Gilpin observer., 1907-12-05
CANNON REELECTED SPEAKER
OF HOUSE, JOHN SHARP WILL
IAMs HIS OPPONENT.
OLD RULES ADOPTED
BOTH HOUSES ADJOURN OUT OF
RESPECT TO MEMBERS WHO
HAVE DIED.


characterized the meeting of the Six
tieth Congress Monday. In the Senate
and House of Representatives there
were notable gatherings in the gal
leries of representatives of the official
society Of the capital.
The coming together for the first
time Of the men who have been elected
to the Senate and the House, about
100 OF whom have not before served in
Congress, made the occasion one cf
particular interest.
Tie striking scenes of the day were
in the House, where the formal selec-
ton OF ]. G. Cannon again to be
speaker OF that body and the designa-
ton by the Democrats of John Sharp
Williams as their leader were occa.
sions for ovations for those gentlemen.
The vast hall of the House rang with
the cheers of Republicans and Demo-
Gratis for their leaders, and the speaker
received as warm a reception from The
minority as he did from his own party.
The appearance of William J. Bryan
on the floor was the occasion for en-
thusiastic cheering by the Democrats.
When the adoption of rules for the
government Of the House during the
Sixtieth Congress came up, the rules OF
the last Congress were opposed by
John Sharp Williams and he was
Joined in the opposition by Democrats
and by single Republican, Mr.. Cooper
OF Wisconsin. The old rules were de-
clared to be autocratic, placing too
much power in the hands of the
speaker. but after a somewhat acrimo-
NOUS discussion they were adopted by
party vote.
Committees were appointed by both
houses to inform the President that
Congress had met and was ready to re-
ceive any message he might wish to
communicate.
New senators and representatives
were sworn in and both houses ad-
journed out of respect to the memory
of members who have died during the
recess of Congress.
Promptly at IL o'clock Clerk McDow-
ell Of the House entered the chamber,
accompanied by the veteran assistant
sergeant-at-arms, Col. E. s. Pierce,
bearing tie mace, the emblem Of the
order in executive bodies.
The roll call occupied twenty min
utes and showed 1865 members present.
Amid great plause on the Republican
side Representative Hepburn of Iowa
nominated Joseph G. Cannon of Illinois
for speaker. Equally demonstrative
were the Democrats when Representa-
tive Clayton put in nomination John
Sharp Williams of Mississippi The
vote on the speakership resulted:
Joseph G. Cannon POI, John Sharp
Williams 154.
Amid thunderous applause from the
Republicans and Democrats alike.
Speaker Cannon was escorted down
the center aisle to his chair by a COM
mittee of which Representative Will
Jams was chairman.
The Senate convened promptly at
noon. After prayer by the Rev. Ever
EFT Hale, chaplain, Senator La Toilette
was the first senator to be recognized
and presented the credentials of Sen
ator Isaac Stephens Of Wisconsin.
The vice president ordered that the
roll of senators-elect be called alpha
betically and they were sworn in Ey
fours, being escorted to the desk by
their colleagues.
All OF the senators-elect were pres
ent except Senator Bankhead Of Ala
bama, who is i'll.
Messrs. Robert L. Owen and T. P.
Gore of Oklahoma, not having been
elected to the Senate by their Legisia-
ture were not received by the Senate
and their credentials will not be ac-
cember 10th.