The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1905-12-08
18th CONGRESS
NO UNUSUAL iNcIDENS-WEATH
Err PERFECT.
CANNON REELECTED SPEAKER.
Formally Of Drawing Seats Coma
overwhelmingly Leader Viii"
iiams Made Speech.

Washington, Dec. 5.--The assem-
blage yesterday of the members OF
the Fifty-Ninth Congress for their first
session was marked by no unusual In
cldents, but it attracted to the capitol
crowds of spectators who took live
" interest in the proceedings.
The day was perfect. The sun
shone brightly and the air was keen.
Society was out in force and reserve
galleries were filled, while visitors,
unable to find seats, roamed the cor
ridors to catch good glimpses OF pub
lie men.
One noticeable feature was the ab
sence Of flowers, which had been com
mon to the chambers. The absence OF
floral tributes was due to a resolution
adopted unanimously by the Senate
and by the order OF the Speaker OF
the House, and robbed the occasion
Of much of its picturesqueness.
The only coloring given to the cham.
bers yesterday was that OF the gal
leries, where hundreds Of handsomely
goWned women gave splendor to
the event that made it the beginning
of the Congressional social season.
Senators Allison and Morgan were
appointed by Vice President Fairbanks
to notify the President that Congress
was ready for an communication he
desired to make.
The Senate was in session only
twenty minutes. Senators Aldrich,
Knox, Warner and Frazier took the
oath of office and an adjournment
was taken as a mark of respect to the
late Senator Plat of Connecticut.
The preliminary steps to organize
were taken by the House. Joseph
Cannon of Illinois was reelected as
Speaker, the members of the House
took oath of office and the floor en-
ployes of both were reelected; the
rules of the last Congress were adopt
ed and members went through the
formality Of drawing for seats, all OF
which was enlivened by the presence
of the crowds in the galleries, the an.
imation of the reunion Of veteran
members and the interest of new
ones.
In a brief speech against the adop-
ton of the rules, the minority lead
err, Mr.. williams Of Mississippi, touch
ed upon the interest of tariff legisla-
ton and told Of the new Republican
"ideas" which were being waited to
Washington on breezes 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 op-
posing the adoption of the old rules
and forming new ones, which permit
consideration of such legislation as
popular opinion might dictate"
Mr.. Williams was asked by the
youngest member Of the House, Mr..
Wharton of Illinois, for an explana'
ton of what he had meant by the word
"kids" in asking for support in op-
position to the rule from the new Re-
publican members. The retort was
instantaneous and caused a burst OF
laughter at the young members eX.
pense. with that degree of reverence
which the personal appearance Of my
interrogation excites in my mind,
should say he would be the last mem.
Der Of this House to ask that ques.
tion," said Mr.. Williams.
A committee was appointed to act
with the Senate committee on notify.
ing President Roosevelt that Con-
gress was ready to transact business.
The rules committee and the commit.
tee of mileage were appointed, and the
House adjourned after session that
lasted three and half hours, in COM
pliance with resolutions on the death
Of Senator Plat of Connecticut and
Representative Marshall of Illinois.