New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-08
TIVE BRANCH
TBr TELEGBA:H TO TIE TRIBUNE

large crowds present at the Capitol, with almost
surface suggestions of that prospective career
OF bitter partisan and personal conflict and of
exactng effort at difficult legislation which seems
inevitable for the two Houses now reluctantly
assembling in the dead middle Of Washington
summer. There was little in fact about the sit
tings to-day, except for the circumstances sur
rounding the assembling of Congress- of more than
commonplace interest for as a political or social
spectacle the convening of the National Iegis'a-
ture in August has necessarily the least possible
attractions of brlliancy or distinction to offer. \
midsummer Congress is Congress in ncglige
careless Of the conventions of public life and sadly
lacking in every feature of dignity dramatic
effectiveness.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE NOT RECEIVED.
II President Cleveland had planned to give a
novel and spirited character to the first days
sion by hurrying in his financial message on the
very heels of Speaker Crisp's reelection this
stroke of political play to the galleries" was un-
feelinely spoiled by the sloth.ulness Of the Sen
ate; for that body adjourned within twenty min
utes. after it met without pretending to wait for
the return of the Joint committee dispatched os
tenshly to inform the President that Congress had
assembled and was ready to receive any commu-
nicaton he might wish to offer.
The early adjournment Of the Senate left the
House nothing to do but to accomplish the tedious
routine of the election of officers, the swearrg-in
OF memberselect and the assignment OF seats by
official lottery This long-drawn programme held
a numerous and interested crowd Of spectators in
the House galleries during the greater part Of the
afternoon. to many of whom the buresque and
sophomoric spirit of the greater part Of the pro
ceedings mnst have suggested a Earring contrast
with the gravity of the situation which compelled
o,,1 .bn ipfap
seriousness of the legislative duties which now
confront both House and Senate.
DELIGHTFUL. WEATHER FAvOIs THE OPENING
Delightful weather favored the Capital for the
opening day of the new ConrrcSs and this tact
may account to some extent for the very large
attendance of members in both branches. In the
House there were 343 members present and voting
out Of 354. two seats being still vacant In the
6enus-,-,f rhe -,sh.> .ur uaa-hnrs u">c occupy
ing seats. not more than five or sN were absent
As the Senate has already finished eXtraor-
dinary session Of its since the beginning
of the LIIId Congress- Its part in to-day's pre-
gramme had practically been anticipated and dis
counted Not needing TO organize, the "deliber-
ative branch" simply resumed its labors where
they had been dropped last April, and the only
break in continuity that came TO public attention
staff TO make way for the Democratic Off
GERS already chosen by resolution. By the terms
of that resolution the former official force was 10
remain until the Senate reassembcd. and Necre-
tary McCooks retirement and the swralng-in oil
General Cox of North Carolina, as his successor
was the signal for the general transfer OF the Sn-
ate's patronage TO the hands Of the new majority.
IN THE SENATE CHAMBER
The reassembling of the Senate excited of course
n much milder interest among the crowds Of sl2ht-
scors M the Capitol than did the more busting
snectarle of organization Of the House The sen
ate galleries were fairly well GNed, however, when
at noon Vice-President Stevenson mounted MS
platform and prepared to call the oeiioera"''
branch 20 order. Probably fifty or SIXTY Seha-
tors were already on the floor, and IN the ie"
minutes while the Vice-Prcsident waited the seats
stil1 vacant were rapidly filled, one after anothcr'
until nearly eighty Senators could be couhtrd as
present and ready for the work OF the SESSION.
The floor of the chamber has been laid with fresh'
clean mating, giving hight and cooling cnec'
sadly lacking at most summer SESSIONS. Inc w
oublican side OF the hall looked strangely thnhed
out from the removal Of so many seats ana desks
10 the other half OF the chamber, wmch now ap-
pearcd both cramped and overpopulated lhere
were few punches of flowers on the desks OF
Rance Of these opening day uiSp'a9S ""' '''' '''
some reason happily abated
Senators Stewart and German were among the
Nrs+ q, .nnear on the floor, and they had long ana
animated talk in the back row OF the Kepnprcah
.ac,ion Senator Teller was warmly greeted whei
le arrived a little later, and "A group sooh ea'"-
ered around him. OF the Republican SILVER oeha-
TORS Mitchell. Power, Dubois, Squire ana Ie''i-
grew were all together In bnnch near S'c"a,'
and Teller Wolcott, OF Colorado SAT co"''n''"''
apart from the rest of his silver Colleagues III o"o
OF tho front Republican rows, betweeh "'s''''
Lodge and Mcmillan. Jones, OF NeNahh' "n''"
merely formal session brings TO 'he Nap''o'' was
con.pcuonsly absent OF the anti-snVei 'a.c''
on the Republican side, Messrs' ohei'"'"' "'
rill and Aldrich came in almost 'ose'"o'
tor Allison, their colleague on the hi"o'"N ~"
Of the Finance Committee was 'a'e II" ''"Ie r''.
the Capitol and taking his seat oc'i''o,
eron, fresh from his trip to Europe ous''o" n.
impatienty waiting for chance !" ''i"
lis colleague. Mr.. Quay, who missed t" spring
.oss,on ho s,yo,n in for his term beginning March
4 last.
DruocRA ATTIC LEADERS OUT IN FORCE.
On tbe Democratic side Senator Morgan, OF
Alabama. was absent from his accustoh'c' p'"''
In the front row. All the othtr leaders were on
hsnd-yoorhees. Cockrell. Ransom. Harr's a"'
Faulkner, each OF whom was soon 10 a''e'np' w
divide with Mr.. German on the first day oi 'h'
session the honors Of nominal party direction"
1he genial and keen-wtted Vance, not ye' reco'ei.'
from his illness OF last winter. was also aD'on'
and the sight of Coquitt, of Georgia, whee'eu NV
the chamber In a roller chair recilled the n"'"
struggle which that Senator has galian',y "''''
fer MANY months against a persistent malay.
An uneasy spirit seemed to possess the n'eIo",,| %
sJse' Blackburn, who stood for whiie III ~.
Republican ranks and then shifted quietly ac'o's
10 his own seat in the Democratic sec''o" "e"'
the main aisle. Perhaps his now pose as III III
vcrtn 20 "rencol" does not fit comfortably on the