Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1903-11-13
CONGRESS HAS CONVENED.
LARGE THRoNGS GATHER ATTHE
CAPITAL FOR OPENING,
Jerk Mcdowell Calls House to Order
Beautiful Floral Displays-Presi.
dents Proclamation Read-Prayer
by chapIain-Speaker Cannon Form
ally Elected-Rules of Session.

Washington, Nov. 1O.-The house of
representatives was called to oruer
at noon Monday by Alexander Nc
Dowell, the clerk. The opening of
congress always is of sufficient in
crest to attract a much larger crowd
to the capitol than the galleries will
accommodate so admission will be by
card, two being supplied to each mem
ber. There were the usual floral dis
plays.
The proclamation Of the president
convening congress in extraordinary
session having been read, prayer was
offered by the chaplain, and then the
roll called by states. Mr.. Cannon, who
had been selected as the unanimous
choice of his party for speaker, was
formally elected. After the oath of
office was administered to him by the
father of the house." a title bestowed
upon the member who has been in
longest continuous service, the speak
er administered the oath to the men,
bers generally. The old officers of the
house having been made the nominees
Of the republican caucus, will be re-
elected and sworn in. Speaker Can
non appointed a committee to Join
committee of the senate to notify the
president that quorum of the two
houses has assembled, and that con-
gress was ready to receive any COM
munication he may desire to make.
After adopting resolutions agreed on
in the republican caucus, making the
rules Of the Fifty-seventh congress the
rules Of the Fifty-eighth congress, and
fixing an hour for the convening of
the daily sessions, the drawing of seats
took place. After the necessary pre-
liminary work was disposed of the
session adjourned out of respect to
the memory of members who have
died. On Tuesday the house will
listen to the presidents message.
For the remainder of the week ht-
tie can be accomplished, but it is un-
derstood to be the desire Of the lead
ers that the consideration Of the ques-
ton of reciprocal trade with Cuba be
pushed as rapidly as possible. 1t is
stated to be probable that the COM
mittees of the house may be named at
this session, but it is said that not
much headway can be made in the
matter of complete organization Of the
house within two or three weeks, and
that little will be attempted in the
way of general legislation until after
complete organization has been ac-
complished.
In the Senate.
Washington, Nov. 9.-The first week
of the extra session will be devoted to
the usual preliminary work of new
session of congress. The program for
the week is to have four brief sessions
and an adjournment on Thursday un-
til the following Monday. Monday
there was usual roll call Of senators
and the proclamation calling the extra
session was read. Then followed the
appointment of commlLLee to notify
the president that quorum of the SEN
ate was ready to receive any COM
munication he has to make. On Tues
day the presidents message will be
received and read. Adjournment will
follow its reading, as caucus OF re-
publican senators is to be held in the
afternoon. Wednesday will be de-
voted largely to introduction of bills,
and Thursday will be short legis-
latiye session unless discussion of the
Panama situation is precipitated by
the introduction of resolutions asking
for information. 1t is the intention
of Senator Morgan to introduce reso-
lutions on the subject, and these may
be discussed under the rules on the
day following their presentation. the
republican members of the senate will
interpose no objection to a discussion
of the Panama and canal questions,
hut it is not likely that any action
will be taken until after the commit
tees are appointed.
Tuesdays session of the senate was
devoted exclusively to the reading OF
the nresident's message in support Of
recinrocity with Cuba and to the rou-
tine incident to the receipt of the mes
sage The attendance of senators was
exceptionally large and many appeared
with large rolls of freshly prepared
bills.