The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-02
MEMBERS GREET EACH
OTHER MOST CORDIALLY
Some Excitement Caused In House
by Proposition of Congressman
TayIer to Investigate Election
Methods In Virginia.

Washington, December 1.-The opening
of the fifty-seventh congress in the house
was, as usual, a spectacular event. The
galleries of the freshly decorated hall
were packed to the doors with people
prominent in society and politics, and
the flower show on the door, although not
as elaborate as usual, filed the chamber
with perfume and added grace and
beauty to the scene.
The members were good natured and
jovial and there was no outcropping of
partisan feeling. Speaker Henderson re-
ceived a cordial reception as he assumed
the gaval, but beyond this there was no
demonstration. The proceedings We're
purely perfunctory. A prayer, the CALI
ing of the roll, the swearing in Of men,
bers elected to fill vacancies created by
death or resignation during the recess,
the adoption of the customary resolu-
tions to appoint a committee to wait upon
the President to inform the senate that
the house was ready to transact business
and to fix the daily hour of meeting,
summarizes what was done. Then the
death of the late Representative Charles
Russell of Connecticut, which occurred In
the early fall, was announced by his sue
cessor NJ Brandigee, the usual resolu-
tion of regret was adopted, and the
house, as a further mark of respect, ad-
journed until tomorrow, when the Pres
idents massage will be received.
The session lasted less than an hour.
A Brilliant Scene.
The hall of representatives presented
brilliant scene for the opening of the
session today. During the recess the
chamber had been redecorated through
out The old color scheme of gold and
carmine are preserved, but fresh colors
served to tighten the general effect. The
famous paintings of Bierstad, The Dis
covery Of the Hudson" and the Land
ing of the Verbian Expedition at Mon
terey, Call in 1901" which formerly hung
in pannels on either side of the speak
er's rosIrum, have been removed to the
lobby in the rear of the hall and In their
places now hang the full length portraits
of Washington and Lafayette Although
the gavel was not to fall until noon, the
public galleries were packed soon after
they were thrown open at 10 O'clock and
the sections reserved for the families and
friends of members also filled early. The
opening of congress is a society as We'll
as political event and in the galleries
were handsomely gowned society women.
There was the usual flower display, al
though it was perhaps not as elaborate
as upon some similar occasions in the
past. 1t was noticeable that the victo-
rious party In the recent campaign did
not monopoIize the entire flower show.
BY II o'clock the air was heavy with the
odor of perfumes and the hall buzzed
with the steady hum of conversation
from the throngs surrounding the galle-
ries.
Shortly after II o'clock the members
began arriving, the greetings exchanged
seeming equally cordial whether they
were between political friends or ene-
mics. The democrats, who are returning
after their fifth successive defeat, took
the raillery Of the republicans good ma
turedly
1t was generally remarked upon in the
galleries that the most elaborate floral
pieces were on the desks of Mr.. Connel
of Pennsylvania and Mr.. Loud of Cali
fornia, two republicans who were de-
feated for reelection.
Cannon Congratulated.
At Las p. m. the doorkeeper directed his
assistants to clear the floor of all per-
sons not entitled to remain during the
session. Meantime members were enter
ing the floor from the lobbies and there
was much confusion. The leaders on
both sides were surrounded and greeted
as they found their way to their desks,
but there were no demonstrations. Mr..
Cannon of Illinois, whose election as
speaker of the next house Is already
sured was besieged by his colleagues
with congratulations and with difficulty
forced his way to his desk. Mr.. Payne
of New York the floor leader of the ma
1ority; Mr.. Dalzell of Pennsylvania and
Mr. Richardson of Tennessee, the minor
ity leader and other prominent members
also held impromptu receptions.
Three minutes before the hour of
noon the doors from the rear lobby
swung open and Speaker Henderson en-
tered He was Immediately surrounded
by members and held a reception upon
the marble steps of the rostrum until
the hands of the clock met, and then,
exactly at IL noon, he ascended to his
place. A great outburst of applause
greeted him as he faced the house and
galleries. With several vigorous whacks
of the gavel the speaker stilled the
demonstration. In the hush that followed
the blind chaplain, the Rev. Coudon, Of
fered prayer, fervently invoking divine
blessing upon the President, the gov
ernment the members of congress and
the work of the session. When he con-
cluded the speaker directed the clerk to
call the roll Immediately a babel of
voices broke out fresh, and in the vol
ume OF sound that filled the hall the
call OF the CLERK COulQ ndrQly be dis
tinguished. So great was the confusion
that the speaker was obliged to bring
the house to order and admonish both
the members and spectators to be more
quiet The roll then proceeded.
When the roll call was finished the
speaker announced a quorum present.
The resignation of Representatives w.
G. Ray of New York and Hall of Penn
sylvania were laid before the house.
New Members.
The following members, elected during
the recess to fill the vacancies created
by death or resignation, then appeared
before the bar of the house and took the
oath Of office:
Augustus B. Gardner, Sixth Massa-
chusetts vice Secretary Moody resigned:
A. Bilmyr, Seventeenth Pennsylvania,
vice r. X Polk, deceased; F. B. Brande-
gee, Third Connecticut, vice G. A. Rus