Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-12-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(FrOm our Regular correspondent


scenes of opening day were enacted.
Long before the appointed hour the
galleries began to fill, and by 11:30 all
but the Diplomatic and Executive
galleries were crowded. On the floor
of the Senate pages were distributing
baskets of flowers, and it happened
on that day that the Democratic Sena-
tors only were in favor. Not bud or
a blossom adorned the desks Of the Re-
publican Senators.
AS the hands of the big Senate clock
moved on to the meridian mark, the
Chamber rapidly filled and a general
handshaking took place in the aisles
The president pro TEN, Mr.. ingalls,, of
Kansas, entered, cscorting the Chaplin,
Mr. Butler, and let fall the gayel. The
prayer was brief, asking for a blessing
on the president and the President
elect, and at It's conclusion, the secro-
tary of the Senate was instructed to
notify the House that the Senate was
ready for the transaction Of business.
at the other end Of the Capitol, for
fully an hour before Speaker Carlisle
called Che House to order wi,h Che as
sistance OF q brand new gaycl. Scene
was presented on the door which was
deafeuingly uoisyand to astranger very
amusing Not more than half of the
members were present, but each man
talked to another in loud tone Of
voice, explaining election incidents
and accidents, telling just how it hap
pened to happen, and there was much
handshaking.
Speaking of the floral tributes on the
desks of members, q visitor in the gal
lery asked: How does it happen that all
the flowers are on the Democratic side {?
The reply was: Oh, that's where the
funeral is you know, they've got to
have flowers.
After President Cleveland's last an
nual communication to Congress,
which was rather long. had been read,
the comments upon it that could be
heard, were widely different, and were
according to the side of the hall from
which they came. a notable feature
of the message is that it discusses the
tariff again, with all the earnestness
that characterized Mr.. Cleveland's late
specific message on the subject, which
question, in spite of all reverses at the
polls, he still maintains is the great is
sue before the country clearly and dis
tinctly defined.
OF course it was expected that the
President would take this position. To
be consistent with himself it was eX-
pected that even in the face of an adj
verse popular verdict he should adhere
to cause which he deliberately and
defantly made the supreme test of his
administration. lie could scarcely
have been expected to acknowledge
that his action might have been i'll
timed and impolitic.
One of the latest bills introduced in
the Senate was by Senator Gibson, of
|
lishment of bureau of health in con-
nection with the interior department.
The bureau is to be under the direction
of commissioner receiving $1,000 per
year. \ health commissioner consist
ing of twenty members is to be APP
pointed by the President. Five mem
bers are to have charge of yellow fever;
and three each of cholera, typhoid few
er, smallpox and diptheria.
If appearances, enthusiasm and
promises count for anything, and in
this case it is certain that they do
Washington will witness a celebration
that will attract the attention of the
whole world. For some time past the
interest in what is briefly known as
the meeting of the National Board OF
Promotion in this city Tuesday, the
day set for the gathering saw the par
lors of Williard's hotel filed with q
group of notable men from variou;
states. And the work they accomplish
eel was Il good one. The one feeling
expressed ut the meeting was the most
cordial approval and endorsement, a,
to the desirability and adyisability Of
the great projects under consideration
And the action OF such a gathering
'caHnot leil to make profound i'm
preston throughout the country.
shows shat jhe question is viewed from
q broad. national standpoint that il
concerns the whole people; that il
bears directly upon their commercial
and industrial interests; and that The
movement is i'm 30 sense Of a specuIa
latiye or local character. Congress
may therefore bc expected to pass, q
an early day, whatever legislation
necessary for promoting the success o
the Centennial Of the Constitution il
in 1889 and for clothing with the gov
ermental authority the proposed inau
uration of great permanent Expos