The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-12-06
OPENING OF CONGESS.
Scenes of Jollity in the National
Senate and House.
MIRTHFULNEss BECOMES EPIDEMIC.

Democrats Overlooking with Good
Nature and Republicans Pleasantly
Resigned to the Ineyitablc-The
Absent Senators.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The second ses-
sion of the Fifty second congress opened
In the senate yesterday with the usual
scenes. There was crowded gallery,
and display of flowers that surpassed
any previous outburst of floral tributes.
Senator Wolcott was lost to sight from
behind an immense tree of roses, and
several other emblems rested on his desk.
The desks that were not the resting place
of some design or bouquet were few and
far between. The good effect of the
flowers was heightened by the mir of jol-
lity and good fellowship that marked
the greetings of senators for the first
time since the late political upheaval.
Democrats were natr 70 " jubilant and
joyful, but the RepuL VI ms made a brave
show, and il there was any grief felt it
was hidden behind "a smiling face.
Eighteen senators were absent from
their places, including Senators Gibson,
of Louisiana, and Kenna, of West Vir-
ginia. who are seriously ILL., Senators
Hill and Hiscock, of New York, and
Senators Allison, of Iowa, and Jones, of
Nevada, who are in Brussels, attending
the international monetary conference.
Senator Proctor, elected to fill Mr..
Edmunds' unexpired term from Ver-
mont was escorted to the desk by his
venerable colleague, Mr.. Morrill,, and
cN,yn,.y, in hty Nica praci 1nnt Mnrtor,
After hearing from Senators Hale and
German that President Harrison would
communicate with congress in writing
at the opening of today's session, the
senate adjourned.
Epidemic of Mirth in the House.
The general feeling of good humor
and self satisfaction which was notice.
able among the house members present
when the last session of the Fifty-second
congress was called to order has probu-
bly, never been surpassed on a similar
occasion. The large Democratic major
ity were still lushed with the triumph
of the recent victory, and at the same
time reioiced in the fact that its contin-
uance III power was assured, Hand
shaking and mirth early became cpl
denic. Sedate old veterans relaxed their
customary mobility of countenance and
smiled. Men grown gray with age re-
newed their youth, and enthusiastically
slapped their companions upon the back
The Republicans, of course, did not
share in this hilarity, but the hunor of
the situation relieved all feeling of re-
sentiment, and they viewed the exuber-
ance of their Democratic brethren with
apparent resignation.
As the hour of IL o'clock approached
tho galleries became crowded with in
terested spectators, and the corridors
were thronged with the usual overflow
of those unable to obtain admittance.
The desks of favored members were
very generously supplied with flowers.
Al noon the house was called to order
and the usual committees appointed to
wait upon the senate and president to
inform them that the regular work of
the session had begun. Resolutions Of
respect to the memory of Edward f.
Mcdonald, late u representative from
New Jersey, were adopted, and the
house at 40 adjourned as token of
respect to his memory.
The Question of Immigration.
Next to the currency and taxation
questions, the subject which bids fair to
interest congress Mt the present session
more than any other when the appro-
priation bills are not claiming preCed-
ence is the topic of immigration, and
it would not be surprising if some radical
steps were taken looking towards the re-
strictlon of the human influx from
abroad Senator Chandler has prepared
for introduction bill suspending immi-
| grafton, except from North and South
| America, for one year after March |. No
| measure AS drastic as that is likely to
| pass, and whatever is done will be done
in the teeth of strong resistance from
the steamship companies who carry
steerage passengers. These will argue
| that if the restrictions are ma le too So
we're they will simply change their pres
ent tactics and land their steerage peo-
| pie in Canada. That done, the farmers
and the better element generally, they
predict, will stay in Canada, and the
nomadic characters will drift into the
United States overland, so that instead
of getting some good elements mixed
with the bad, as we do now, we shall
get the bad alone. and plenty of them.