The sun., 1889-12-04
1T DIDN'T THRILL CONGRESS.
TIE PRESLDEETys lERssAaE READ TO
INlTTENT1TE EARS.

| Reeeivea bY the Senate with 0oleuaA Ind1f-
nsroaee. Not Hsara at An In the Noisy
Wouse-Flowers ter the New Senator's.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-The proceedings Of
the Senate began promptly at ~ O'Clock. The
| galleries presented q bare appearance COM
pared with that Of the previous day. The
backs Of the seats could be seen In number
OF places The public gallery contained the
most people, while the members' gallery had a
| very sparse population. There were but four
persons in the diplomatic section. President
Morton entered the chamber with a smiling
| countenanoe, and stood deyoutly at the desk
while the Chaplain prayed Forty-three Sena-
tors stood up during the prayer. Secretary
McCook was then called on to road what had
been written about the previous days session.
1t seemed to be satisfactory. for none OF the
! Senators objected to It, and the President an
nounced that It had been accepted During
| the time occupied in reading It tho Senators
began to talk too much for President Morton,
and n sharp rap Of the Rayel brought them
| to order.
Capt. Bassott watched Secretary MoCooks
| manuscript intently. When II became evident
| that It was about exhausted the venerable on
| cial Of the Senate almost skipped to the rear
OF the chamber. Just the minute McCook I'm
| ished. Bassett. In voice somewhat broken by
age. said: "Mr. President, message from the
House OIL REPRESENTATIVES,. anu IO0u p0uu-
tors Edmunds of Vermont and Harris OF Ten
nessee stood side by side while the statesman
from Vermont told the Senate thatia quorum
OF the House was present. He added the in-
formation that Thomas B. Reed. o citizen OF
Maine had been chosen Speaker. and Edward
Mcpherson, q citizen OF Pennsylvania. had
been elected Clerk. He concluded by announc-
ing that the President OF the United States de-
sired to communicate with the Senate immcdi-
ately Senator Edmunds has made this speech
so many times that 1t rolls out without effort
on his part. He always puts 1t in exactly the
Same words.
Capt. Bassett the master OF ceremonies
beckoned TO Executive Secretary Pruden. He
looked innocently at the man from the White
House. Just as II he did not know what he had.
and after he had bowed gracefully he concen-
trated all his dignity in the words "A Message
from tho President OF tho United States"
Bearing the huge envelope in one hand, he
marched down the aisle and gave 1t to Presi-
dent Morton. Then President Morton bowed
while he salaamed. The Executive Secretary
made very jerky sort OF obeisance, which the
President returned, and the message was final
ly in the possession OF the Senate. The big red
seal on the back Of the envelope was broken
by the President and the pamphlet was hand
cd to Secretary MoCook. who began to read It.
Senator Reagan OF Texas seemed at first to be
the most interested In its contents. He leaned
anxiously forward. put one hand behind his
ear. and was intent on catching every word.
He soon reapsed. however. and looked as IL
he was very drowsy. Senator Vance Of North
Carolina continued to write letters. Senator
Hiscock OF New York ran his fingers through
his hair. looked dreamily at the Secretary. and
then turned to his mail. Senator Allison OF
Iowa let his eyes wander about the hall. and
appeared as II he was perfectly content with
himself and all the world. The great Quay.
the only Senator who wears a gray suit on the
Senate floor, looked as II he know every word
Of it. He was 30 confident OF it that he retired
to a lounge to hold"a conference with
Congressman Darlington. The solid and
substantial Senator Sawyer OF Wiscon-
sin stroked his beard and gazed
hard at the ceiling. The Republican leader.
Senator Edmunds OF Vermont. sunk down into
his chair and began to curl the ends Of his
heard oS 6o oaed s fers s bis
lap and his intellectual face mover lighted
up but once-that was when the message
to be much more engrossed in the actions OF
Congressman Seney, who had Just entered the
say he viii be. elected, Senator Chandler Of
the " osrfs desk I Where S he Could hear every
word. and he followed Secretary NJ McCo9k,s e, Sl
act With hs IL eyes scF o 81 %
and Hoar Of Massachusetts had q conference |
about something They were deeply engross-
part OF the message was lost to them. When |
that. portion which alludes to the tariff was |
and attempted to listen. Tho effort was too |
much and the lsomnolent condition soon |
fysn oe he the oyed Msh 10
Razed dreamily at the big golden inkstand on
The only event which broke the monotony
was the appearance Of the pages bearing floral
designs. The Senators looked dreamily at
flowers on the contiguous desks Of Senators
Pettigrew and Moody Ono was made 70 rep
n Th ha IS the the pGsa TSFdS
for Senator Pettigrew in South Dakota. Tho
other was floral Tyre two feet @ high w r. Several Several
and q correspondent in the gallery said some
thing about fishermen and liars It Iva was cyl
Senator smiled. The scene became. drowsy
again until senator Pettigrey opened the Id
learn ,s Gefs how Il n WORKED and as result the
floral pickerel made dash for the floor. Not
enaF 5sf9 ThS @S%S 9sr
and put i back on the desk where the people
to want anything in bis desk alter that 49,.
AS soon as Secretary MeCook uttered the
message. Senator sherman was on his feet;
He wanted the message to S on tue rnta raGe aRd @
the use OF tho Senate. The rest OF the Sem
ators seemed TO want the same thing. and
President Morton said 1t would be done.
Senator Hale OF Maine thought 1t was time
to adjourn. and so moved Senator Hiscock OF
New York desired to introduce a resolution
providing q clerk for his committee on tho
organization. condition. and expenditures Of
the, executive depnrtmepts. Senator Hale
told tnat his resolution would go to the Commit
tee on Contingent Expenses As no one else
appeared to be anxious to Say anything, Ben
n Hala FanaNA1 hia motion and IL H. |
riOd. 1t took Just one hour and thirty minutes
to do the business. One hour and twenty min
utes was consumed In reading the message;
And so closed the second day Of the session
In the solemn and somnolent Senate OF the
United States. ROBERT j. VANCE.
House OF Representatives.