The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-08
THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE.
THE GALLERIES OF TEE TWo HOUSES
CROWDED TO sUFFocxIIOM

| Respect 20 the Memory OF the Late Sem
tor stnnrord-The House Organizes b!
the Election or tn. Noninees ofthe Demo
cratic Caucus, with Charlie. r. Crisp I.
| Spenker-The Rest of the Day Consume,
by the Me-ber. In Selecting Seats
| WARRINGTON. Aug. when President CT eve
Land on June 30 last surprised the country b,
Issuing his long looked for. but generally un
| expected call for an extra session OF Congress
| Rroan went up from the statesmen OF TIL,
| Senate and House. who dreaded coming I,
| Washington in the heat Of the dog days
| although they admitted the necessities OF TIL,
case and tho wisdom OF the Presidents action
Some Of the statesmen were in Europe, nnt
others were scattered about In all corners o
the United States and all were preparing for
long. restful vacation preceding the protractet
session Of Congress- that would begin in De
cember. Some of these men went SO far as &c
predict that Washington In midsummer Is &C
hot. so dirty. and so generally uncomfortable
that 1t would be impossible for Congressm en-
to give calm and careful attention to matters
OF legislation. These croakers were all 81
lenced when Congress met to-day. for nature
had intervenel in behalf OF Washington. and
blessed the statesmen with a day SO perfect
that August sessions OF Congress may here
With the thermometer at 80 degrees In tho
shade. n clear. bracine breeze blowing from
the northwest, and tho sun shining forth from
cloudless sky. there was no pleasanter place
to-day on earth than Washington. and 10 set
OF men moro comfortable bodily than the
statesmen who convened in the big marble
building on the hill to consider grave affairs
OF state.
The city Of Washington always gives Con-
gress a hearty welcome. because its presence
means m oney In the pockets OF the boarding
house keepers. shop keepers. the livery stable
keepers the street car owners, and all classes
Of persons who furnish the things which the
Congressman and the great train OF followers
that accompany them to the capital must eat.
drink. and wear. To-day the welcome was
more cordial and genuine than usual The
city had Just settled down into its summer
stupor when President Cleveland's procla-
nation stirred 1t like . buGle blast,
and the citizens awoke ready for the
battle. To-day large portion of these
gratifed inhabitants wendell their way
up Capitol Hill at a very early hour to greet
tho Congressman. and two hours before the
time Of meeting the broad galleries OF the two
Houses were crowded almost to sufrocation.
Just as they always are on opening days and
on occasions when anything unusual or i'm
portant is expected to take place. The House
OF Representatives is. OF course the great pop-
ular body and it was there that the footsteps
of the Capitol visitors were first turned. The
overflow crowded back to the Senate. glad
enough to look upon the faces of the solemn
Senators when the privilege OF viewing tho
antics Of the more free and easy statesmen OF
the lower House was denied them.
The performance in the Senate hardly paid
tho spectators for the trouble OF attending.
1t was far more uninterestinC place than the
House. but because of its high dignity it must.
OF course. be considered and mentioned first.
Tho only changes since the adjournment in
April were the arrival OF q few unmportant
men from the new States and the absence OF
one man. who by reason OF his great wealth
and consequent power in the business world
has been prominent figure and who passed
away Just as his colleagues were preparing to
answer the call Of the President. There was a
very full attendance Of Senators on both sides.
Contrary to the general opinion. tho Senators
were as prompt to answer the call as
were the members OF the House. and
the only absentees were those who found 1t
impossible to get to Washington in time Tho
leaders Of both sides were In their places
ready to begin the work Of the session at once.
and until the fact was made apparent by the
presentation OF routine resolutions as soon as
cate that the control OF the senate had Just
Side the Of tie to h hs
old Republican wheel horses: like Sher-
Rna ot h9sr MsT ri adreh As"n Teller
ander the leadership Of Gorman, Harris Tns.
sitting watchiul but quiet under their new
honors. The most conspcuous absentee from
bnma. one of the BehtinE Sea arbtrators, who
has not yet sailed for America. As far rs tho |
Senate chamber itself Is concerned it has SUI
many years. The floor. indeed. Is now covered |
with white summer mating. instead Of the !
heavy bright green carpet used in winter. hut !
otherwise 1t wore its usual aspect to-day Its |
famous mahogany desks had reen repolished. |
and its freseoed and Gilded walls and many;
cheerful as ever. while in the background of !
the Senators sat the host of Republican en- !,
an her sun has set find themselves outside |
he breastworks. and Democrats drawing saa- |
senators OF the United States will never con-
sent to he IN hurry about anything. and SO
t was to-day that but few Of them put In an |
noon arrived The great crowd in the gal cries ,
waited patiently. however. perhaps because
solemn statesmen did arrive their chances at
1nce ascended 10 the galleries. where the
d. a host OF feminine beauty made n picture
which caused them to regret that they had not
arrived earlier upon the scene. In the blue
diplomatic corps four lonesome attaches.
Who are compelled TO remain In Wash
nGton while their superiors are at the
20 much upon he Senators as upon their fair
'pectators overhead. In the Senate. as in the
House today. the almost complete absence of
iorni offerings was striking; Usually when
congress n eets. the desk OF almost every Sem
ltor and Representative bears bouquet or
more elaborate design in flowers sent by some
air admirer or hopeful constituent but to-day.
Though roses are as plentiful rs lilac berries.
here We're only two Senators whose desks
we're decorated.
When vt last the hour of ~ arrived and Vice.
resident Stevenson mounted the rostrum.
ooking brown. hale. and hearty from his
Western travels. and followed by the Republic
an Chaplain, who at the falling OF the gavel
fIered up his valeGictory prayer. the stately
senators bowed their heads and pretended to
Isten Just rs they will do to- morrow when the
The Senate WAS In complete working order to-
ay, because Its organization had been COM
leted at the last session. and 1t was generally
upposed that business could DO proceeded
iith. 1t was a surprise to the Republicans and
0 the vast audience In the galleries, therefore,
vhen Mt the conclusion OF the routine busin sss
enator White arose. aud in a loud. metallic
dice and most matter Of fact style. announced
he death Of his colleague. Senator Stanford.
nd moved that as q mark OF rpspect To his |