join a
similar committee of the snate and
wait upon the president and inform
CnIve any communication he might
have TO make. The rules of the last
house were adopted after a slight jar,
Mr. Richardson protesting, and then
the biennial seat drawing occurred.
This latter ceremony was robbed of
much Of its interest yesterday by the
fact that under the new arrange
ments Of seats there are more than
enough 10 go around and those whose
names are drawn last do not suffer as
they did on former occasions. The
Hover show which is a great feature
Of the opening day was not as i'm
posing as usual More flowers than
ever before were sent to members,
but 2fter the seat-drawing the house