New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-04
CONGRESS READY FOR WORK
The LAST SESSION OF THE LTH CONGRESS
BEGUN

IHE LASI SESSlON Of IHC LIN NO.'VhsS
BEGUN
LITTLE INTEREST SHOWN IN THE PREsIDENro
MEssAGE-MRs. CLEVELAND AMONG THE
SPECTATORS IN THE HoUsE-LAUGH.
TER OVER THE PRESIDENTS YER
SION OF THE sAcKvILLE
INCIDENT-sCENEs AND
INCIDENTS.
rBr ErEoRArH TRIBUNE
Washington, Dec. 3.-The second and last session os
the Lth Congress opened to- day amid the OLD familiar
surroundings, but uLder circumstances far dferens
from those which attended the opening of the first ser
sion. Tho wcllknown faces greeted you. but
somehow they wore different look The Democrats.
triumphant and patropizing year ago, looked very
meek to-day. The countcnances Of the Republicans.
the other hand wreathed in smiles, and they
acted like who might forgive much, and perhaps
even forget things
Tho weather was such As to make everybody fscI
contonted The air was bracng Eight breeze
stirred the acss branches Of the trees. and ss tho
hour approached for the assembling Of Congress the
sun broke through the clouds. Capitol Hill, OF
course, was the centre toward which everybody In
Washington madc his her way in the morning
hours.
What is true Of every other opening session II
tue also OF this The galleries were crowded Iona
before the hour of meeting at noon They wero oc-
cupied mainly by ladies' strangers and VISITORS 10
town. The gay coors OF their attire were In striking
contrast to the sombre dress affected By ths average
legislator. The lite pages IN knckcrbockers ana
the committee clerks and early but the hrss
Senator did not make his appearance in the senats
lambcr until half past H. II proved to DO
Mr. Stewart Of Nevada ruddy OF color and active in
step. He quickly joined by Mr.. Chandler, ana
a few minutes la by Mr.. spooner, Mr. Aldrich Mr.
Henderson and Mr.. Frye.
HOW THE VARIOUS SENATORS APPEARED.
P,nctualy at noon Mr. ingalls, the president Of the
Senate, passed from the rear door OF the Chamber,
preceded by the chaplain He wore white rose In his
buitonhole, and looked ten years younger st least
than on the day when he adjourned the senate In oc'
tober last There were nearly for,y-fve Senator'S
present when the chaplain opened the poceedings with
prayer That part Of the ceremony finished, greet
ings and handshakngs became the order of the day to
the exclusion Of all other business. Mr. Edmunds had
nothing but cordial greetings for everybody that crossed
his path and made himself thoroughly agreeable even
10 Democrats. His colleague from Vermont. Mr. Nor.
nll who compelled TO leave Washington early 10
the summer on Of his health, is fully restored
again and to bear the weight of his years lightly
Old Man" Salisbury looked only as a man who has
pulled his house about his can look-morose'
suen unhappy. He met the reproaches of his friends
by saying: 9" Rather than have that young rooster.
who has studied law in my Office, get the scat now
OCCUPY, I would see a Republican senator from Del
aware
PAN Electric" Harris. OF Tennessee, wore an un-
usually wise mlen and looked more than ever Ike
a mandarin a tea chest, with his head shining ike
a billiard ball and his dropping white mustache
Sawyer, rolckng, kindly shrewd, old gentleman thaf
he is, loved and esteemed by all his frends-and he
counts them by the thousands-seemed to have taken
a new lease Of life, and moved about the Senate
Chamber with the agility Of youth Of twenty.
Blackburn the cynosuTe OF all eyes, but he had
a very peaceful and bland look on his countenance,
nothing whatever suggestive Of pistols and gore. He
strolled about with great dignity and selfposses-
sion but one, as far as is known. mentioned tho
name of Rucker to him. sherman looked thoroughly
happy and contented. Allison had diplomatic smile
and few words for everybody. Eusts seemed to
view the proceedings as through glass darky with
the dsnterested indifference of spirit from another
world. For all practical purposes he Is political
corpse. Hawicy bore himself with the proud air OF
twenty-four hour old father. but received the con-
gratuations Of his colleagues and admirers with
Characteristic mOdesty. Vest seemed a rife de-
moralized as II he had out OF that struggle TO
the DEATH somewhat damaged but he tried HIS best
to look peasant-whch Is saying good deal for vest
NEw-YoRK'S SENATORS WERE MISSING.
Those conspicuous for their absence were the two
New-York Senators, Messrs. Evarts and HIscock and
Mr. Quay, of Pennsylvania, on the Republican side.
On Democratic side the familiar face OF Beck was
absent, the first tme perhaps, that he has failed -
be In his at the opening of session Of Congress
Reports which reach Washington do not encourage his
friends He Is believed To be very Ill man. and IL
Is doubtful whether he will ever be able again to do
active duty as leader of his party He is at pre- eni
at the home of his daughter this city. The patf
archal features Of joe Brown Of Georgia, were also
looked for by many and missed. snuftaking wade
Hampton also absent, and Kcnna was away
presumably still figuring out a Democratic victory In
West Virginia Flowers VOorhees's desk emitted
their fragrance for every body but for him. for whom
they were Intended The two Virginans, Riddle
berger and Daniel, also failed to show themselves,
much to the di appointment of the crowd OF Virginia
visitors who waited patiently in the galleries to get
a glimpse of their two great men,
There was as usual such occasions, number
Of floral offerings to be found at the desks OF Senator's
Strange to say this time these floral tributes wero
entirely confined TO the Democratic side.
LANGUID HEARING OF THE MESSAGE
The routine proceedings OF the Senate were lacking
in interest. There was the customary resolution TO
Inform the House that the Senate ready to pro-
ceed 10 business and there tho usual committee
appointed TO walt upon the President and convey 10
him the same information The latter duty is always
| performed by the senior senators OF each
| party, and in this instance WAS per
formed by Messrs. Morr.l and salisbury.
The Senate took two recesses, and st about half
past 1 1t ready 10 listen to the reading of the
| Presidents message. 1t read by General Nc
| Cook tho Secretary of the Senate, and consumed .
| lttl moro than hour and quarter There was
very little interest shown In the message. There
rarely more than twenty Senators present IN
the Chamber at any time during its reading. and
never more than six Democratic senators.
The passages referring to the Sackve incident were
greeted with audible smiles the floor Of the Cham
Der ard in the galleries. 1t is no exagsera'on 10
say that never before has the annual message OF
President been received with much indifference and
, by SD marked a lack of interest
Before the Senate adjourned Mr.. Frye gave notice
that he would call up the Union Pacific settlement
| bill to morrow morning. Mr.. Chandler said that he
would ask for action his resolution TO investigate
the Louisiana election of April last, and Mr. Allison
| announced that he would ask the Senate TO proceed
with the Tariff bill. and would even II the discussion
became too proracted, ca II up during the morning