Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-06
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
SCENES IN BOTH HOUSES.
READING THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The Senate.

OPENING PROCEEDINGS.
Precisely at IL O'Clock President Pro Temp0re
Sherman, with rap OF the gavel, called the SEN
ate to order. Forty-nine Senators were present.
senator Mitchell (Pa.), who was quite i'll during
The last session, was In his seat, having appar-
emily recovered his health.
Resolutions were adopted fixing the daily hour
OF meeting at noon; informing the House that the
Senate was ready to proceed to business and for
Lhe appointment OF committee to walt on the
PRESIDENT for the like purpose Messrs Edmunds
ana SALISBURY were appointed such committee.
Ihe credentials OF Senator Williams, OF Cali
fornia, were presented, and the oath of office was
administered to him.
BILLS INTRODUCED
Several bills were introduced and referred,
among them the following: By MIR. Call-For the
forfeiture OF the Florida railroad grant of 1856.
By Mr.. VOorhees-To amend the charter Of the
Washington and Georgetown Railroad company.
BY Mr. SaulSbury-TO amend the charter OF the
Capitol, North and South washington Railroad
company.
Recess was then taken for ten minutes.
THE MESSAGE RECEIVED.
The recess was extended to two O'clock at which
hour Senator Edmunds reported that the joint
committee OF the two houses had waited on the
Prefident, and that the President had asked the
committee to congratulate the Senate and House
That he would communicate with them in writing
Immediately.
Thereupon the message was received, and its
readlng was begun by Secretary McCOOk.
For an hour before noon to-day the floor OF the
House presented an enlivening appearance. Groups
of members crowded the cloak rooms and block
AIDED the aisles, chatting, laughing, exchanging
congratulations on success In the recent elections
or condolences upon defeat. The citizens Of Wash
fngton, undeterred by the unproptious weather,
crowded the galleries and looked down with inter-
est and amusement on the scenes that were being
enacted below. The executive and diplomatic gal
aaes ieres " were however, conspicuogsly empty The
designs, those presented to MeSSrs. Hammer (Pa1,
and Wilson WEST va.), being very elaborate. The
congratulations abounded, those offered to Mr.
Hewitt were apparently the most earnest and he
was kept busy shaking hands with political friends
At precisely 12 O'Clock Speaker Carlisle raped
the House TO order and the chaplain delivered the
prayer In which he feelingy referred to the deaths
OF Representatives Beach and ArnOt, and invoked
the Divine supervision over proceedings OF Con-
gress.
clerk proceeded to call the roll when 24l members
responded to their names
on motion Of Mr.: Morrison Qlllnois) resolution
was adopted directing the clerk to inform the Sen
ness
On motion OF Mr. Reagan Texas) resolution
was adopted for the appointment of a committee
OF three members to Join similar committee ap-
pointed by the Senate, to wait upon the President
any communication he might desire to make.
Messrs. Reagan, Brecktnridge (Kentucky) and
nccu Wcfc dppOlnUeu US SuCl cOmmlCtoe.
NEW MEMBERS QUALIFY.
MI. Hewitt, (N.Y) rising to question of prtvi-
lege, asked that Mr.. s. s. Cox should be sworn in
as member OF the House to fill the vacancy
occasiOned by the resignation OF Joseph Pulitzer
He stated at the same time that the formal GER
tlncate OF Mr.. Coxs election had not yet been re-
ceived.
No objection was made to Mr.. Cox's qualifying,
and his personal popularity was manifested BY
In tne OF applause which greeted his reenr
Messrs Hem Henry Rush, Of MARYLAND and Henry
occasioned by the deaths OF William H. Cole and
Lewis Beach.
At IL 40 o'clock recess OF thirty minutes was
taken.
O'Clock. WV
READING THE MESSAGE.
Upon the reassembling OF the House, the com.
mittee appointed to wait upon the President an
nounced that it had performed its duty, and that
the President would communicate in writing with
Congress forthwith.
announced, and presented to the House the Pres-
dents annual message. 1t was Immediately read
by the clerk.
The District in Congress.
TWO STREET RAILROAD BILLS.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. voorhees, introduced
bill to amend the act of May 18th, 1862, and all
acts amendatory thereof, to incorporate the WASH
ington and Georgetown Railroad company, so as
TO authorize that company to use in the operation
power, electricity and cables propelled by steam
or other power, or either OF them. For this pur-
pose the company is authorized to acquire such
real estate as may be necessary for buildings
and machinery, to make all necessary excavations
and to lay temporary tracks. during all
thOrized to be changed as follows: Commencing
at ISL street west ut the present tracks at the In
he I De
connect with the present tracks on street south;
and also commencing at 18th street and New
York avenue, at the present track; thence along
18th to l. along to connect with the present track
on l4th street The company is also authorized to
construct a double track, commencing at 18th
along 18th street to G.. Along G to 26th, along
26th to Pennsylvania avenue. The cars may run
the purpose OF these changes the company is au-
thOrZd to increase its capital stock by the sum OF
$500 600 Referred to the District committee
MI. salisbury introduced bill to SO amend the
charter OF the Capitol, North o and South wash
1ngton railway company as to authorize 1t to use
to construct single or double tracks beefnninr at
the present track at IA and streets southwest,
running thence along street southwest east
with the present tracks on 12th street. The capt.
tai stock may be increased to an amount not ex-
ceeding s., 100000 Referred to the District CON-
WHAT CHAIRMAN INGALLS, OF THE SENATE DISTRICT
COMMITTEE SAYS.
Senator ingalls,, in conversation with STAR re-
porter to-day, said that the District committee
Will go right ahead with matters OF local interest
The committee will probably meet on Friday OF
each week IN accordance with its custom hitherto
Mr. ingalls, added that his desire to promote the
interests OF the District and its people, is
to hear from citizens OF the District upon ales-
t1Ons OF public or private interest, and that the
committee will be accessible to persons who have
suggestions or complaints to OFFER With regard
to questions that have agitated the community OF
late, the senator said he had not yet had time or
opportunity TO inform himself upon any OF these
matters
THE GAS QUESTION IN WASHINGTON AND WEST WASH.
Mr.. SpoOner chairman OF the senate sub-com-
mttee, In the reduction OF the price OF gas told
STAR reporter that 1t is his intention to press the
bill to nnal action, He said: Representative
Price, OF my state, Is dead, and / shall perhaps,
be compelled to make trip to wisconsin: bu {
tentiOn to the gas subject"
Within lew days u resolution viii probably be
offered In the Senate directing an INQUIRY into the
gas service OF West Washington, and the price
charged senator Van Wyck has been informed
that the charges OF that company are much above
tne ruhng prices throughout the country.
THE HOUSE DISTRICT COMMITTEE.
MI. Barbour, the chairman, and most Of the
members OF the District committee were at the
House to-day; but no meeting OF the committee
has yet been called.
Capitol Topics.
TIE LABOR INVESTIGATING coMlnfTRK
Representative Curtin has issued q call for q
meeting of his special labor committee tomorrow
to outline plan OF procedure In compiling its
report.