The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-05
PIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS
COSYENBD AND MEMBERS HRAB
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE READ.
Several OF the Virginia and North Caroline
Members Abscnt-what Some Of
Them Think OF the Message.
AINzs BUREAU. RirLyr BuILp,Ss. I
WASHINGTON. Deccm Der 5. 1888.


For the first time in many years the
preliminaries Indispensable TO the good
government OF the House and to the
satisfactory transaction ot its business
were dispensed with. There was no
Speaker or other officer TO elect no
wounds TO pride or vanity to rankle in
the breasts Of members oyer Don-as-
signment 20 the committee Of their choice
or failure to secure chairmanships no
ill-concealed vexation and chagrin az
the ratery and badlnage that is
feature Of the seat drawing. Nothing
disagreeable or unpleasant All OF the
arrangements necessary to the trans
action Of the routine business Of the
House were completed months ago at
the beginning OF the extraordinary ses-
sion ana the first regular session OF
the 55d Congress was able 10 get down
to business at once and resume work
where the extra session left OF. This
has not been the case since the assem-
bling OF the extra session of the 4Sth
Congress. when resident Hayes called
an extra session 20 consider the army
appropriation bill, which had failed IN
the 18th March. 1879, and lasted until
the first OF July OF the same year
A Hi.,orich incideot
This is the first regular session Of
Congress convening during any period
when the Democratic party had control
OF both the Legislative ana the exc
cutive branches OF this government
since the 35th Congress or during the
first two years OF President Bnchan-
ans term, that party losing control
of the House the following session.
when Mr. Penninton. OF New Jersey.
Republican. was elected Speaker
by a combination with the Republi-
cans after forty-four ballots, and as late
i'm the season as the first Of February.
AS the result OF the last ballot was
announced, Mr. Thomas c. Hardman.
of Arkansas, sprang 10 his feet ana
excitedly exclaimed. "A black Repub-
ucan Speaker has been elected by two
members OF the Know Nothing party
To-day no such bitter feelings have been
engendered. no such exciting scenes nave
occurred There was really nothing 10
remind one OF the first day Of Congress
existence excent the introduction OF two
new members. the feeling allusion OF the
Chaplain to the departure of two others
zone of whom had grown gray In the hon
orable discharge Of his conSresAonai
duties). who had departed for another ana
a higher sphere the galleries overcrowded
almost to suffocation by the eager sight
seers. and the beautiful bouquets OF cur
flowers placed on members desks by low
ing friends or admirlng constituents.
virginia and North Carolina.
The roIl-cau disclosed the fact that
neither Virginia nor North Carolina Was
fully representei Messrs. O'Ferrall. Ed
munds. Tucker, and Wise. Of Virginia.
failed TO answer 60 their names, and
Messrs Branch. Bum, Crawford. ana
Woodard were recorded absent, from
North Carolina.
After the roll-call (which was inter-
rupted by q messenger from the senate
who informed the House that the Sonats
was ready 10 proceed 10 business). the
Speaker appointed Messrs. Wilson, puth-
waite, and Burrows 10 inform the Pres
ident that "A quorum Of the House was
prespnt For over an hour the House
waited FOR the Presidents message, which
time was spent by the members In desnl-
tory conversation and speculations on
the contents OF the document aboJt 10
be submitted to them. over which such
strict secrecy had been observed.
The Message Read.
when the message finally arrived. II
was read aloud by the Clerk. and marked
attention was paid to its reading by the
present.
In the Senate.
BEYOND the reading Of the Presidents
message little else was done In the senate'
Senators Daniel and Hunton arrived here
last night on the same train, and were
I'm their seats In the Senate to-day.
Senator Vance, OF North Carolina. was
In his seat during to-day's session or the
Senate. Senator Ransom has not yet arriv-
ed but Is expected tonight.
Congressman George ID. Wise, who ar
rived from Richmond this afternoon. was
the recipient OF many congratulations
from his friends on his improved health.
Congressman c. r. O'Ferrall arrived az
the Capitcl shortly after the beginning
OF the session OF the House.
The Presidents message seems 10 have
very little comment from MEM
bers OF Congress. The proposed new
tariff bill Is the absorbing topic or dis
cussion and several members of Con-
gress. who have heretofore have been en-
thusiastlc I'm their admiration of the VII
son bill, were IN the room Of the COM
mittee on ways and means after the ad-
OF the House. urging mem
hers OF the committee 10 use their In
fuence I'm making certain changes In the
bill. which, II passed as reported at pres
ent, may make some changes In their
own political career
Opinions of The Message.
7 asked several members OF Congress
their opinion of the Presidents message.
but most OF them declined 10 give them,
as they had not given IL sufficient ntten-
tion.
Congressman Henderson, Of North Caro-
lima. said: From what l could gather
from the clerks reading. consider u
an able document. and one which meets
my entire approval, especially the portion
relating 10 the tariff. | regret. however,
that the President dii not suggest 'inan-
cial legislation OF some description.
CONGRESSMAN j. w. MarshalE
heard MIR. Kerr. the clerk OF the House
OF Representatives. read the message from
his desk. but have as yet had no chance
10 read the paper I'm print. but viii do
so in the Record In the morning. was
struck with the extended details OF the
OF the nation. and his elabo-
rate discussion OF our foreign relations.
IL contains but few recommendations TO
Congress. and would prefer TO read IL
very carefully before expressing an opin-
ion as TO his financial tariff views.
Probably the most popular suggestion
In the paper was his earnest desire "a
eurtail the already overgrown expenses OF
our government he was forcibIe ana
explicit on this point. and the people VIII
approve this.
- -
Fixes q Day fer the Argument.