Morning journal and courier., 1886-12-07
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. SITTING IN HIS CHAIR Cleveland Greets The Com
 mittee Of Congress. THE FINANCES OF THE NATION. A Strange Dream Of A
 Mariner. NATURAL GAS IN MONTREAL. A Feat Of Long Distance
 TelephOning.
NATURAL GAS IN MONTREAL
THE OPENING OF coNeREss.

THE OPENING OF CONGRESS. Scenes in Roth Houses When the Ses sion Was Called to Order-Sombre Emblems Of Mourning MingIe With Bright Floral Decorations. WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The scenes usually incident to the assembling of Congress at the beginning of a session were early inaugurated at the Capitol this morning. By 10 o'clock people began to flock into the galleries of the House, the favorite resort whenever there are general and uniform proceedings of interest in Congress. At ii o'clock the galleries were half full, and as the intervening hour to the opening wore away they were filled to over flowing. Members aocked into the hail of the House of Representatives very slowly and stood around with their arms akimbo, explaining to friends and correspondents how they 'tmade it' or 'tgot left" in the re- cent campaign and election. The stories were Interesting and at times thrilling as the narratives branched off into "boodle," vio- fence and romance. But good humor abound ed. Those who were defeated for reelection declared they were glad to retire from public life and those reelected were thanking friends for congratulations. The Senate
 
 with it's heavy crepe drapery about the gallery railings in memory of the late Senator Pike and ex- President Arthur, and much smaller crowd of visitors fingered here than in the House, where the bluster and amusement occurred. In bright contrast with these sad tokens was the unusual display of flowers upon the desks of Senators whose friends thought them especially worthy of honor. Among those who were the reef pients of these floral tokens were Senators Camden, Voorhees,, Blackburn and Harris on the Demo- cratic side, and on the Republican side Messrs. Blair, Cullom and Warner Miller. An exquisite bouquet of roseDuds tied with the typical white ribbon and bearing the following inscription adorned Senator Blair's desk:
 To Hon. Mir. Blair:
 Greetings from the National women's Christian Temperance union-Two hundred thousand loyal women delight to honor the nations advo- ease Were our res if ali cur IaWmaEers were as true to God a-d home and native land.
 It was signed by Frances E. Willard and Caroline B. Buell., corresponding secrstary.
 In the House, too, the desks of various members were adorned with floral designs, those presented to Messrs. farmer of Penn sylvania and Wilson of West Virginia being very elaborate. The Speaker was not for gotten and his desk was handsomely adorn- ed. While congratulations sbounded, those offered to Mr. Hewitt were apparently the most earnest, and he was kept busy shaking hands with political friends and foes, who seemed to vie with other in expressing the heartiest good will and good wishes.
 The congressional committee to announce to the President that Congress was ready to receive his message arrived at the executive mansion at 1:15. The President was sitting in an arm chair and received them without rising A considerable improvement in the Presidents condition is noticeable to-day. His rheumatic attack, which was more painful than serious, has nearly run it's course.