The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-01
CONGRESS- MEETS.
Hall of the House Brilliant at
the Opening.
A Society as Well as a Political
Event.
SENATE CHAMBER GAY.
Galleries Began Filling Early
in the Day.
Good Feeling Appeared to Pre-
vail on All Hands.
Both Houses Adjourned Within
SENATE CHAMBER GAY.
Both Houses Adjourned Within
an Hour from Meeting.

sion of the Fifty-seventh congress con
Vened at noon today.
Long before the gavels fell in the two
houses large crowds thronged about the
doors of the visitors galleries seeking
admittance A bright sunny day brought
out many women who were conspicuous
among the visitors. AS the hour for
the opening approached the Groves
gathering about the doors of TIE Sal-
leries increased but many were neces-
sarily disappointed as the capacity OF
the space allotted to outsiders was
claimed early There were many out
of-town visitors. To be seen in the cor
ridors ard loAh.es OF both sides were
many public officials who left the de
partments to witness the opening.
The correspondents were early on the
scene, preparing for the three months
work ahead of them.
Former Speaker Thomas B. Reed was
q visitor a the capitol today Prior to
the hour for cOnVening he visited
among the members of the house where
he once served so many years, then
among the members of the senate. He
was greeted on both sides by friends and
former associates.
IN THE HOUSE.
Washington, Dee. 1.-The hall of rep
resentatiVes presented brilliant scene
for the opening of the session today.
During the recess the chamber has been
redecorated throughout. The old color
scheme Of gold and carmine was pre-
served. but the fresh colOrs served to
tighten the general effect. The famous
paintings of Bierstadt, The Discovery
of the Hudson" and The landing of the
Nerbain expedition at Monterey, Cal, in
1901 which formerly hung in panels
on either side of the speakers rostrum.
have been removed to the lobby in the
rear of the hall. and in their places now
hang the full length portraits of Wash
ington and Lafayette. Although the
gavel was not to fall until noon, the
1rrrfa lr.a 1ff far.
they were thrown open at 10 O'Clock,
and the sections reserved for the fam
lies and friends of members We're filled
early. The opening Of congress is So
clety as well a Political event. and in
the galleries were many handsomely
goWned society women.
There was the usual flower display,
although it was, perhaps, not as elab-
crate as upon some similar occasions III
the past. 1t was noticeable that the vic
torlous party in the recent campaign did
not monopOlze 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 in the surrounding
galleries.
Shortly after Il o'clock the members
began arriving, the greetings exchanged
seemingly being equally cordial wheth-
er they were between political friends
Or enemies. The Democrats, who are re
turning after their fifth successive de-
good naturedly.
It was generally remarked upon in the
galleries that the most elaborate floral
pieces were on the desks Of Mr. Connen
tPa-) and Mr.. Loud (CaL), two Repub-
ncanS who were defeated for reelection.
The leaders on both sides were sur.
rounded and greeted as they found their
way to their desks. Mr. Cannon OlD,
whose election as speaker of the next
house Is already assured, was besieged
by his colleagues with CONGRATULATIONS
and could with difficulty force a way to
his desk.
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 rostru1n until
the hands of the clock met. Then ex-
actly at j O'Clock noon. he ascended to
his place. A great outburst of applause
greeted him as he faced the house anc
galleries. With several vigorous whacks
of the gavel the speaker stilled the
demonstration in his honor In the hush
that followed, the chaplain, Rev Coud-
en-, offered prayer, fervently invoking
the divine blessing upon the president
the government, the members of con-
gress and the work of the session. When
he had concluded the speaker directed
the clerk to call the roll. Immediately
babel of voices broke out and in the
volume of sound that filled the hall the
calls of the clerk could hardly be dis
tinguished. So great was the confusion
that the speaker was obliged to bring
the house to order and to admOnish both
the members and the spectators in the
galleries to preserve order. The roll call
then proceeded.
When the roll call was finished the
speaker announced quorum present
The designations of Representatives Ray
IN. y and Hall (Pa.) were laid before
the .so;;se.
The following members. elected during
TIE recess to fill vacancies created byy
death or resignation. then appeared be-
fore the bar CT the house and took the
oath of office;
Augustus B. Gardner. Sixth Massa-
chusetts. vice Secretary Moody. re.
signed; Alexander Billmyer, Seventeenth
Pennsylvania vice Rufus K Polk de-
ceased; Frank B. Brandegee. Third Con
necticut, vice Charles A Russell. de-
ceased; John ". Dwight. TWenty-sixt1 n
New York. vice George w Ray. re-
signed: Dewitt c. Flanagan. Fourth
New Jersey. vice J. s. Salmon, deceas sei .
Carter Glass, Sixth Virginia, vice Peter
]. Otey, deceased Morris Sheppard.
Fourth Texas, vice his father, John S.
Sheppard, deceased; James J. Butler
Twelfth Missouri, vice himself he hav-
ing been unseated at the last session.
Immediately after the swearing in OF
these members Mr.. Tayler (O.) created
a furry by Offering a resolution to in
vestigate TIE election Of Carter Glass IL,
the Sixth Virginia district
Mr.. Richardson, the minority leader
challenged action upon the resolution,
but as Mr.. Tayler did not ask action
upon it but only that it be referred tt,
committee on elections No. l. it was
so referred without objection
A resolution was then adopted for the
appointment cf committee of three
members to join a committee from the
a