The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-12-04
THE TWO HOUSES OF CON.
GRESS MEET IN THE
CAPITAL CITY.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE READ.
AN Animated Scene in the House With
the Democrats Bandying the Re-
publicans on the Recent
Election.
FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The senate,
after a session lasting but few minutes,
took recess until 30 to allow the joint
committee to notify the president that
E.congress was prepared to resume bust
ness. There was an unusually large
number of senators present at the opening
of today's session. The seats on both
sides of the chamber were nearly all oc-
.cupied, ami the galleries were filled with
spectators. The most conspicuous object
in the chamber was large bed Of roses
surmounted by down like pedestal on
which strutted in the flush and pride of
victory rooster, emblematic of the Demo
cratic success in the recent election. This
decorated the desk of Senator Voorhees,.
whose name with that of Indiana and the
date, 1890, were wrought into the pedestal
of flowers of contrasting colors. There
was a card attached to it with the
names of admiring gentlemen who pre-
sented it, Cordiality seemed TO prevail
between the senators of the two parties
WuO STC6LSu CuCl OIHCl 10 blC pOoG VI
friends whom no political successes or
reverses could estrange. Immediately
after the chaplain's prayer the credentials
of two senators elect from the new state
of Wyoming were presented by Senator
Hoar and when they were read the two
senators, Messrs. Carey and Warren,
were escorted to the vice-president's desk
by Senators Stanford and Hoar
and took the oath of office
Drawing by lot to decide their respec-
tive terms then took place, the short
term, closing March 3, 1898, falling to
Warren and the longer one, closing March
8, 1895, to Carey. Resolutions fixing the
daily hour of meeting at IL o'clock and
providing for the informing of the presi
dent and the house of representatives
that the senate was in session and ready to
proceed to business were offered by Sena-
tor Edmunds and agreed to, and then the
senate took recess until l 30.
After recess a report was made from
the committee to wait on the president
and Immediately afterwards the presi-
dents message was read by McCook, sec
retary of the senate. When the reading
2:45 D. m. adjourned till tomorrow.
THE HOUSE.
The house was called to order promptly
at noon and after roll call a committee
was appointed to notify the president that
congress was ready for business. The
new members were then sworn in and "a
recess until | 80 was taken. Upon re-
assembling the presidents message was
read.
With the exception of few seats re.
served exclusively for members of the
presidents family and for the diplomatic
corps, every available seat in the vast
galleries which surround the chamber
OF the house was occupied early in the
forenoon by spectators, eager TO witness
the proceedings attending the opening of
the second session of the Fifty first con-
.gress A dull leaden sky which overhung
the city served to make the hall gloomy,
but the gloom was almost dissipated by
the roars of laughter which came from the
cloak rooms and by the animated conver-
sation which took place on the floor.
The Democrats were especially JOY
Gus and the Republicans were
obliged to put up with great
deal of good natured badgering with
smiling countenances. At noon Speaker
Reed entered the hall and the rap OF his
gavel instantly restored order. After
PRAYER by the chaplain, the clerk pro-
ceeded to call the roll of the members by
states The roll call disclosed the pres
ence of 227 members, and the clerk was
directed to inform the senate that a
quorum of the house had appeared and
that that body was ready to proceed to
business. On motion of MIR. Cannon OF
illinois. a resolution was adopted for the
appointment of committee to join sim
liar committee on the part OF the senate to
wait upon the president and notify him
that congress was ready to receive
any communication that he might see mt
to transmit. The speaker said there were
various credentials upon his table which
he would present 10 the house. The crC-
dentials were then read as follows q. X.
breckenridge, Second Arkansas; Willis
sweet Idaho G. w. Stone, Twenty
seventh Pennsylvania, and Clarence ID.
CLARK Wyoming. These gentlemen then
enneared at the bar of the house and were
dnlv qualified, Breckenridge receiving a
ronnd of applause from his Democratic
faiends The speaker then laid before the
bonse the credentials of David A. Harvey
as delegate from the territory of Okla
homa, and upon the motion of Mr.. Perkins
Of Kansas. the oath of office was admin
;stered The house then took a recess
until 30.
Al the expiration of the recess the pres
ident's message was received and 1t was
Immediately read by the clerk. At the
conclusion of the reading the Republicans
warmly applauded its sentiments. On
motion of Mr.. Mckinley of Ohio the