Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-02
LIVELY OPENING SCENES.
A Great Crowd in the Galleries
and Corridors.
THE NEW HOUSE.
THE NEW SENATORS SWORN In.
The Senate.

House side. 1t was noticeable that, while the
Senate galleries were pretty closely packed
with spectators, ladies were not in the majority,
as they usually are. They had preferred to
witness the scenes in the House on such
occasions. Several of the foreign delegates
to the maritime and the Pan-American confer
ences and number of ladies occupied seats in
the diplomatic gallery. Sir Julian Peuncefote,
the British minister, and Admiral Koznekof of
the RUSSIAN navy were among those present.
Inc usual friendly greetings were interchanged
on the toor between the members and officers
OF the Senate and outside the sun shining
warm and bright in a clear, cloudless sky. In
terest on the floor was devoted largely to
THE SENATORS FROM THE NEW srArRa
They had had seats assigned to them on the
republican side of the chamber. Senator Casey
IN. d. took his seat on the end of the second
row against the north wall Directly behind
him sat the Washington Senator's Allen and
Squire. Pettigrew and Moodey Is. d. were in
the fourth row, nearer the center of the room.
Senator Pierce On. ID. has the end seat in the
fourth row, but he was not present today. On
the democratic side are two seats SO far unas
signed. They will be occupied by the Sena-
tors from Montana when they shall have been
chosen.
FLOWERS ADORNED THE DESKS
OF several Senators. Senator Mitchell's desk
was covered by large mound, on the face of
which was his name set in immortelles and sur
| rounded by rows of roses. The other offer
lngs were more modest, being merely punches
OF roses, exceptin case of Senator Blackburn,
who received floral horseshoe. Senators
Squire. Dawes, Hoar, Kenna, Farwell, Stewart,
Payne, Hlscock and Chandler were also thus re-
membered by admiring friends, and the desk
OF wee President Morton was likewise hand
somely decorated.
OPENING PROCEEDINGS.
chamber and the chaplain. Rev. ]. G. Butler,
opened the proceedings with an invocation for
the Divine blessing, closing with the Lords
audibly.
The oath Of Office was then administered by
the Wee President to Senator Chandler (N.H)
for his new term. The credentials of Nathan
r. Dixon, Senator-elect from the state of Rhode
Island, were presented and read and the oath
OF office was administered to him.
SENATORS FROM THE NEW STATES SWORN IN.
The credentials of Messrs Moody and Petit
grew, Senators-elect from the new state of
South Dakota, were presented by Senators
Platt and Spooner, and those of Messrs. Allen
and Squire of Washington were presented by
the Vice President.
These several credential having been read
MIR. Platt moved that the oath of Office be ad-
mlnistered to the four new Senator's
The motion was agreed to, and the four new
Senators-each of them escorted by a Senator
proceeded to the clerks desk (amid some ap-
piause from the galleries) and took the oath of
office.
Mr.. Cullom stated that he had received
communication informing him that Mr. Pierces
one Of the Senators elect from the new state of
North Dakota, was unavoidably detained and
would not be present till tomorrow.
TERMS OF THE NEW SENATOR'S.
MIR. Hoar offered a resolution providing
mode for assigning the Senators from the
states OF North Dakota, South Dakota and
Washington to their respective classes (in re-
-latlon to the period at which their terms will
expIe) and moved its reference to the com
mittee on privileges and elections. He said
that 1t had been the custom of the Sem
ate, ever since the organization of the
government to assign new Senators TO
their respective classes soon as they had
taken the oath, but that now, for the first time.
the Senators from three states entered substan-
TALLY at the same time. His resolution he said.
proceeded on the theory that the Senators from
the three states mentioned stood on an entire
equality with reference to their opportunity to
be assigned to the shorter or longer term
The three states were all admitted under the
same act OF Congress. They were all admitted
by virtue of proceedings that took place in
them on the same day. The fact that the
procIamatlons evldencng the admission
OF the two Dakotas preceded that of Washing
ton by two days was due to the accident of the
greater distance of the latter, so that the evil
dence Of the proceedings had not reached the
department. OF State at the same time, gave to
the two Dakotas no just title to priority.
THE MONTANA SENATOR'S
Mr.. Vest inquired whether there was any,
thing in the resolution in reference to Mon
tana.
Mr.. Hoar.-Nothing. / do not understand
that the Senators from the state of Montana are
here, or are likely to be here very soon.
MIR. Vest.-That is very true. Yet would
suggest that provision be made for an event
which Is very sure to happen and which we
know, must happen, in reference to a state that
is already a member of the Union by the Presi-
dents proclamation. But Of course, that mat
ter can be considered by the committee on
privileges and elections.
Mr.. Hoar.-The Senators from the state of
Montana will lose nothing by not being in
cluded in the resolution.
The resolution was then referred to the COM
mittee on privileges and elections.
RESOLUTIONS WERE OFFERED AND AGREED TO
fixing the daily hour of meeting at noon; for
the appointment of a committee of two to Join
a like committee ON the part of the House to
wait on the President and to inform him that
Congress is ready TO receive any communica-
ton he may choose to make (Senators Ed
munds and Harris being appointed); and for
the continuance of the select committee on the
transportation aud sale of meat products
MIR. Aldrich offered a resolution (Which was
laid over) declaring the committees on rules
in the Senate and House joint select COM
mittee to prepare and report a code Of joint
rules for conducting business on the part Of the
two houses.
THE QUADRo-CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Aldrich also offered resolution (Which
was also laid over) for the appointment Of
select committee Of nine Senators to be called
the quadro-centennial committee, to which
shall be referred all matter connected with the
proposed celebration of the four hundredth
anniversary Of the discovery of America.
The Senate then, at 1885, adjourned till to-
morrow
House Of Representatives.
The House was called together at noon to-
day by Clerk Clark, whose last official duty it
was to do this.
The change Of the republican party from
minority to q majority. with all the honor.
duty and responsibility of that position, and
the installation Of Mr.. Reed from the position
on the floor where he had for several years ably
led his party an annoyed his opponents, gave
to the occasion and interest and excitement
that have not been known for some years.
4 GREAT CROWD IN aALLERIrs AND CORRIDORS.
The public showed their interest in the g.
semblage Of the body, which many were pleased
thus early in it, career 70 call the fighting