Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-11-12
EXTRA SESSION OF
CONGRESS OPENS
No Attempt Was Made to
Transact Serious Business
the First Day.
CANNON WAS NOMINATED
Republican Caucus Saturday Namca
Him for the speakership-Gen-
eral Good Humor at the
Sessions Opening.

Washington, Nov. 1.-THE Fifty
eighth congress convened in extraor-
binary session at noon Monday. in ac-
cordance with the proclamation of
President Roosevelt, for the purpose of
enacting legislation necessary to make
effective the Cuban reciprocity treaty.
The day was devoted simply to per-
sonal greetings and organization.
The house assembled the largest
membership in its history and the
scene before the gavel fell in that body
was one OF animation, both on the floor
and in the cloak rooms, Hobbies and
corridors. The day was crisp and
bright and the capital building present.
with its coat of white paint and COM
plete renovation. Within crowds of
eager spectators, both men and women,
throngsd the corridors and rotunda
early in the day, and the galleries, to
which admission was had by card only,
We're taxed to their capacity long before
the hour of assembling arrived. The
committee rooms, which had been in
the hands of renovators during the re-
cess, We're thrown open and many in
formal receptions held by popular
chairmen.
With the speakership question out of
the way in the universal endorsement
of Cannon, there is nothing to worry
the legislative mind and the day was
given up to the sentiment of the occa-
sion. Many handsome floral tributes
TO members We're borne in unusual pro-
fusion to the Hobbies back of both the
senate and house chambers. to be
placed later on the desks of members.
The new members of the house re-
ceived their initiation to the doorkeep-
ers and house employees, and many
cause of their slight hesitation on pre-
senting themselves for admission. Such
incidents contributed to the general
lively animation and good humor of the
occasion.
Flowers in the Senate.
The senate was called to order by
President Pro Tenn Fry and the house
by Clerk Mcdonnell
Senator Hanna's pronounced victory
in the Ohio election won for him one
of the most pretentious floral designs
ever seen in the senate. 1t was a shield
3la by Az feet of blue immortelles, in
which We're wrought out in California
grasses ribbon of red, white and blue.
and design of an American eagle iden-
teal with that on the silver quarter
dollar The shield was surmounted
with Il gorgeous cluster OF American
beauty roses. The offering bore the
lIlSCTlpllOu SENATOR MARK I1IuIltl, from
his friends, the Irish democratic club
of Cleveland" Fully score of smaller
tributes were banked around Senator
Hannas desk. Senator Gorman'S tri-
umph IN the Maryland election was
recognized by handsome wreath more
than feet in diameter with cross of
cluster of roses, carnations and chry-
santhemums as Its base.
Election of Speaker.
Rev. A. j. Prettyman of Washington
made the invocation in the senate
After Mallory of Florida had taken the
oath, Hoar and German We're APP
pointed committee to join the house
committee to inform the president thai
congress was ready TO receive any com
munication. The senate adjourned al
1874 o'clock.
After prayer by the chaplain in the
house, a roll call followed. Three hun
lred and fifty having answered, the
clerk called for nominations for speak
er. Hepburn of Iowa nominated Can
non, and Hay of Virginia nominated
Williams of Mississippi.
No speeches We're made. Tellers We're
appointed and a roll called. Cannon
was elected, receiving 1913 votes to 16G
for Williams.
Williams of Mississippi and Grosven-
or of Ohio were appointed a committee
TO nOJ1ly MIR. cannon OIL ms election,
pnd to escort him to the speakers chair.
When MIR. Cannon reached the speak
ers' desk both sides of the chamber
arose and applauded vociferously MIR.
Williams introduced Speaker Cannon,
saying:
II think the majority haze selected
their best type. and | am satisfied the
minority will be given full measure of
fairness and impartiality from him"
MIR. Cannon made q brief response,
rendering thanks .'or the honor. and
the oath OF office was then admins
tered to him by Bingham of Pennsyl-
vania. father of the house.
The members We're then sworn in by
MIR. Caneon, following which resolu-
ton was adopted re-electing the old
officers of the house.
Among several hundred bills intro
udced in the house today We're these:
Statehood bill for New Mexico; restor-
ing the army canteen; giving congress
the right to regulate trusts; to increase
the pay of rural free delivery carriers;
providing u territorial form of govern
lnent for Alaska; to abolish govern
neat by injunction; to elect sena tors
by popular vote; to grant rebates on
exports and imports car. led in Amer
lean ships.
THE CAPITOL is mDRY"