This being the day designated by the Constitution for the
annual meeting of Congress, the members of the House of
Representatives assembled in their Hall for the second session
of the Fifty-ninth Congress, and at 12 o'clock m. were called
to order by the speaker.
The Rev. Henry N. Couden, D.D., Chaplain of the House, offered
the following prayer:
Eternal God, our Heavenly Father, source of all good, our
hearts instinctively turn to Thee for wisdom, strength, and
guidance as we thus gather from all sections of our Union
here under the Dome of its Capitol to conclude the work of the
Fifty-ninth Congress. We bless Thee for the laws with which Thou
hast surrounded us, for the intelligence with which Thou hast
endowed us, for the riches which have come down to us out of
the past, for the splendid opportunities of the present, and
for the bright hopes and promises of the future. Grant, O most
merciful Father, that these Thy servants may strive diligently
to conform their resolves and harmonize their enactments with
the laws which Thou hast ordained.
Let Thy richest blessings descend upon the Speaker of this
House, that with characteristic zeal, energy, and courage he
may guide through all its deliberations to the highest and
best results.
Illumine from on high the minds of those who sit in judgment
upon the laws enacted by the Congress that their decisions
may be wise and just. Bless, we beseech Thee, the President
of these United States, his advisors, and all others in authority,
that the affairs of the state may be wisely administered and
the laws of the land faithfully executed, that the coordinate
branches of the Government, thus working together and working
with Thee, may fulfill in larger measure the ideals conceived
of our fathers in "a government of the people, by the people,
and for the people," that righteousness, truth, justice,
peace, and good will may obtain, to the honor and glory of Thy
holy name.
The empty seats on the floor of this House remind us of the
strong-minded, pure-hearted, noble men who occupied
them, but have been called to the higher life since last
we met. We thank Thee for their genial presence so long among
us, the work they accomplished for State and nation, the sweet
memory and illustrious examples left behind them. Be very near,
O God, our Heavenly Father, to the bereaved families. Uphold,
sustain, and comfort them by the blessed hope of the immortality
of the soul.
Impart, we implore Thee, more of Thyself unto us all, that
we may become in deed and in truth sons of the living God
after the similitude of Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord and
Master. Amen.
Mr. NELSON. Mr. Speaker, it becomes my painful duty to announce
the death of my distinguished predecessor,
Hon. H. C. ADAMS, of Wisconsin, who died on his homeward
journey at the close of the last session of Congress. At some
future day I will ask that a time be set aside in which the friends
and associates of the deceased Member may offer suitable tribute
to his memory and services. I now offer the following resolution.
The Clerk read as follows:
Resolved, that
the House has heard with profound sorrow of the death of Hon.
H. C. ADAMS, a Representative from the State of
Wisconsin.
The resolution was agreed to.
Resolved, That
as a further mark of respect to the memory of those Representatives
whose deaths have been announced this House
do now adjourn.
The resolutions were agreed to. Accordingly, in pursuance
thereof, the House (at 12 o'clock and 54 minutes)
adjourned until to-morrow at 12 o'clock noon.
WEDNESDAY, January 16, 1907
Mr. NELSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for the
present consideration of the order which I send to the
Clerk's desk.
The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Wisconsin asks unanimous
consent for the present consideration of the order
which the Clerk will report:
The Clerk read as follows:
Ordered, That
there will be a session of the House on Sunday, February 24,
1907, at 12 o'clock m., which shall be set apart for memorial
address on the life, character, and public
services of Hon H. C. ADAMS, late a Representative from the Second
Congregational district of Wisconsin.
The SPEAKER. Without objection, the order will be considered
as agreed to.
There was no objection.
SUNDAY, February 24, 1907
The House met at 10 o'clock a.m.
Prayer by the Chaplain, Rev. Henry N. Couden, D.D., as follows:
Let not your heart be troubled: yet believe in God, believe
also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not
so, I would have told you so. I go to prepare a place for
you. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle
were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens.
For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed
with our house which is from heaven:
If so be that clothed we shall not be found naked.
For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened:
not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed
upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is
God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the
Spirit.
For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
Eternal God, our heavenly Father, whose heart goes out in
approbation and love to those who seek to do Thy will and
thus add to the sum of human happiness and departing leave
the world a little better that they have lived and wrought.
We thank Thee for the men whose characters and deeds we are
here to memorialize, men whose gifts and talents fitted
them by their fellow-citizens. Let Thy blessing, we beseech
Thee, be upon this service, that those who shall record their
tribute of love and respect may inspire those who shall come
after them to faithful service.
We thank Thee for the hope of immortality which lifts us
in our better moments to larger life and nobler deeds and which
bids us look forward to a brighter world beyond the confines
of earth. Let Thine everlasting arms be about those who mourn
the loss of their dear ones, and in Thine own good time bring
them to dwell together in one of the many mansions prepared for
those who love the Lord, and Thine be the praise forever. Amen.
Mr. NELSON. Mr. Speaker, I offer the resolutions which I
send to the desk.
The Clerk read as follows:
Resolved, That
the business of the House be now suspended that opportunity may
be given for tributes to the memory of Hon.
HENRY C. ADAMS, late a Member of this House
from the State of Wisconsin.
Resolved, That
as a particular mark of respect to the memory of the deceased
and in recognition of his distinguished public career,
the House, at the conclusion of the exercises
of this day, shall stand adjourned.
Resolved, That
the Clerk communicate these resolutions to the Senate.
Resolved, That
the Clerk send a copy of these resolutions to the family of the
deceased.