The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-11-12
CONGRESS MEETS
EXTRA SESSION CONVENES IN PUR-
SUANCE OF PROCLAMATION.
Cannon of Iilirois Elected Speaker
in Accordance With the Action
of the Republican Caucus-.Old
Officers of the House Retained.
Members Take Oath.

Washington, Nov. 9.-The house of
representatives was called to order at
noon by Alexander Mcdowell. the clerk.
The opening of congress is always of
sufficient Importance and interest to at
tract much larger crowd to the capt.
toll than the galleries W II accumulate
go admission was by card, two being
supplied by each member, There were
the usual floral displays to lend pictur-
sequences to what was of ne essity
routine proceeding.
The proclamation of the president
converting congress in extraordinary
session having been read, prayer was
offere by the chaplain, and then the
roll was called by states.
Election of Officers.
Mr.. Cannon, who was on Saturday
formally selected by caucus as the unan-
imous choice of his party for speaker,
was formally elected. After the oath
of Office was administered to him by
the Gather of the house," the speaker
administered the oath of office tc the
mebmers generally. The old ocffiers of
the house having been made the nomi-
nees of the Republican caucus, were re.
elected and sworn in. Speaker Cannon
appointed committee to join a COM
mittee of the senate to notify the presi-
dent that quorum of the two houses
had assembled and that congress is
ready to receive any communication he
may desire to make. After adopting
Inf ~ Do I zoo
caucus, making the rules of the Fifty
seventh congress the rules of the Fifty
eighth congress, and fixing an hour for
the daily sessions, the drawing of seats
took place. The necessary preliminary
work having been disposed of the ses-
sion adjourned for the day out of re-
spect to members who have died.
Message on Tuesday.
Tomorrow the house and senate will
listen to the reading of the presidents
message. For the remainder of the
week there will be little done, but it JIG
understood that it is the desire of the
house leaders that consideration of the
question of reciprocal trade with Cuba
be pushed as rapidly possible.
1t Is said to be probable that the
committees Of the house may be named
at this session, but it is said that not
much Roadway can be made in the
matter of complete organization of the,
houee within two or three weeks and
little will be accomplished in the way
Of general legislation until after COM
plete organization has been accom-
p!ished.
Program i'm Senate.
The first week of the extra session in
the senate will be devoted to the usual
prelim inaries of new session of con-
gress. The program for the week is to
have four brief sessions and an ad-
journment on Thursday until the fol-
lowing Monday. Today there was the
usual roll call of sena tors, and the proc
lmaation calling the extra session was
read. Then followed the appoin tment
of committee to notify the president
that the senate is in session. Tomor-
row, after the reading of the presidents
message the senate will adjourn and
during the afternoon there will be
caucus. Wednesday will be largely de-
voted to the introduction OF bills, and
Thursday will be short Legislative seq
sion, unless discussion of the Panama
situation is precipitated by the intro
duction Of resolutions asking for infor-
nation. 1t is the intention OF Senator
Morgan to introduce resolutions on the
subject, and these ay be discuss un-
der the rules on the day following pre-.
sentation.
The Republican members OF the sen.
ate will interpose no objection TO dis
Cussion of the Panama and canal ques-
tions, but it is not likely that any ac-
tion will he taken until after tie COM
mittees are appointed.
The Democratic members 70 the
house voted for Representative John S.
Williams, of Mississippi for speake.
He is thereby constituted Democratic
leader in the house for the coming con-
gress.