The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-12-21
CONGRESS RElssEhBLR
The Senate and House Form
ally Organize for Business.
Scenes Attending the Opening OF
the Short Session.

Scenes Attending the Opening OF
X the Short Session
rhs final session Of the Fifty-second con-
eress was opened at noon on tbs appointed
day for assemblage, and with probably q
brief intermission during the holidays will
continue until March 4. when new Com
gress and new Administration will come
into existence. The Presidents message
was not ready for transmission, 90 there
was nothing to do but to adjourn over until
next day. An unquastioned quo
rum was present In esch branch 50
doubt be promptly resumed after the Presi.
dents recommends have been recsived
and read. A beautiful crisp winter day
ushered In the session, and long before tho 4
hour Of noon spectators began to arrive at
the House wing OF the Capitol In order TO
secure advantage OF seats In the gall
leries. Members also began to arrive
early and the scene presented on the
floor was lively and bustiing one.
II both Senate and House there was q rarei
display Of beauty in the galleries ami fow-i
ers on the floor, for although It was gener.
ally understood that no business could be {
tyansactad - Ia -dav and that no coumunics.i
,;o,, ,so,,iJ Ia: rSca;va1 from fhe Prseidant. x
T. is tha hshit of the Washinpton women To- 4
ha In attandanca al, the opaning cerem ouies
Of Conares.. and to see that the desk OF her
favorite statesman is suitably decorated.
Sharp upon this stroke of 10 Vice. President:
Morton brought the gavsL down, barely
missing circulsr shaped basket OF roses
that rested on his desk, and the Sem
ate came to order. Chaplain, Butler,
N hss nrsver referred feelheiy to
the Presidents recent afi;ctions. There
was a s,,rprisineIy large number OF Sena-g
tors present, seventy y-one of the eighty
eight being ready for business Among the 7
abssutses Were the two New York Senators. Z
After the opsning prayer hy the Chaplain,
Senator Morrill, presented the crtifcate az
election nf his colleague, Senator Rsd-
field Proctor. OF Vermont TOR the unexs
nired term Of George r. Edmulds termina- (
ting March & 1898, and Tor the ensuing term
of six wears. Upon the arm Of his VEN
cradle colleague, Mr.. Proctor. advanced TO
the dais of the Vice-P Presidenes desk, and
Mr.. Morton administered the statutory
tomary resolution instrucsing the Secretary
to inform the House that the Senate wsss,
ready TO proceed TO business. Senator
Hale offered resolution authorizipg
tha prpsidant Ia appoint q committee OF
two to join a similar COMMITTEES on the;
part Of the House to inform the President
that quorum OF each House vas present
and that Congress was ready 70 receive any
communication hs might have TO make Ihs
resolution was adoDted and Messrx Haie
and German were named ~ the committees.
Mr.. Sherman suggested thai the Sem
which was agreed to. On reassetn-i
bIine the = Senate received - massage
from the House 5of Representatives 6yi
M Karr. its Clerk. announcing that q
.,nnrnn, had annaared. and that It was
rrssdv to nroceed TO business. At 1.3J
Sanstnrs Hala and. G&ornnat1 appeared, and
Mr.. Hale reported that they had performed
the di,ty ASSIGNED them. The President had
responded that he would send nessage Ia
writing TO Congress- at the beginning OF to-
morroWs session. Thereupon thes Sonata
ol, motion Of Mr. Sherman, adjourned.
IN tha Honse AZ the hands Of stha clock
,,,ointsa ss to J twsIvss - Sneaker Crisp ascsnied
tnfha Speakerss chair. and as his gave
Sronnsd 3 soIernn hush followed thu noise
and : confusion. The blind chaplain. !
ths Rev. DR.. Mflburn, delivered briet
and impressive prayer. Two hundred
and twenty.four members having responded
TO the roll call, the Clerk was ordered 20
inform the Senate that the House was ready
Cd nroceed to business. a COMMITTEES com.
posed OF Mesara. Springer, Fornsy and
UNoilI ;Pennsylvania), was appointed to
ioin committee Of the Senate
10 announces 10 the President that both
Honses were IN session and ready 10
receive any. communications be saw &c 70
maka. Mr.. Payne, Of New York, presented
ths petition Of John !. Davenport CHIEF
Superyisor Of Elections for ths Sagthern
District of New York, for q hearing betore
/. ssha having besn 3 denied hearing
hv q commiftsa az the Houss.n It was re-
fsrrsd to the Select COMMITTEES appointed
to inrestieats the administration OF United
Statss eIection laws Il, the city of New York.
I The Credentials OF John 4 McLsuren, from