The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-03

House Organized by Selection of Joseph G.
Cannon as Speaker---Big Fight
Over Rules.
Senate Soon Adjourned Out of Respect to the Memory of the
Late Senators Morgan and PettuS.

Washington, Dec. "A brilliant scene
characterized the meeting of the Six
ueth congress today, In the senate and
house of representatives there were no
table gatherings in the galleries of rep
resentatives 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 be
fore served in congress, made the Occa-
sion one of particular interest.
The striking scenes of the day were
in the house of representatives, where
the formal selection of Joseph G.. Can
non, again to be speaker of that body,
and the designation by the Democrats
of John Sharp Williams as their leader,
were occasions for OvatiCns for those
gentlemen. The vast hall of the house
~Of Representatives rang with the
cheers of Republicans and Democrats
for their leaders, and the speaker re
ceived as warm a reception from the
minority as he did from his own party.
Cheers for Bryan.
The appearance of William J. Bryan
on the floor of the house also was the
occasion for enthusiastic cheering by
the Democrats.
When the adoption of the 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 a
single Republican, Mr.. Cooper of Wis
consin. The old rules were declared TO
be too autocratic. placing too much
power i'm the hands of the speaker. but
after a somewhat acrimonious discus
sion they were adopted by a party
vote.
Committees were appointed by both
hOuseS to inform the president that
congress had met and was ready to
receive any message he might wish to
communicate.
New senators and representatives
were sworn In and both houses sd-
journed out of respect to the memory
of members who have 6ied during the
recess OF congress.
House Called TO Order.
Promptly at p o'clock Clerk Nc
DOWell entered the chamber. acconpa-
MED by the veteran sergeant-at-arms.
Colonel f. S. Pierce, bearing the mace,
the emblem of order in executive
bodies.
The hum of conversation suddenly
ceased and Clerk Mcdowell declared
the body duly in session. Chaplain
Couden Immediately offered PRAYER.
after which the roll was called.
An interesting spectator who was
given the privileges of the floor was
Sir Courtenay Ilbert, clerk to the
speaker of parliament. He was pres
ent as the guest of Speaker Cannon
The rollcall occupied twenty minutes
and showed 365 members present.
Cannon Elected Speaker.
Amid great applause on the Repub-
lican side Representative Hepburn of
Iowa nominated Joseph C. Cannon of
Illinois for speaker. Equally demon
strative were the Democrats when
Representative Clayton PUT in nominal
tion Representative John Sharp Will
lams 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 RepI esentative Viii
liams was chairman. In a brief speech. |
Mr.. Williams said the speakership was !
the second highest office in the limited
States. He had the honor, he said. for
the thlrd time OF lot introducing but 1
presenting to the congress, the Honor |
able Joseph G. Cannon Of Illinois as its |
speaker"
Speech of MIR. Cannon.
When the applause had subsidized /
Speaker Cannon said:
I'VE are today organizing the Sly
tieth congress- marking the one hum
dred and eighteenth milestone in the
history of government by the people /
rnder the constitution. Our predeces- !
sors in the years that have passed |
have left 20 US an example of wisdom. /
moderation and courage that has never /
failed 10 preserve the ideals and the /
interests OF Republican government in /
many crises, whether of peace or war |
diversity or prosperity.
Each generation Of statesmen has |
had its own peculiar problems, and its /
own particular embarrassment. No !