Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-07
Great Crowd of Spectators Gather
to Witness the Routine Pro.
ceedings.
CANNON ELECTED SPEAKER.
Received 243 Votes and Williams 13s-
Both Houses Adjourn IN Honor Of
Dead Members-Many BIis and
Joint Resolutions Of wide
Variety Introduced.

washington, Dec. 1.-THE assem-
bling to-day Of the members OF the
Fifty Ninth Congress for their first
session. was marked by no unusual In
cidents but II attracted to the capitol
crowds Of spectators who took lively
interest in the proceedings. society
| was out in force and filled the reserved
galleries. while visitors. unable to And
seats, rOamed the corridors to catch
gimpscs of public men. In the Senate
the proceedings were brief.
The House was in session for more
| than three hours and while the pro-
ccedings followed the programme that
has marked the opening of Congress
for many years. there was enough Of
interest to hold a large audience dur
| ing the entire time.
one noticeable feature was the alb
sencc of flowers. which heretofore have
been common 10 both chambers. due to
IL resolution adopted unanimously by
The Senate and to an order of the
| speaker of the House.
| Senators Allison and Morgan were APP
pointed by Nicc-Presdent Fairbanks as q
committee to notify the President that
Congress was ready to receive any COM
municaton he desired to make. The Sem
ate was in session only ~ minutes. Sen
ators Aldrich of Rhode Island Knox Of
Pennsylvania. Warner of Missouri and
Frazier of Tennessee. took the oath of
office and an adjournment was taken as
a mark OF respect to the late Senator
Plat of Connecticut.
| Steps preliminary to organization were
taken by the House. Joseph G. Cannon Of
Illinois was reelected speaker. the mem
bers of the House took the oath of office
the officers and floor employees of the body
were reelected; the rules Of the last Con-
grcss were adopted and members drew for
seats, all of which was enlivencd by the
presence of the crowds in the galleries,
the animati Of the reunion OF veteran
members and the interest of new ones.
In n brief speech against the adop-
ton of the rules, the minority leader.
Mr.. Williams of Mississippi. touched
on the interest of tnc country in tariff
Legislation and told OF the new republic
can ideas" which were being waited
to Washington on brcezcs from every
part OF the country. These. he said.
might be properly legislated for should
the minority Of the majority" stand
with the democratic members in oppos-
ing the adoption of the old rules and
forming new ones which would permit
consideration of such legislation as
popular opinion might dictate.
4 committee was appointed to act
with the Senate committee in notify
ing President Roosevelt that Congress
was ready to transact business. tho
rules committee and the committee on
mileage were appointed, the House ad-
nnd
three and a half hours in compliance
with resolutions announcing the death
of Senator Plat OF Connecticut and
Representative Marsh of Illinois.
SELECTION OF SPEAKER.
Speaker Cannon was placed in nomna-
ton for speaker by Mr. Hepburn of Iowa
and the first applause of the session fol-
lowed. Mi. William of Mississippi was
nominated on behalf Of the minority by
Mr.. Henry of Texas. provoking demo-
cratic applause. The roll call for the cleo
ton of speaker at once proceeded.
Cannon received 2i3 votes and Williams
1e> Cannon accepted the position say
ing Il thank you for the honor you have
conferred on me. particularly az / may
he able to consider your action as az
endorsement of my services as speaker
during the last Congress. The House is
powerless without a quorum. Therefore
ask Of you not only charity for ana
patience with my own short comings as
presiding officer but also prompt at
tendance and diligence on your part
which alone can make our coming ses
sion advantageous to the country