The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-04

But the chief executive had very lit
tie time for reflection. Inallg11ration
shared with him the hOnors of the last
election had been ushered in in the
person of Senator Fairbanks, and was
/ even now standing where on the 4th
! had stood, to take the oath of the
I vice presidential Office Senator Fair
1 banks hadAbeen escorted by the COM
mittee on arrangements to the plat
form on which sat President pro tenn
Frye and Speaker Cannon, the former
of whom was on the eve of perform
ing the last act of his present term in
that office by administering the oath
which would make Mr. Fairbanks not
only vice president but also the per-
manent presiding officer of the senate.
Senator Frye does all things with
promptness and decision. The two Off
cial time pieces were agreed in pro-
claiming the hour of II, when according
to the requirements made and provided
the F1fty-eighth congress must come TO
close, the Fffty-n1nth congress be
started on its career, and the new pre-
siding officer introduced and installed
Mr. Frye had already said farewell; the
visitors were in their seats Not a mo-
ment was lost Rising in front of the
slender but towering form of his sue
cessor. the president pro tempore re-
peated to him in the form of an official
oath the few impressive words which
transformed the Indiana leader from
the position of a senator to that of vice
president of the United States The
ceremony did not consume to exceed
two minutes of time, but it was con-
quoted with such dignity and solemnity
as to make a lasting impression on all
present Profound stiffness character
lied the dense assemblage while it was
in progress, none present apparently
failing to appreciate that an act of sa-
cred national import was being per-
formed. The oath concluded, the two
leading participants shook hands cor
q fdxKr I711T-
ried words of cOngratulation With
last positive thunp of the gaval, the
Maine senator relinquished his position
as president pro tempore by annOunc-
ing the final adjournment of the Fifty
eighth congress- Without a look back
ward, he vacated the seat he had occu-
pied for almost four years. stepped
rrOm the presiding officers platform te
the senate floor aud there took his seat
to listen with other senators to the ad-
dress of the new vice president.
Nfr. Fairbanks had no difficulty in be-
ing heard. He spoke deliberately and
distinctly, his voice. so well tried dur
ing the past campaign, easily reaching
all parts of the chamber
The address received careful atten-
ton, and at its conclusion the vice
president instructed the secretary of
the senate to read the presidents call
for an extraordinary session of the
senate. The reading accomplished and
the senate of the Fifty-ninth congress
thus installed, DR.. Edward Everett
Hale, the venerable chaplain of the
senate, came forward to deliver the
opening prayer of the first session. In
response to a quiet signal from the
chair, the senate and it's guests rose
and stood while DIR. Hale in his usual
impressive manner uttered the invo-
cation
The organization of the senate was
then completed by the swearing in of
senators elected to serve for the next
six years. They appeared in platoons
of four in alphabetical order at the
desk of the vice president each being
accompanied by his colleague The
oath was administered by Mr.. Fair
banks, and in each case was immedi-
ately followed by signing the senate
roll of membership. This ceremony
concluded the days session and the
senate adjourned to the outside plat
form to witness with others the in
auguration of President Roosevelt.
The official guests left the chamber
in order the reverse of that in which
they had entered, and We're closely
followed by the visitors in the gall
leries. The arrangement for exit was
excellently contrived. the departure
was without confusion or disorder, and
only a few minutes were required to
clear the hall.