Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-05
CONGRESSIONAL MATTERS.
Opening Session of Both Branches of
Congress.

SohS'SSos
Washington, Dec. Sin anticipation
of the receipt of the first message of
President Roosevelt, members of the
Senate and House assembled early de-
spite the cold, penetrating rain. The
galleries were well filled with interest
ed spectators.
At - o'clock Speaker Henderson
called the House to order. After the
journal was read and approved, Coop
er, of Texas, and Wood, of California,
who were not present yesterday, were
sworn in. On motion of Payne, OF
Florida, the leader of the majority, it
was agreed when the House adjourned
today it would be until Friday.
The speaker announced the appoint
ment of committee on rules as fol
lows: Henderson, Dalzell, Grosvenor,
Richardson and Underwood, of Ala
bama.
Bingham of Pennsylvania, at the
head of a committee appointed to wait
upon the President, reported that the
committee, accompanied by a like COM
mittees from the senate had performed
its duty and the President said he
would at once communicate with the
two houses in writing.
Two minutes later Major Pruden ap,
peared at the main entrance and an,
nounced the message from the Presi-
dent. Senator Henderson handed the
document to the reading clerk and di,
rected him to read it. Ordinarily a
Presidential message at the opening
of congress Is read in a perfunctory
manner, but today, throughout the
reading. the keenest interest was man
Tested Hardly member left his
seat until the reading was concluded
Applaud Anti-ararchistis Sentiments
There was slight murmur of ap
plause when the recommendation fol
legislation to put down anarchy was
read, as the clerk said 1.-The matter
calls urgently for the wisest thought
of congress-" but when the clerk read
THE American people are slow tC
wrath, but when that wrath is once
kindled it burns like a consuming
fame" there was burst of demon
stration.
Deep Attention on Trust Paragraph.
Probably no other portion of the
message attracted so much attention
as that relating to trusts. No demon
stration was evoked by the reading
of this portion of the message, but thu
recommendation for the ,re-enactmen
of the Chinese exclusion law drew ap
plause from both sides Of the house.
The reading of the message was con
4 oil In hn OF ~
Grosvenor than offered a resolution o
respect to the late President similar tt
the one adopted by the senate. TIT
resolution was adopted. The hous'
than, as further mark of respect, ad
iourned.
Senate.
In the Senate after some routin,
business was transacted, Major Prl
den, assistant secretary to the Presi
dent, presented the message of tn
President, the reading of which wa
begun at once by Chief Clerk Rose
Close attention was given to the read
ing by all the Senators.
A synopsis of the message togetl
er with the document in full is printe
OH pages 8, 10 and IL of this issue
Ed.
To Honor the Dead.
The reading of the message consun
ed two hours and fifteen minutes
When it was completed, Foraker Offer
ed the following resolution: THAT
committee of eleven senators be az
pointed on the part of the senate t
join such committee as shall be al
pointed on the part of the house to cor
slider the report; by what token of +,
spect and affection it may be prope
8 for the congress of the United State
to express the deep sensibility of tn
nation to the tragic death of the lat
President, William Mckinley, and ths
so much of the message of the Pres
dent as relates to that deplorabl
event be referred to such committee
The resolution was adopted and the
as further mark of respect to TIL
memory of the late President, the sci
at cd