The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-05
THE CONGRESS IN SESSION.
CROWDS or SPECTATORS IN TIE car
LERIEs OF BOTH BoUsBa

LERIEs OF BOTH HOUsHA
TIE Fsvv- Reserved for the DIPLOMATS sud
the Presidents F.-,iiy v.csut-The Days
sss.io. Devoted 90 the Rssdipg OF the
Pre.idencs Messsge-lt Fsn Fiat In Roth
Houses-It was . Surpri.s TO Repubii-
cans, s.d Both = Surprise and Very
Great Dissppoiatmsut 90 Democrats.
WASHINGTON. Dec 4.-The FIRST regular SEES
sion OF the Fifty-third Congress met at noon
TO-DAY. The extraordinary session. called By
President Cleveland for the purpose OF repeal
ing the purchasing clause Of the sherman Sill
yer law, adjourned on Nov. 3. one day more
than q month ago. and so tho meeting to-day
was more In the nature OF reassemb bling after
. recess. At the August meeting both Houses
had been organized. committees appointed
and patronage distributed, so that to-day tho
session was robbed Of the interesting excite
ment that generally accompanies the meeting
OF a new Congress. There was no election OF
Speaker to create enthusiasm or arouse polit-
zeal animositiee. no new Senators to be sworn
in, no new members to beslege the Speaker
for committee assignments. and altogether
the meeting was quite II featureless one.
In the Senate there was n long list OF abb
sentees. most Of whom. however. will be on
hand within n day or two. The only Sem
ator who is outside the limits Of the
United States is Mr.. wolcott OF Colo
RADIO. who went to Europe at the close
Of the extra session to recuperate from the
hard work he performed in his vain efforts
TO prevent the passage Of the Silver Purchase
Repesl bill. Mr.. Wilson Of Iowa. who has been
absent for nearly a year on account OF sick
ness. surprised his colleagues by answering
the roll call to-day. His term will expire on
March 4. 1894. and It Is understood that he
will not be n candidate for reelection. Vice.
President Stevenson. who arrived In Washing
ton last night brought down his gavel to- day
ON u new top to the historic desk at which
he sits. The old top OF his desk. which was
made OF nine. and which had not been re-
newed since 1851, had been shattered into
splinters during the turbulent scenes OF the
rrotracted light over the Repeal bill at the ex-
ira session. and so a new top became neces-
sary. 1t Is made OF mahogany and covered
with billiard cloth. 1t looked to-day from the
gallery very much Ike faro table. but It Is
solid. and the Vice President can pound It to
his hearts content without any danger OF
smashing II. There was a new carpet also.
on the floor OF the Senate chamber to-day. but
otherwise everything looked Just as 1t did
q month ago, when the silver debate was In
progress. There was the same crowd OF spec
tators in the galleries. and the same empty
seats In the pews reserved for tho Presidents
family and the Diplomatic corps. Only one
diplomat condescended to visit the Senate to-
day. This was Mr.. l. A. Thurston. the
Hawaiian Minister. He arrived early to hear
what tho President had to say In his message
about tho Hawaiian situation. and was sur
prised and disappointed. Just as everybody
else was, to learn that Mr.. Cleveland had prac-
tically ignored the subject.
Mr.. Milburn tho blind chaplain OF the Sem
ate. distinguished himself by one OF the long,
est prayers he ever delivered. He evidently
thought that the opening Of the first regular
session OF the new Congress demanded a more
than usually lengthy and fervent prayer. and,
much to the annoyance Of majority Of the
Senators. he strung out his invocation until
they were ready TO drop with fatigue
The most conspicuous man on the floor OF
the House OF Representatives when Speaker
Crisp called that body to order was
Don Manuel Dickinson OF Michigan. Post
master General in President Cleveland
first Cabinet. and now private citi-
zen OF Detroit. whose influence with
Mr.. Cleveland arpears to be greater than that
OF any, man In Washington. Although the
mis- sion Of ex-Cabinet officers to the floor dur
ing the session. Mr.. Dickinson sat at a prom
ceIved an ovation from tho Administration
Democrats. He had under his wing his former
IL
been 81 ected to u seat in the House to succeed
the ate Judge \. Logan Shipman: Major
Intellectual. man and Who Is said Y to-
possess great ability. He was introduced to
nearly all the members OF the House by Mr..
Dickinson before he was sworn in,
Speaker Crisp when he assembled the steps
leading to his elevated chair. looked as II he
for the past six months. lie was dressed, Just
as he always Is, in ttghtly-buttoned frock
coat. and wore little shoe string tie at tho
meeIiuR ulAce of ll0 anlS of Mia down
old-styie collar. At his lett hand was an open
book Of rules. which is the constant guide Of
ell Speakers. and on his desk were arran ged
the various communications from the vxecu-
tive departments, which he laid before the
new chaplain arose to ask blessing upon the
second meeting OF the new Congress he faced
and a very full list OF members, AS in the
Senate. the pews reserved for the diplomats
and the White House family were vacant. and
set aside for the use OF the Speakers family
and friends. Floral gifts were as numerous
had beautiful baskets of fowers or bouquets
sent TO them by admiring constituents or
on the Republican side OF the House there
were two vacant desks each decorated with n
floral emblem and one draped in black, This
LILLY OF Pennsylvania. who died last week, aud
the other that otthe late Charles O,Neill, the
sersiy mourned By his colleagues. Mr. o'Seiiis
desk was not draped like that OF his late coll
u
Of wheat According to Congressional al etique EFT q
the signs OF mourning are placed upon the
desks Of members only when they have not
been buried at the time that Congress meets.
q distinction In etiquette which could only
originate in the minds OF Congressman. Ii il
somewhat sin gulAr that the three deaths that
have occurred IN the House OF Representatives
since the opening OF the titty-third Congress
all occurred in Pennsylvania, Representatives
Mutehler. pNeill. aud Lilly all being from the
keystone State.
The two most conspicuous members OF the
House to-day, OF course. were Thomas Brack-
EFT Reed and William l. Wilson. the Repuhli-
can and Democratic leaders The big KepuD-
liean was not present during the opening
prayer but at Its close he came In and re-
leagues. His lieutenAnts. Messrs. BuTrows
Dngley. DalzelL Payne. DOlliver. Hopkins.
and Others. WeTs all on hand, ready to take adj
vantage Of the nTst opportunity for partisan
debate. Mr.. Wilson. the Democratic leader.
sat In his seat modestly and quietly as usual.
and seemed gratihed at the ovation that he re-
ceiyed by his party colleagues as last as they
entered the chamber MessTs. Springer and
MeMiilin, the two eyer-Duoyant would s
leaders. were on hand to-day, with roses ia
their buttonholes and as eager as ever 10 dash
into the work OF the session. nOtwithstAnding
that they had been utterly rspudiated By the
Cleveland wing Of their party,
Fitting about on the Republican side OF the