The Irish standard., 1907-12-07
congress Listens
TO word OF CHIEF
PRESIDENT RoosEvELT's MES.
SAGE Is READ BEFORE HOUSE
AND SENATE.
OCCASION is MARKED
BY GREAT CEREMONY

Introduction Of Annual Report Into
Both Branches Occupies Fridays
Observation-Disclosures First Legis.
lature Sends Greetings.
Washington, Dec. 4-The annual
message of the president of the Unit
ed States was read before congress
Tuesday. Within a minute after it's
receipt Secretary Bennett had begun
the reading of the document to the
senate under directions from the vice.
president. The message was present
ed to the senate by Assistant Secre-
tary to the President Latta, who had
followed Immediately upon the heels
OF Senators Allison and Teller, con.
stttuttng the committee which had
made the customary call upon the
president. 1--WE have called upon the
president" the venerable senator from
Iowa, standing in the center aisle be-
side the equally venerable senator from
Colorado, said in low and impress
sive tones, "and he informs us that
he will communicate with the senate
In writing Immediately"
Fairbanks Handles It First,
"A message from the president of
the United States," announced Mr..
Latta much more distinctly, as the
two committeeman parted to permit
the introduction of the presidents re-
port. The document was immediate.
ly forwarded to the desk of the vice.
president and as soon as the wrapping
could be removed the vice-president
laid it before the senate. The secre.
tary read with deliberativeness and
distinctness and was followed close.
ly by many of the senators who held
printed copies Of the message in their
hands. The galleries were crowded
and many of the visitors also gave
close attention to the reading.
Before the presidents message was
received by the senate Tuesday the
oath Of Office was administered to Jo-
seph F. Johnston, who succeeds the
late Senator Pettus as senator from
Alabama. His credentials were pre-.
sented by Senator Culberson Of Texas,
who escorted him to the vice-presi-
dents platform where the oath was
administered by Vice-President Fair
banks.
Message ls Lone Subject.
The house of representatives assem-
bled Tuesday with but one object in
view which was to listen to the read.
ing Of the presidents message and. ad-
h4 to- o1,o
interest Of the public in the proceed
ings Of the house was almost as great
as on the opening day.
When the speaker had called the
house to order and Mr.. Couden, the
blind chaplain, had invoked the Di-
vine blessing, several Republican men,
bers presented themselves before the
speakers desk to say that they had
voted for Mr.. Cannon as speaker and
that their names were not recorded.
They were in each case permitted to
make the record correct.
Mr.. Page (New York;, from the
committee appointed by the house to
notify the president that congress had
met and was ready to receive any
communication he might wish to make.
reported that a message would soon
be sent to the house.
Speaker Announces Document.
The speaker announced that he had
received communication that ordi-
narily he would refer to committee
after the organization Of the house,
but he thought it so important he
would have it read at once. The pa
per proved to be telegram from the
Oklahoma legislature to the house of
representatives.
"Oklahoma's first state legislature"
It stated. "just organized, inspired by
the fond reality of local self-govern-
ment, sends greetings to the Sixtieth
congress Of the greatest nation on
earth, and conveys to her sister states
message Of progress and prosperity
and loyal devotion to the union and
the common good"
The speaker himself read this mes.
sage in an impressive manner, and as
he concluded the house broke into ap-
plause A recess was then taken un-
til 1890 o'clock
Message Is Read.
When the house convened after the
brief recess the presidents secretary
appeared ut the door of the hall and
at once the message of the president
was laid before the house by the
speaker and its reading begun by the
clerk. Printed copies of the docu-
ment were distributed among the
members, who made a close scrutiny
Of the message while the reader plod-
ded along apparently only for the ben
eft Of the people in the galleries.