Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1893-12-15
congress RE-ASSENBLES
SCENES AT THE CONVENTNG
OFTHEFIFTY-THIRDTE TERM,

Crowds of Spectators in the Galleries
of Both Houses-The Day Ses-
siOns Devoted to the Readinn Of
the Presidents Message Bust
ness Transacted.
The Fifty-third Congress met in regp;ar
session at noon on its Constitutional dav of
assemblage, and in briet time had resumed
business in both Houses. The extraordinary
session, called by President Cleve-
land for the purpose Of rereal,
ing the purchasing clause of the sherman
Silver law, adjourned on November 81 one
day more than month before, and so me
meeting was more in the nature Of a re.
assembling after a recess. At the August
meeting both Houses had been Dryan-
ized, committees appointed, and pat
ronage distributed, so that the
session was robbed of the interesting excite
ment that generally accompanies the meeting
of new Congress. There was no election of
Speaker to create enthusiasm or arouse polit-
ical animOsties, no new Senators to be sworn
in. no new Members to besiege the Speaker
for committee assignments, and altogether
the meeting was quite featurelesS one. Yet
the interest in this session, as indicated
by the gallery attendance, was great, for
the first scenes in both branches We're Wit
messed by thrOngs as large as the seat
ing capacity of the gallery would permit.
Two hundred and sixty-two Representatives
answered the first roll call in the House, and
there was more than Il quorum present i'll
the Senate Chamber.
In the Senate. the tap of Nice-PreSidpnt
Stevenson's gavel was heard precisely as the
hands Ofthe gilt-rimmed clock over the main
entrance pointed to the hour of II. Then
the blind chaplain, Mr.. Milburn, of Illinois,
offered the opening prayer. IT was brief,
earnest and eloquent, but not in any way
Il
the case when Mr.. Milburn was chap
lain Of the House Of Representatives. At
the outset of the proceedings the new lead
ers of the Senate in the changed relation OF
parties came Immediately to the front. The
echo ofthe chaplain s amen ha scarcely died
away before Mr. COCkrell, Democrat. Chair
man of the Committee of Appropriations,
was on his feet to move the customary
resolution to notify the House. Mr.. Sher-
man. Republican, took the lead on the other
side OF the chamber by suggesting that a all
of the roll was the first thing in order This
point being admitted to be we'll taken. the
clerk called the roll and ffty-siX answered
to their names. Three other Senators sub
sequently entered the chamber, making fifty
nine present out of n present total
Of eighty-tive (three vacancies). Mr..
Mcpherson moved the appointment of
a committee to wait upon the
President in con junction with a similar com
mittee to he appointed by the House OF Rep
resentatives to inform him that Congress
was organized and ready for business Mr..
Mcpherson and Mr.. Sherman were named by
tho Vice-Presdent rs such committee.
Then Mr. Harris, at 12.1O o'clock. moved
that the Senate take recess for one hour,
and this motion being carried the interest
in the proceedings lapsed for that period.
When the Senate again resumed its session.
Mr. Mcpherson and his associate on the
Senate Committee. Mr. Sherman took their
stand in the doorway and Mr.. Mcpherson an
nouncpd the intention of the President to
Immediately communicate to both Houses
of Congress u message in writing. Assis-
tant Private Secretary Pruden imme-
dateIy emerged from the clOakroom. and
DoOrkeeper Basset announced "a message
from the President of the United States.
Secretary Cox Immediately entered upon its
reading in distinct voice. and at the con
clusion the deaths of Representatives
O'NeilI and Lilly, of Pennsylvania were an
nounced. and after the adoption OF tho
usual resolutions Of respect the Senate ad-
jOurned.
In the House at 1901 o'clock the Speaker
called for order and prayer was offered by
the chaplain. who touchinGiy referred f. the
death and long public sCryic' OF the late
Representative O'Ncill of Pennsylvania. THE
roll was then called to ascertain
the presence of q quorum. The roll cali dis
closed the presence of 242 members, and the
Speaker declared the House ready for the
transaction OF business. III" Iol'"ILS
committee was appointed by the Speaker to
wait upon the President AMI inform him
that the House was ready to receive any
communication he might wish to
make. Messrs. Wilson, Democrat. outh.
waite Democrat, and Burrows, Republican.
Mr. Haines offered a resolution providing
that committe be appointed to investigate
the strike on the Lehigh Valley Railroad. its
causes and effect, and, if possible suggest Il
remedy. The House then. at l2.3 or"ck,
took a recess for fifteen minutes. At l35
o'clock Executive Clerk Pruden appeared id
the House and delivered the President : mes
rage. which the Clerk was directed
by the Speaker to read. When he had con-
Guided the deaths of Representatives Q .NeilI
and Lilly of Pennsylvania wcre 2l-""Hnced
md after the adoption of the usual res9lu-
tions Of resnect the House adi0urnel.