Evening star., 1909-01-31

keeper Of the House Of Representatives
Will enter that great chamber by the cen
ter aisle and Will formally announce to
Sp 'akar Cannon the arrival CT the Sem
the seats in ths front rows OF the demo-
cratic side OF the House to make room
for the Senate. tins displaced representa-
t!ves finding other seats at the rear.
These democrats will not be unseated be-
cause a republican victory is to be rat!-
the democratic side oe the House. on tho
Speakers right, is the honor side" OF
that chamber and etiauet demands that
the Senate-the higher body-be seated
there when the two houses are in joint
session.
The House will rise and remain standing
during the entrance OF the procession OF
the Senate. Speaker Cannon will also
be on his feet to receive Vice President
Fairbanks as the latter mounts the dais
beneath the large silken flag. The Speak
er will yield his chair and gavel to the
Vice President and. take another seat
to his left.
This will be the most ceremonious oc-
casion on whicl the Vice President will
lave been IN the limelght since his e1ec-
ton. Congress many years ago specified
clearly to who should preside over its
Joint sessions. the trainers of this statute
having provided against such compltca-
tion occurred at a joint session OF the
during dispute as to who was the pre-
siding officer the lieutenant governor and
speaker proceeded to overruls each other.
each endeavoring to outpound the other
with his gavel. 1t might be added, how
ever, that in the opinion of some Iegisia-
tive authorities this assemblage of Con-
gress for the official count OF the electoral
vote is not a joint session in the true
sense. but meeting Of the tNo bodies,
separately, in the same hall, each main
tanning its own organization for the pur-
pose of Witnessing the count.
.;as
The two cases containing the ballots
will be placed upon the desk before the
Vice President and Speaker. the keys be-
ing placed before Mr.. Fairbanks. who
will open the ceremony by unlocking the
boxes. AT this stage of the ceremony.
attending the count OF the electoral vote
for Cleveland and Stevenson. the absent
mindedness of Vice President Morton pre-
cipitated no little merriment He extend
ed his hand TO take up the keys. but
was surprised to find that they were not
In their place beside the boxes. He raised
the papers on his desk and peered be-
meath them, but vainly, and while the
proceedings Jagged he grew more and
more visibly nervous Speaker Crisp.
seated beside him. joined in the search,
looking under various articles. including
the inkstand. The clerk and his assist
ants then took a hand. and soon they
were augmented by other attaches search
ing on, about and under the desk. the
Vice President becoming more and more
nervous every minute. The boxes were
tried but their lids refused to yield, and
1t began to look as though Grover Cleve-
land could get into Office only by aid of
a jimmy. The four hundred and more
legislators upon the floor, appreciating
Al, 4 =
to laugh when the Vice President began
TO tumble in his pockets. jmpatiently
searching first those Of his trousers. then
those of his coat, even going down into
the very depths Of the cavernouS recesses
of his coat tails. Finally, when he ran
his fingers into his waistcoat pocket and,