Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-12-17
A Picture of the Opening Scenes of
Congress.

A Picture Of the Opening Scenes of
Congress.
From the Baltimore SUM-
Congress having began its winter ses-
sion, the ''season" in Washington may be
said to have been officially inaugurated.
The opening day in the Senate was devoid
of Interest beyond the reading of the Pres
ideut's message. AS early as eleven O'Clock
the private galleries began TO fill up with
ladies and their escorts. Mrs Secretary
Manning and party of friends occupied
seats in the Executive gallery. as also did
Mrs. Senator Henderson, Mrs. Senator
voorhees,, and Mrs. Senator Mitchell Of
Oregon, chaperoning a number of very
pretty young ladies. The dressing of the
ladies to-day was not as brilliant as on
former occasions Of this kind, as the
stormy weather induced them to wrap
themselves up warmly in dark material.
The Japanese minister and two of his Sec
retarles sat IN the diplomatic gallery for
short time, but the proceedings were so
dry and unlnteresting that they soon de-
parted. During the day several members
Of the diplomatic corps appeared in the
gallery, but they did not remain long.
By half-past eleven O'Clock the desks of
several Senators were ornamented with
floral tributes from admiring friends. Tue
fortunate Senators in this particular were
"essrs. Blair. Camden, Voorhees,, Maxey,
Frye, Miller, Harris, Blackburn, Vrst,
Bowen, and Kenna. The basket on Soma
c + Kenna's desk was from little girl,
the daughter of former Speaker of the
West Virginia Legislature, for whom the
Senator recently secured an appointment
in one of the departments.
Promptly at noon Senator John Sherman
entered the Senate chamber from his pri-
vate rocm and raped with his gavel three
| times upon his desk and called the Sena-
'ors to order to listen to prayer by Rev.
| DR.. Butler. There we're about fifty Sena-
| ors in their seats when prayer began.
| quite large attendance for the religious
| part of the senatorial proceedings. Itwas
observed that majority of the Senators
wore Prince Albert coats and were other
wise dressed especially for the occasion.
| AS the chaplain g Amen ECHOED through
the hall, Gen. Logan came from the Re-
publican cloak room and took his seat in
the front row between Messrs. Edmunds
and Frye. He received cordial welcome
from his associates, many of whom evil
l In bod hnfrr o;n +
close of last session. There was full at
tendance of Democratic leaders, including
Senators Beck, Vest. Cockrell, German.
Kenna Ransom, Eustis, Morgan, w ison
of Maryland, and others. After Messrs
Allison, Ingalls, and Edmunds had intro.
duced certain routine resolutions, which
were adopted without dissent, the new
Senator ftom California, Mr.. Williams
was sworn in. A recess was then taken
until two o'clock to await the arrival of
the Presidents message. Tue document
| was promptly on hand at that hour and its
reading Was commenced. During the first
| five minutes of its reading there were
| eighteen Democrats and the same number
of Republicans in their seats. AS the Sec
| rotary proceeded, others came into the
| chamber, and by the time the reading of
half of the matter relative to he State
Department affairs was concluded almost
very seat was occupied. Senators Beck,
Morgan, Busler. Payne Cockrel, Gray,
Harris and Vest listened attentiveIy to
yhe reading throughout. Ga the Repubi
| can side the four presidential aspirants-
Aessrs. Logan, Allison, Edmunds aud
| Harrison, we're the most attentive listen
| ers. Senators Don Cameron, and Sewell
| Of New Jersey, sat side by side, evidently
discussing the recent elections in New
Jersey. Mr. Sewell was apparently ex-
planning to his companion how the Repub-
icans happened to lose the Legislature as
the Pennsylvania Senator's face looked
the picture Of sympathy. Twenty-Five mi
nutes was consumed in reading the State
Department portion of the message, which
was universally pronounced too long, and
devoted too much to minor details. When
the financial part of the message was
reached the members on both sides of the
and many of them changed their seat to
get near the secretary g desk. The splen-
did business showing made by the Treas
ury Department Was received with mods
of approval on the Democratic side. while
several Republican statesmen exchanged
derislve smiles. When the recommends
tion relative to the suspension of silver
coinage was reached, both Republicans
and Democrats seemed to be equally in
terested, but it was difficult to judge from
| the expressions on their faces which side
was in the majority on that question.
The secretary occupied about twenty mi
nutes in reading the financial part of the
message, which was generally considered
the best part of the document. The rest
of the reading was merely mechanical, as
the Senators grew weary and paid but
little attention to the Secretary.
SCENES IN THE HOUSE.
Had the day been fair and bright the
galleries Of the House could not ha2 s -