The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-12-09
THE SECOND SESSION


For business.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5--The second
session of the ffty-third congress, as
this first regular session of congress
will be officially known in the records,
opened Monday in both houses with
all the quietude that was brought
about by lack of anticipation of ex-
citement, and by an indifference on the
part of those present that has seldom
been equaled Only that portion of
eral public, and which in these cold,
biting days of December is popular
with the homeless portion of the local
population, was filed. The galleries
reserved for the members fam
lilies for the diplomatic corps
and for the white house
family were almost empty, there was
little of that effusivc handshaking and
welcoming that usually marks the first
day of n new session because it was
only few short weeks ago that the
members separated. The general
knowledge that the tariff bill would
not be brought into the house for sew
eral days to come completed the gem
eral Indifference and listlessness of the
scene which ushered in the new sc ion.
The presence of the destroyer, Dc. III,
was evidenced by the heavy draperies
and the mass of white flowers that
marked the desk of Gen. Lilly, the de-
ceased congressman at large from
Pennsylvania.
A simple sheaf of ripened wheat,
symbolic of the life and activity of the
man, lay on the desk of the late Con-
gressman Oneil. AS the business Of
the house began and the reporters for
the press association had bent down to
their work at the little tables just be-
meath the speakers, veterans of the
house noted with n pang Of regret the
absence of Charlie Hayes who for
nearly two decades had reported with
intelligence the proceedings of the
house for one of the great press as
sociations.
The usual etiquette of notifying the
president by committee from branches
of congress that quorum of members
was present and awaited any commu-
nication he might have to make, was
followed by the equally conventional
report to each house, that the president
would forthwith communicate to them
''a message in writing" Behind Sena-
tors MCPHERSON and Sherman, the lat
ter of whom by the way was the most
remarked man in the senate to-day
because of the large white chrys-
anthemum in his button hole
stood Maj. Pruden, the executive clerk
of the White house holding in his hand
the message in writing"
After delivering the message to the
senate Mr.. Pruden delivered the same
document to the house. The reading
in both houses was begun at half-past
one o'clock.
In neither house did the reading of
the message command serious atten-
tion. This was partly due to the un-
interesting nature of the document it.
self and partly to the wretchcd deliv-
cry of the reading clerk in each house.
After the reading of the message in
the house, Pennsylvania congressman
formally announced the death of their
colleagues, Lilly and O'Neill., Under
ordinary circumstances this statement
would have been made earlier in the
day, Immediately after the reading of
the journal. Monday the announcement
was delayed in order that the message
of the president might be read in the
house before that body gave its usual
token of respect to the deceased in the
| way of an immediate adjournment af
ter the announcements