The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-12-08
THE FIfTY-IHlRD CONGSES
OPENED ITS LAST SESSION
ON MONDAY.
NO GLOOM AMONG DEMOCRATS


NO GLOOM AMONG DEMOCRATS
And Many Cheers for the Leaiers-Wil
son and PendletOn the only Vest yir-
ginians Present-How tine Message
was Received in the House and Senate.
A Washington correspondent.
writing under date Of MoEdav. sends
the following concerning the opening
OF the present session Of Congress
Congress convened To dav. heard
the Presidents message and adjourn
ed with as few dramatic or pictures
que features as has ever attended s
similar occasion. Early in the morn
ing a crowd gathered 10 the corridors
of the capitol building. bul il was
not the eager, struggling mass OF
humanity which sometimes marks
tue great events Of Congress. The
crowd was attracted chiefly to the
house end OF the capital, as it was 10
that quarter that the effects Of the
recent political storm we're to be most
apparent. There vas no gloom among
the Democrats, however, and when
Thomas b. Reed went over and chat
ed his Democratic cronies on the cleo
ton results, he found them ready for
him with plenty OF good nature on
tap. To victors and vauquished alike
lavish tributes of flowers had been
sent, until the desks that were unde-
corated seemed the exceptions rather
than the rule.
The galleries were filed. though
not overcrowded, and the spectators
showed an eager interest in the arri
val of each conspicuous figure on the
door Congressional veterans. Nho
had spent a good part of their life in
the House of Representatives. came
into it foF their final session, the re-
cent tidal wave having retired most
of the leaders of the majority. Rep
resentatire Holman, of Indiana. was
one oil the first to put in au appear
ance. He greeted warmly his old
friends, and then went to his seat
and busted himself with the business
of the day.
OF the West Virginia delegation,
Messrs. Wilson and Pendleton only
were in attendance. The former was
warmly greeted and had to listen to
no end Of condolences on his defeat
and many ingenious explanations of
how it all happened. DR.. Ikirt, of
East Liverpool, was in his seat, and
expressed himself as fayorIng imme
date action on the financial question.
There should be no dallying, he said
The people wanted action and he
wanted to give it to them in the form
of silver legislation. That vas the
remedy for our financial ills. in bis
Judgment.
Upon motion of Mr.. Wilson a com
mittee consisting of himself. Mr. Hol
man, and Mr.. Reed was appointed to
join a similar committee from the
senate and inform the President that
a quorum of both houses was present
and Congress vas ready to receive
any communication he desired to
make. Several other cummuniea
tons, fixing the hour OF the meeting.
etc, were adopted. and at 1870 the
House took recess until p. m, To
await the Presidents message. A fter
reconvening the message was read.
1t was listened to attentively.
A bill providing for the free coin
age of silver was introduced by Rep
resentative Hartman, of Nebraska.
An important provision of the meas
ure is that requiring imported duties
to be paid in gold in cases where the
articles of importation are brought
from countries whose governments
refuse to open their mints to the free
coinage of silver and gold. The death
of Representative Wright, of Penn
sylvania, was announced. and the
House as a mark of respect adjourn
ed.
At the Senate end of the capitol
there was another crowd which filed
the galleries without crowding. A
new rule had been put in operation,
limiting the reserved galleries to the
use of those personally introduced by
Senators, instead of those holding
cards of admission. The Senators
were late in arriving, and some of
those who had been most conspicuous
in recent public events, notably SEN
ator Hill, of New York, were absent.
The usual dignity and decorum
which marks all Senate proceedings
kept the galleries from showing those
manifestations Of approval which
marked the opening Of the House
session. The Presidents message
received marked attention, hut no
unusual demonstration was made. 1t
was at the noon hour II hen the pre-
siding officers in the House and Sen
ate raped for order, and The session
which was to end the Fifty third
Congress was Onened