Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-08
IN CONGRESS TODAY,
Interest Felt in the Message of the
President.
PAID IN BOTH HOUSES
While Twas Being Read by Sec
rotary and Clerk.
OTHER BUSINESS TRANSACTED

\
thronged the Capitol yesterday to witness
the assembling and organization Of Con-
sress mad thinned down this morning to
nearly normal proportions. All interest was
ceh1ereo In the message of the President.
Inc other proceedings Of the two houses
To-Day after the message was read excited
httie interest. Since war times no execu-
tive document has been looked for SO eager
ly as the message which Mr.. Cleveland ad-
dressed to the Fifty-third Congress today.
Its brevity, its exclusive reference to the
financial question. its relegation Of the
tariff to the near future" it's urgent
recommendation for the immediate repeal
OF the Sherman law and the enactment Of
further legislation to make clear the in
tention OF this country to pay its obliga-
lions In 1.-The money universally recognized
cited immediate comment though these
recommendations were anticipated in press
dispatches yesterday.
After the reading Of the message there
was general effort to obtain the views
OF the prominent men on both sides Of
the question.
There was general feeling Of expectation
that something unusual might happen. In
spite Of the assurances Of the persons ex-
perenced in congressional ways that there
was little probability of any sensational
developments and that the usual humdrum
routine characteristic Of the opening days
Of Congress would doubtless be adhered
to, very many persons had come to believe
that some surprise was In store and some
Of them had even reasoned themselves into
the belief that the Sherman law might be
repealed out Of hand before the sun went
down.
There was little talk Of silver on the Sen
ate side before the session began. but that
was freely discussed informally among the
Representatives. Any hope Of action to-
day was dispelled when 1t became gener-
ally known that as soon as the PRESIDENT
message was read the Michigan contested
election case was to be taken up. This Is
matter of the highest privilege. and as two
hours were to be allowed for the formal
debate, and perhaps another hour or two
for speeches under the five minutes rule
1t was clear that silver legislation would
not be in order today 30 far as the House
was concerned.
THE SENATE.
The Rev. Mr. Milburn, the new chaplain
of the Senate, opened the proceedings with
prayer as follows:
Almighty God. in whose keeping are the
hearts of princes, let Thy heavenly bene-
diction rest on Thy honorcd servants. the
President and Vice President Of the United
States. the members OF the Senate and OF
extraordinary session. Bestow upon our
rulers. and therein the servants and guides
this time when the foundations of conf
dence are rudely shaken. and dismay ana
panic have taken hold on the public mind.
they may be enabled to devise and execute
such measures that fright shall be dis.
PEELED, trust take the place OF dismay and
fear. and trade and commerce return to
their accustomed channels.
The journal Of yesterday was read by the
new secretary of the Senate. Mr.. Cox.
The credentials OF MI. George c; Perkins rs
stanford. were presented and read and the
oath of office was administered to the new
The President'. Message.
The recess having expired. MIR. Harris Of
the committee to walt upon the President
reported that the committee had performed
that duty and had been informed that the
President would communicate with Con-
gress Immediately. Thereupon Mr.. Pruden.
one of the Presidents secretaries appeared
and delivered the message. which was i'm
mediately read to the Senate by Mr.. John
Not often has an executive communion
ton been listened to in the Senate with
such profound attention and interest as
this message was. Every Senator was
seated and appeared to be on nervous
strain not to lose word.
MIR. Stewart of Nevada had moved down
to one of the front seats on the republican
side and kept his eyes fixed on the reader.
So had Mr. PETER of Kansas. Mr McPher-
son of New Jersey, and Mr.. Hunton of vir-
ginia. had seats at either end Of the re-
porters' table.
Most Of the other Senators occupied their
own chairs. There was no difficulty, how
ever, about hearing the message in all parts
of the chamber. The reading occupied
about fifteen minutes.
Mr.. Voorhees, Motion.
As soon as 1t was ended Mr.. Voorhees, of
Indiana moved that 1t be printed and re-
ferred to the committee on finance.
Better let 1t lie on the table," said Mr..
Stewart of Nevada; we may want to make
some remarks about It,.
If any Senator makes that request" Mr..
sist on the notion.
rs the introduction Of bills in order?"
MIR. Stewart asked the Vice President. but
he got no answer.
| can address the Senate upon the subject
| Of the message just as well after 1t Is re-
| ferred as If 1t were on the table. The usual
! course Is to order a message to be printed
| and referred to committee
Mr.: Stewart Very well: let 1t &C.
| the committee on finance with orders that
| 1t be printed Immediately.
Mr.. Dolph (Ore.), gave notice that he
| would after the morning business address
the Senate on the subject Of finance.
To Repeal the Sherman Law.
Various petitions for and against the re-
| peal of the Sherman act were presented
| and referred to the finance committee. As
| soon as the introduction of bills was in
| order Mr.. Hill Of New York introduced a
| bill to repeal certain sections Of the Sher-
man act, and 1t was referred to the
| finance committee. That was followed by