The state herald., 1901-12-06
scenes AT THE OPENING OF
THE FIFTY.SEVENTH CONGRESS

Washington, Dec. 3.-The opening
day OF the first session of the Fifty
seventh Congress In the House fur
nished spectacle that delighted the
crowded galleries.. The machinery OF
the House IL cumbrOus and Is set In
motion by laborious process, but the
spectators yesterday evidently did not
consider 1t tedious, as they clung to
their places through the entire pro-
ceedings. which lasted four and one
han hours, probably half the time be-
ing consumed in the mOnotonous call
ing of the roll.
The organization of the House was
accomplished according to time-hon-
Ored precedents. Speaker Henderson
was sworn In by General Bingham,
'the Father OF the House." and after
delivering n graceful speech In recog-
milton of the honor bestowed upon him,
he, In turn, administered the oath to
the members-elect. The usual COM
mittees We're appointed to inform the
President and the Senate that the
House was organized and ready to do
business; a committee Of three, con-
slsting of Messrs. Payne, Bingham and
Richardson, was appointed to join n
similar committee Of the Senate and
walt upon the President and inform
him that Congress was ready to re-
ceive any communication he might
have to make; the rules of the last
House We're adopted after slight jar,
and then the biennial seat drawing Oc-
Cured. This latter ceremony was
robbed Of much OF Its interest yester-
day by the fact that under the new
arrangement OF seats there are more
than enough TO go round. and those
whose names are drawn last do not
suffer as they did on former occa-
sions.
The flower show, which Is the great
feature of the opening day, was not as
imposing as usual. More flowers than
ever before were sent to members, but
after the seat drawing the House ad-
jOurned before n third of them We're
brought into the hall.
AT the conclusion OF the roll call
with 31S members present, Mr.. Cannon
nominated David Il. Henderson OF
Iowa, and Mr.. Hay nominated Mr..
Richardson of Tennessee for speaker.
A roll call for the election then fol-
lowed. The vote for speaker was:
tNeb.l 1: Cummings On. ", l.
Mr.. Henderson was declared elected
and escorted to the chair by the other
three men voted for. He made a brief
speech. After the election of other
Republican caucus candidates for Of
ficers of the House, Mr.. Dalzell offered
the resolutions agreed to by the Re
publican caucus Saturday for the
adoption of the rules of the last
House, with certain specified amend
ments, as the rules OF the present
House.
Mr.. Richardson moved to commit the
resolution to the committee on rules,
which was lost. 1i2 TO 1885.
The resolutions We're then adopted.
Washington. Dec. 2.-An hour before
noon yesterday both the public and
private galleries Of the Senate were
thronged. every available inch OF
standing room being occupied. Sen
ators assembled slowly and many Of
them made no attempt to reach their
seats on account of the wealth OF floral
offerings which fairly filed the desks
and aisles.
Precisely at ~ o'clock Mr.. Frye. pres.
ident pro TEN. raped for order.
The blind chaplain. Rev. Mr.. Nil
burn. then delivered nn Invocation.
Credentials were presented OF Charles
II. Dietrich and Joseph II. Millard OF
Nebraska. Alfred Il. Kittredge Of South
Dakota and Paris Gibson OF Montana.
Mr.. Frye administered to them the
oath OF office.
Formal resolutions We're offered by
MIR. Cullom that the House In notified
that the Senate was ready TO proceed
TO business: by Mr.. Allison that the
meeting OF the Senate be ~ o'clock