The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-03
CONGRESS- CONvENES
NATIONAL LAWMAKERS BEGIN
FIFTY-SEVENTH SESSION.
SENATE HELD BRIEF MEETING
HOUSE PROVED ATTRACTION FOR
THE CROWDS.

ed and Escorted to the Chair by
His Democratic OppOnent-He
Promises Impartial Discharge
of the Duties of His Ohice-Over
5000 New Bills Introduced on the
Opening Day.
Washington, Dec. 2.-The opening
day of the first session of the Fifty
seventh Congress in the House of Rep
resentatives furnished a spectacle that
delighted the crowded galleries. The
machinery of the House is cumbrous
and is set in motion by a laborious
process, but the spectators to-day evil
IDENTIFY did not consider it tedious, as
they chung to their places through the
entire proceeding, which lasted four
and one-half hours, probably half the
time being consumed in the monoto-
nous calling of the roll. The organ
ization of the House was accomplished
according to the time onored prece-
dents. Speaker Henderson was sworn
in by Representative Bingham, "the
father of the House." and after deliv-
ering a very graceful speech in recog-
milton of the honor bestowed upon him
he in turn administered the oath to
the members elect. The rules of the
House were adopted after a slight jar,
and then the biennial seat drawing
occurred. This latter ceremony was
robbed of much. of it's interest to-day
by the fact that under the new ar
rangement 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 occasions.
Just as the hands of the big clock op-
posite the Speakers chair pointed to
u o'clock Mr.. Mcdowell, the clerk of
the House, brought his gavel down.
Instantly the buzz of conversation
ceased and in the stiffness that fol-
lowed the clerk announced that prayer
would be offered. The members arose
and many of the spectators in the gall
Iery also stood with bowed heads, as
Rev MIR. Couden, the blind chaplain,
evoked the Divine blessing. Many
heads were further lowered as the
chaplain paid a beautiful tribute to the
late President Mckinley, and prayed
that the present chief executive might
By the direction of the clerk the roll
of the members-elect was called by
states.
There were no demonstrations during
the roll call. When the clerk an
nounced that 31S members quorum
had answered to their names, the
House proceeded to the election of a.
Speaker. Mr.. Cannon of Illinois,
chairman of the Republican caucus.
rala in ffo1 81
Iowa. The mention of Gen. Hender-
sons name drew applause from the
entire Republican membership.
After oaths had been administered,
Mr.. Cannon of Illinois presented a res
olution for the election of the follow
ing officers of the House: Alexander
Mcdowell of Pennsylvania, clerk;
Henry Casson of Wisconsin, sergeant
alarms; William j. Glenn of New
of Ohio, postmaster, and H. N. Couden
of Michigan. chaplain.
Mr.. Hay of Virginia, on behalf of
the minority, presented a substitute
resolution containing the name OF the
Democratic candidates. The minority
resolution was voted down and Mr..
Cannon's resolution was adopted with
out division.
The usual formal resolutions to no.
tify the President and the Senate of
the organization of House were
adopted.
Richardson Attacks Reed Rules.
Mr.. Dalzell then offered the resolu-
ton agreed to by the Republican eau
Gus on Saturday for the adoption Of
the rules of the last House with GER
tain specified amendments as the rules
of the present House. This drew the
first fire from the other side. Mr.. Dali
zell was proceeding to explain the ma
ture of these amendments, when Mr..
Richardson interrupted to ask whether
opportunity would be given to offer
amendments, and on receiving a mega
tive reply he protested against such
action. He said he desired to offer
some amendments which he thought
would prevail if the gentleman from
Iowa C1epburn) could deliver the forty
votes which the newspapers had said
he had in the Republican caucus last
Saturday.
Mr.. Dalzell said that the rules were
practically identical with those of the
Fifty-frst, Fifty-fourth and succeed
ing Congresses and practically identi-
cal with those of the intervening DEM
ocratic Congresses. He yielded five
minutes to Mr.. Richardson, who oc-
cupied the time in denouncing the
rules. He said he would move to COM
NIT the rules to the Committee on
Rules when appointed.
While Mr.. Richardson's was speaking
OF Mr.. Hepburn's forty followers, Mr..
Steele of Indinana asked If the Nc
Clellan resolution, offered at the DEM
ocratic caucus last Saturday, would
command forty votes on the Demo-
cratic side. To this Mr. Richardson
returned an evasive reply.
zen. Henderson appeared two min
utes later on the arm of Mr. Richard
son. The Speaker was greeted with a
great outburst of applause from both
SIDES OF the House. He came down
the aisle and assembled the rostrum
with the aid of his cane, and stood
there for a moment facing a storm of
applause Mr.. Richardson then intro
duced him in half a dozen words. The
speaker addressed the House briefly,
saying:
Speaker HenderSOn's Remarks.
Gentlemen OF the House of Repre-
sentatives. this high honor which you
nave conferred upon me / profoundly
appreciate. All the more do ! appre-
cate II, coming as Il does, with this
general expression from both
sides OF the chamber. There is
yet left another method for
presiding officer to express his appre-
,dtlon Of such an honor. that Is, by
Kindly. firm and faithful admins
Iiuon Of the law and the rules that
severn this body. II will be my aim