Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-12-08
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

- 80 USE
--
Opening OF the Winter Session of on-
sress-atatters OF. General Imp or
THE SENATE AND HoUsE.
At noon On Mond ay the winter SEES
sion Of congress was opened. In the
senate that which was most noticeable
were the emblems of mourning. In q
broad black band which covered the
entire railing Of the gallery the illus-
trious dead were remembered, and be.
fore the gavel fell in the house there
was another death to record that of
William T. Price, OF Wisconsin. The
outward sign Of mourning for tho late
President Arthur was missing from tho
interior Of the hall OF the house Of repre-
sentatives, but the outer columns were
heavily draped. In bright and strong
contrast with these sad tokens was the
unusual display Of flowers on both sides
of the senate chamber. The floral gifts
we're profuse, and some OF them were
elaborate in design. There were baskets
and columns, and plain bouquets.
Perhaps the most striking and significant
tribute OF this sort was the floral anchor
placed upon the desk OF Senator Van
Wyck, typical Of the wishes OF the
donors that the senator might remain
in his seat TO wsge var against monop-
olies. Meanwhile there has been in the
local papers q long catalogue OF griev-
ances against the local corporations,
which he wall endeayor TO redress, and
most OF his crusades against these local
monopolies which have liberal charters
from congress, will receive strong local
encouragement. On the democratic
side the flowers were placed on the desk
OF Camden, Voorhees,, Blackburn and
Others, and on the republican side at the
places Of Logan. Cullom, Blair and
Warner Miller. There was q pretty
large attendance of senators and a small
zm. galleries. THE senators
oil seemed in usual good health. The
venerable Justin Morrill,, who was so i'll
last spring. was ia; his old place in re-
stoTed v,gor, looking more like Charles
-Snnmer than " The new senator,
Williams, Of California. was swosn in.
In the house OF representatives over
one hundred1of the statesmen gathered
on the maiority side of the house had
been unwillingly retired from public Life
since the close Of the last session, three
months since, two members had died,
and the death OF Q third was announced
before the gavsl fell, and q gloomy and
depressed rumor was in circulation that
the forthcoming presidential message
was to lay stronger emphasis upon the
beauties Of civil service reform; yet
with il oil MI. Cox game, shook hands.
smiled snd conquered. Men who came
solemnly forward to shake hands with
~ q duty remained TO the chaffed
and cheered: others who stopped to
complain Of their grievances were
laughed out OF their bi~lionsness. But
one member on the floor OF the house
exceeded Cox n playinlness, and that
was Abram y. Hewitt. He was as
agileias y boy and as playful as q some.
What aged kitten. He shook hands all
around, slapped men on their backs with
emphasis aud cracked Jokes.
the house filled up the handshakinR
md chatting became general. Members
strong districts who had been
beaten were mercileasly guyed, while
those who escaped with q narrow mar
gin were subjected to sardonic inquiries
to the actual size OF their maiorities,
prospect OF contest, etc. Az She clock
hands pointed the hour OF noon Carlisle,
pale end pleasant, assembled TO his chair
lnd brought his gavel down upon the
lesk, and Q 8 quiet spread over the room
diibnrn, the blind chaplain, invoked
divine blessing, referred feelingly to
he families OF the dead members, and
placed the second session OF the forty
ainth congress- in the hands OF the .
cnEvRnAND's pnArrruDEs.
Despite President Oleveland's plati.
'udes on thequestion OF civil service re-.
In hin ~ asssno 4