Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-12-05
CONGRESS ONCE
MORE AT WORK
FIFTY-SEVENTH BODY OF LEGiS-
LAToRs ORGANIZES.
BIC GATHERINGS PRESENT
But Proceedings Unmarked by Any
Sensational Features-Gen. Hen
oerson Reelected Speaker of
House and Mr.. Frye Resumes GaVeI
in Senate-FIoWers for SoIons.

Washington. Dec. 3.-The opening
dav of the first session of the 5Ith
congress in the house furnished a
spectacle that delighted the crowded
galleries. The machinery of the
house is cumbrous and set in motion
Gv Iaborious process, but the spec
tators Yesterday evidently did not con
slider it TEDIOUS as they chung to tnelr
places through the entire proceed
tnqs which lased four and one hall
bours probaUIy half the time beng
consumed in monotonous calling Oh
the roll. The organization OF the
house was accomplished according TO
the time-honored precedents.
Every chair except those in the dip
lomatic 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 Will
bowed heads as Rev. Mr.. 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 MT
Henderson of Iowa by 100 to l49 for
MIR. Richardson of Tennessee. The
speaker was warmly received and
after being escorted to the chair said;
"This high honor which you have con
ferred upon me, l profoundly appre-
ciate. All the more do l appreciate
It coming as it does with this gener-
GUS expression from both sides OF
the chamber There Is yet left
another method for presiding OF
fcer to 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 l 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, l asked for 1t
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 the 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 III 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 very
graceful speech in recognition OF
the honor bestowed upon him he in
turn administered the oath to the
members-elect The usual commit
tees were appointed to inform the
president and senate that the house
was organized and ready to do. busi-
ness. A committee of three, consist
ing Of Messrs. Payne, Bingham and
Richardson. was appointed join
similar committee of the snate and
wait 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 were adopted after a slight jar,
Mr. Richardson protesting, and then
the biennial seat drawing occurred.
This latter ceremony was robbed of
much of it's interest yesterday by the
fact that under the new arrange
ments of seats there are more than
pnouph tn g0 around and those whose
names are drawn last do not suffer as
they did on former occasions. The
flower 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 after the seat-drawing the house