Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-12-06
FFTY-SEYENIH CONGRESS.
The First Part of the Session Be.
gins in Washington at Noon
on Monday.
GREAT THRONS OF SPECTATORS PRESENT
senator Frye, OF Maine, Presides oven
the senate and New Members Take
the Oath of Onice-Speaker Hen
derson Reelected In the House
Great Flood of Bills.

| Washington, Dec. She opening
of the first session of the Fifty-seFenth
congress at noon yesterday drew to
the capitol a great throng of specta-
tors eager TO witness the scenes OF
animation which mark the annual re-
assembling of the national lawmakers.
Precisely at 10 o'clock Mr.. Frye
(Me.), president pro tenn. of the SEN
ate, raped for order. The blind chap
lain, Rev. William Milburn, delivered
the invocation.
Credentials were presented OF
Charles ii. Dietrich and Joseph ii. Mil
! lard, of Nebraska; Alfred b. Kittridge,
OF South Dakota. and Paris Gibson, of
Montana. Mr. Frye administered to
them the oath Of office.
Formal resolutions were offered by
Mr.. Cullom (Hl) that the house be
notified that the senate was ready TO
proceed TO business; by Mr.. Allison
that the hour Of meeting Of the SEN
ate be IL O'Clock noon; and by Mr..
Hale (Me.) that a committee of two
senator's be named 10 join a similar
committee of the house TO inform the
president that congress was in session
and prepared to receive any message
he might desire to submit.
Recesses were taken until two
o'clock. but no report of the organiza-
tion Of the house having been received
at that time. Mr.. Gamble (S. d. for
mally announced the death of Senator
Kyle. Of that state. He offered the
usual resolution expressive Of the sor-
row Of the senate. and after its adop
tion the senate, as an additional mark
of respect. adjourned until to-day.
In the House.
Washington. Dec. 3.-Every chair
was occupied when, al IL o'clock yes
terday, Mr.. Mcdowell, clerk of the
house, brought his gavel down, the
buzz Of conversation ceased, and the
clerk announced that prayer would be
offered. The members and many OF
the spectators arose and stood with
bowed heads as Rev. Mr.. Couden. the
blind chaplain, invoked the divine
blessing.
The organization was accomplished |
according 10 time-honored precedents !
At the conclusion Of the roll call David |
u. Henderson (repO, Of Iowa, was re-
elected speaker. He was sworn in by |
Gen. Bingham, father of the house." |
and after delivering a very graceful |
speech in recognition Of the honor be-
slowed upon him he, in turn, admins
tered the oath 10 the members-elect.
The usual committees were appoint
ed to inform the president and the SEN
ate that the house was organized and |
ready TO do business. At 4:30 the
house adjourned. II is estimated that
during the session 5000 bills were in
PRODUCED, among them being the fol-
lowing;
Three Pacific cable bills: protesting
against the conduct Of the war IN South
Africa; removing the duty on hides giving
a tobacco ration to soldiers; TO repeal the
bankruptcy law. TO create a reciprocity
to make oleomargarine sub
ject to state Laws; giving the thanks of
congress 10 Rear Admiral Kempff, Amer
ican naval commander at Taku. China;
to punish frauds at elections Of congress
men; making February IL. Lincon's birth
Gay, national holiday; granting state
hood 20 oklahoma; creating a department
OF commerce, labor and manufacture:
amending the constitution so as TO define
assaults on the president, vice president.
Of the cabinet and justices OF
the supreme court, and giving congress the
power TO fix penalties; appropriating $50
pD Tor a monument to President William
II. Harrison, at South Bend, Ind provid-
Ing for flexible currency responsive to the
needs OF business; a constitutional amend
menf giving congress power to fix uniform
hours OF labor; joint resolution amending
The constitution so that congress will have
power TO pass general laws for the organ
cation OF corporations constitutional {
amendment repeating the fifteenth amend ,
nent constitutional amendment forbidding
appropriations for sectarian purposes; for
4 tax on incomes and inheritances; for
census bureau: constitutional !
amendment for woman suffrage: for cleo
Ion Of United States senator's by popular {
vote; TO make oleomargarine subject 10
he laws OF the state 10 which IL is trans
ported ard TO change the tax on oleomar-
sarine; admitting New Mexico to state i
hood amending and making more effective Z
he act to protect trade against monop-
'lies. etc. to prevent combinations in re- =
traist of trade; to exempt wire nails, wire, a
'arbed wire, etc, from duty; for the pun
: hfnent OF persons assaulting or killing
he president Of the United States
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