The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-03
CONGRESS- HEARS.
Members Actually Listen to
Presidents Message.
House Breaks Into Cheers at
One Particular Passage.
COMMITTEE ON RULES.
Underwood Substituted Fer
Bailey, Now a Senator.
Senators Follow Clerks Read
ing From Printed Copies.

N
ing From Printed Copies.
Washington, Dec. 3--There was a
very good attendance in the gallery of
the house today to listen to the reading
of the first message of President Roose-
! Velt- The members gathered early,
chatting and discussing prospective leg
1slation. The main topic was the per
sonality of the new president. Keen
interest was manifested in what he
would have to say in his message
As the hands of the clock pointed to
l. Speaker Henderson called the house
to order After the journal had been
read and approved, Mr.. Cooper (TeX-)
and Mr.. Wood (Cal), who were not
present yesterday, appeared at the bar
! and were sworn in.
On motion OF Mr.. Payne, the floor lead
er of the majority, it was agreed that
when the house adjournS today it be to
meet on Friday.
| The speaker announced the appoint
ment of the committee on rules, as fol-
| lows:
Mr.. Henderson of Iowa, Mr.. Dalzel of
PENNSYLVANIA, Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio,
! Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee and Mr..
| Underwood of Alabama
The only change in the committee was
substitution OF Mr.. Underwood Tor Mr.
! Bailey of Texas, who is now a member
of the senate.
Mr.. Bingham of Pennsylvania, at the
head of the committee appointed to
| the committee, accompanied by a like
committee of the senate, had performed
its duty, and that the president had re-
ceived their message with pleasure, and
had said that he would at once COM
municate with the two houses in writ
ing. Two minutes later Major Pruden,
assistant secretary to the president, ap-
peared at the main entrance and an
nounced message from the president.
/ The message was taken to the speaker s
desk, where Speaker Henderson broke
| the seal.
"A message from the president of the
| United States he said as he handed
the document to the reading clerk and
directed him to read it, Ordinarily
presidential messages at the opening of
a congress are listened to in perfume
tory fashion, but today throughout the
reading the keenest interest was mani
Tested. Hardly a member left his seat
until the reading was concluded
There was a slight murmur of ap-
plause when in concluding the recon-
mendation for legislation to put down
anarchy the clerk read: mo matter
calls more urgently for the wisest
thought of congress-
The murmur when this sentence was
read. was followed by burnt of ap
plause when the clerk read: 1.-THE
American people are slow to wrath, but
when their wrath is once kindled it
burns like a consuming flame Proba-
bly, no other portion of the message at
tracted so much attention that
lating to trusts. No demonstration was
evoked by the reading of this portion
of the message but the recommendation
for the re-enactment of the Chinese
exclusion law drew applause from both
sides of the house.
The reading of the message was con-
cluded in the house at .2:35 p. m. Mr..
Grosvenor then offered the following
resolution which was adopted without
division:
member from each state represented in
this house be appointed on the part of
the house to join such comm ittee as
may be appointed on the part of the
what token of respect and af-
fection it may be proper for
the congress of the United States to
express the deep sensibi1ity of the ma
ton to the tragic death of the late
president, VIM. Mckinley, and that so
much of the message of the president
relates to that deplorable event be
referred to such committee"
In pursuance of the terms of the reso-
luton the speaker appointed a commit
tee consisting of one member from each
state and territory.
The house then as a further mark of
respect adjourned
IN THE SENATE
In anticipat tiOn of the receipt of the
first message of President Roosevelt,
members of the senate today assembled
early in the senate chamber and in the
cloak rooms adjoining. Many of the
senators, particularly the close personal
and political friends of the president
already were familiar with the principal
features of the message but the read
ing of the first important state paper
of the president was marked by unus-
ual interest.
Despite the cold and penetrating rain
which fell throughout the morning, the
galleries of the senate were we'll filled
with interested spectators, many OF
them having a special interest in the
message.
When the journal of yesterdays pro-
ceedingS had been read a communication
was received from the house informing
the senate that body had been organ
public business.
Senators Hale and Morgan reported
that they had waited upon the presi-
dent in conjunction with like COM
mittee of the house to inform him that
congress was prepared to receive any
communication he might have to make.
The president had said he would COM
municate with congress at once in
writing.
Major O. L. Pruden, assistant secre-
tary to the president, then was recog
nized and presented the message of the
president, the reading of which was
begun at once by Henry NJ. Rose, chief
clerk.
Close attention was given to the read
Printed copies of the document were
distributed among them. the majority
of whom followed the reading from
their copies.
After adopting resolutions of respect
for the late President Mckinley, the
senate at 2:28 D. m. adjourned.
Frank Gould Weds.
NewSXork, Dec. 3.-Frank Jay Gould.
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