The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-12-05
OPENING OF CONGRESS.
How the Presidents Message Was Re
Coiyed-A Surprising Feature OF 1t.

How the prcsldentB message was Ac"
ooiyed-A Surprising Feature oft.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 4.-The
oncircling galleries CT the house, except
those reserved for the President and
the diplomatic corps, which looked
gloomy aud vacant, were filed to over
flowing with eager and expectant per-
sons when Speaker Crisp, dignifed and
stately, assembled the rostrum at high
noon to-day and raped the regular ses-
sion OF the Fifty-frst Congress to order.
Conspicuous upon the floor were the
two vacant chairs OF Representative
ONeill, OF Pennsylvania, the father OF
tho house." and his colleague, Mr.. Lii
ley, the representative-at-large from the
keystone state. Their desks were
draped in black and covered with floral
tributes.
The roll call showed 27O members
present
Gen. Grosyenor, OF Ohio, then escort
ed II. S. Bundy, OF Ohio, elected to sue
Ceed the late Representative Enochs, to
the bar OF the house and the speaker
with upifted hand administered the
oath OF office to him. The formal reso-
lutions necessary to set the wheel OF
legislation in order were adopted, tho
first by Mr.. Sayres notifying the senate
that quorum was present in the house
and that twas ready TO proceed to busl-
ness, and the second by Mr.. Wilson for
the appointment OF committee OF
three to Join a like committee OF the
senate and inform the President that
Congress was ready to receive any COM
muuicatiou he had to make.
THE MESSAGE RECEIVED.
At 1885 p. m, Mr.. Pruden, the white
house executive clerk, appeared with the
Presidents message and Speaker Crisp
laid it before tie house. Clerk Kerr
read it in clear firm voice. The gal
ieries remained silent and the msmbers
leaning forward in their chairs, listened
attentiyely to Mr.. Cleveland's views as
they fell from tho lips Of the clerk OF
the house. During tho reading OF the
first portion of the message relating to
our foreign resolutions, ex-SpeaEer Thos.
3. Reed burst through q side door and
came rolling across the area in front Of
the speakers rostrum. When he reach
ed his seat, he deliberately lighted a ci-
gar, and sat putting away complacently,
while the reading proceeded. As the
reference to the Hawaiian affair was
reached the members Strengthened up
and gave the closest possible attention,
but no expression either OF approval or
disapproyal was INDUCED in. There
seemed to bel general air OF disappoint-
ment, however, that SO little space was
allotted to this question.
The recommendations relative to an
international monetary conference and
the request for further authority on the
issue on bonds, caused many significant
shakes OF the head on the part OF ex-
treme silver men.
The Presidents bold endorsement Of
the pension policy OF the interior de.
partment, OF civil service reform, and
his appeal for rigid economy in appro-
priationa also attracted attention.
SURPRISE.
When the reference to the tariff was
reached the members crowded about
the clerks desk. The forceful utterance
relative to the duty OF Congress on the
tariff question and the hearty endorse
ment given the Wilson bill seemed to
please the Democratic members
greatly, but much surprise was evident
when that section Of the message was
read stating that the ways and means
committee had embraced in its plans
several additional internal revenue
taxes and small tax on incomes OF GER
tain corporations. AS it was understood
the internal revenue features and the
income tax had not been absolutely de-
cided upon, the Presidents announce
ment came in the nature OF surprise.
A roar of applause greeted the conclu-
sion OF the readingof the message. Cen
eral Bingham, who had boen selected
by the Pennsylvania delegation to make
the announcement OF tho death Of Rep
resentatIves 0'Neill and Lilly, was then
recognized, A committee was appoint
ed to attend the funeral of the late Rep
resentative O'Neill, among them being
Messrs. Mcdowell, Mutchler and Rob-
inson, of Pennsylvania; and then at 8
D. M, as a further mark OF respect to
the memory of the deceased members
the house adjourned.