Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-12-01
Fifty-seventh Congress.
Washington, D. G., Dec. |.
SENATE.

The floor OF the Senate tnlS morhihS
presented scene of floral loneliness.
Friends and admirers appeared to have
We'd with each other in giving some
substantial recognition of their high re-
gard. Flowers of every variety filed
the chamber with their fragrance and
brought forth murmurs of admiration
from the galleries that were filed with
an animated assemblage.
Att O'Clock the chamber was filed
and the gavel of President pro tempore
FRYE brought hush to the camor and
ended for time the cordial greetings of
the different members.
The opening prayer was by Rev. Mr..
Prettyman. AT its conclusion the roll
call stilled the clamor that had already
begun. The announcement of the chair
that 6S Senators were present, was fol-
lowed by the customary resolutions, pro-
viding that the Secretary notify the
House of Representatives that the SEN
ate was ready to proceed to the considera-
ton of business; another providing for
the appointment of committee of two
Senators to join similar committee to
be appointed by the House to wait upon
the President of the United States, and
one fixing the .lr of meeting at II
O'Clock, noon. They were given inn
mediate and favorable consideration.
Senator Burrows, was then recognized
He formally notified the Senate Of the
death August 10th, 1902, of his late
colleague, Hon. James IL. Mcmillan.
He paid deep but brief tribute y tie
memory of the deceased after which he
submitted a resolution of respect, an
nouncing the regret of the Senate and
providing for adjournment as further
mark of respect. The resolution was
agreed to, and at 1915 O'clock the SEN
ate stood adjourned. Before the fall Of
the gavel, most of the floral pieces had
been removed. Ten minutes later the
chamber was practically deserted.
HOUSE.
Public interest in the assembling of
Congress was evidenced by a great throng
of visitors on the House side, the CALLER
les filling rapidly from 10 o'clock on.
The speaker was on hand, but he oc-
cupied his time in his private Office dis,
cussing the affairs of the day with his
numerous visitors.
Floor leader Payne saw him there,
and it was decided that the order for the
day should be a roll-call, then the swear
ing in of the new members, then adj
ournment in respect to the memory of
/ D,,ooa1l cf rnnno.f.,,.t
1t was agreed also to swear in the new
members even though not provided with
credentials--there being no threats of
contest-two from New York, two from
Texas, and one from Connecticut, fri
ing themselves in this plight, an account
of the hardness of the returni,, 20 board
Atll a. M, things begar. to get lively
on the floor.
Great banks of flowers, which had
lined the lobby were carried into the
hall and distributed on the desks of the
members fc,r whom intended.
some of the representatives were loaded
ior business at once. Chairman Cannon
of the appropriation committee, dropped
a bill into the basket carrying an appfo-
priation Of $50, 900 to defray the expense
of the Anthracite Coal Strike Com
mission.
Among the first bills of general charac
ter to be introduced was one by Mr..
Brownlow, to create bureau OF public
roads in the Department of Agriculture,
to secure national, state, and local CO.
operation in the permanent improvement
of public highways.
Among the new members to present
themselves to take the oath of Office
was Mr.. Glass, of Virginia, successor Of
P. J. Otey, deceased
At II o'clock Speaker Henderson call
ed the House to order. Everybody
rose and salvo of hand-clapping babe
him welcome. He acknowledged the
salutation with the smile; then called on
Chaplain Couden for prayer. The letter
asked that the Speaker be endowed with
such wisdom as to preside over the
the House with equity and justice.
The roll was then called. The House
was in such confusion that the Speaker
pounded fiercely with his gave. The
handle Of the gavel snapped. The
Speaker was forced to raise his voice
above the usual pitch in order to restore
order and the call of the roll was re-
sumed.
A committee was appointed to act WITH
committee of the Senate to wait on the
president and to notify him that the
House was in session and ia readiness to
do business.
The designations of Representative
Ray, of New York, and Hall, of Penn
sylvania, were then read and accepted.
Hembers elected to fill vacancies who
bad credentials of election were then
called to the clerks desk. They took
the oath of Office, those not having
credentials being permitted to do so by
unanimous consent.
A determined effort was made by
former Representative Wise, of Virginia,
to have the right to his seat of Mr..
Glass, of Virginia, one of the new mem
bers, challenged, his contention being
that the State constitution, under which
Mr.. Glass was elected, is contrary TO the
Constitution of the United States.
Mr.. Wise called on Speaker Hender-
son and received the information that if
objection was made to Mr. Glass taking
the oath it would entertained. No OBJ
lection was made. A resolution was in
troduced later, however, by Representa-
tive Taylor, of Ohio, that the election Of
Mr.. Glass be investigated, particularly
so far as the unlawful disfranchisement.