Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-04
CONGRESS CONVENES
A Quorum Present at Both Ends
of the Capitol.
GALLERIES IN BOTH HOUSES FILLED.
The Presidents Message Read and
AttentIveIy Listened to.
SCENES AND IN ENTS

Congress opened today in a very business
like manner. There was very little of the
usual noise and hubbub of the opening ses-
sion, the surplus enegy and enthusiasm hav-
ing been worked out in the special session
so recently ended. The galleries Were we'll
filled by the hour of reassembling, but there
was little of the usual rush for early
chances for seats. An hour before the
House and Senate met there were no more
people in the corridors of the building and
the galleries than may be seen most any
day during the session. While there were
some flowers distributed her and there ove-
the desks of members of the House, these
testimonials were nothing like as numerous
as usual. On the desk of late Representa-
tive ONeill of Pennsylvania there was
placed sheaf of wheat and a large white
blossom lin memory of the Father of the
House." and the desk of the late Represen-
tative Lilly of Pennsylvania, whose funeral
takes place tomorrow. was draped in black
ana basket of flowers placed upon Ii.
Interest Felt i'm the Message.
There was little in today's session to re-
qulre the presence of members except the
necessity fer quorum. The only business
was the receipt of the Presidents message
which while watched for with a great deal
of interest is seldom listened to by mem
bers on the floor. since they prefer reading
it 10 listening to the monotonous tones of
the reading clerk. However, a great deal of
interest was manifested in discovering what
the President had to say on several subjects
or whether he referred to this or that mat
ter which is now occupying attention. The
session was cut Off after the reading of the
message by the announcement of the death
of Mr.. O'Neill and Mr.. Lilly.
From the general tone of talk of members
1t was evidenced that this Congress assem-
bles with very sober appreciat ton of the
burdensome duties before them and that the
general anticipation is that the session will
be both laborious and interesting. 1t is ap-
parent that the House will not get to work
as speedily as it was the general desire to,
the labor of preparing the tariff bill ap-
pearing to be a greater consumer of time
than was anticipated. The ways and means
committee was in session today before the
House met and their purpose is to get their
bill before the House as speedily possible.
The general feeling was, however, among
the members who had looked into the mat
ter that II would be several days yet before
the tariff bill could be taken up and this
occasioned some little disappointment.
No Program Marked Out.
In view of the uncertainty as to the tariff
bill no program had this morning been pre-
pared, but the idea was that the bankruptcy
bill would be taken up on Tuesday to occu-
3
mite program had been arranged.
The committee on appropriations, which
has been hard at work since the estimates
were received, have two bills which they
can get In shape to report at most any time
and all their work is pretty well advanced
1t is not their desire. however. to bring up
any appropriation bills at time to interfere
with the consideration of the tariff and, IL
the latter bill is in readiness for considera-
ton any time within a week, the chances
are that the appropriation bills will all be
held back until IL has been disposed of.
Opposed to Separate Bills.
very large proportion Of the members
of the House who have been discussing the
| matter, are greatly opposed to a PROPOSE
| ton to consider the customs tariff bill and
the internal revenue proposition as separate
bills The general idea seems to be that
| the whole question of revenue should ~
comprised in one bill and that 1t would be
saving of time. even if 1t occasioned some
little delay in the consideration of the tarirf.
to have the whole question wait until a
decision of the internal revenue features
could be reached and they be added to the
customs bill.