New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-04
CONGRESS MEETS IN GLOOM.
THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
MR.. CLEVELAND HAS SUBDUED AND
CRESTFALLEN BODY ION
HIS lands"

NOTHING 'TMPRESSIvE' ABOUT THE REASSEM-
BLING OF THE LEGISLATORS WHO WERE so
sTERNLY REBIKED AT THE POLLs-THEY
SEEM WEARY OF 'EXACTING OBLIGA-
TONS AND INDIFFERENT TO IN
EXORABLE RESPONSIBILITIES"
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBUNE.l
Washington, Dec 3-An unusual degree Of
apathy and lifelessness marked the opening OF
the third and last session of the Lid Congress
al noon to-day. According to the bounding and
unterrfed rhetoric Of Mr. Clevc.ands message
the reassembling of the Legislators whom he has
had ION his hands almost continuously for the
last sixteen months should have ''mpressively
suggested the exacting obligation and inexorable
responsibility involved in their task" But i'm
pressiveness" Of this or any other sort was sadly
lacking in to-day's spectacle at the Capitol and,
II any possible suggestion to be found In
the istess and despondent air Of the majority
side OF the two Houses. 1t was that the Presi-
dents party friends in Congress were utterly
weary of the 'exacting Obligations Of legislative
power. and wholly Indifferent about assuming
any Of its further "inexorable responsibilities"
Little animation or hilarity could BE- expected,
however under the circumstances. No more
subdued or cres,fallen a parliamentary majority
has ever gathered in the big building on Capitol
Hill Overwhelmingly repudlated by the people,
torn by internal disputes and dissensions at odds
with the Administration on nearly every public
question with more than half It's membership
about to retire. chagrned and Disguised. to pri-
vate life Il Is not 10 be wondered at that the
Democratic majority in the present Congress
should betray to-day melancholy lasstude OF
manner. and show but haltng and perfunctory
of
sion which is to close dejectedly a record OF
legislative folly and incompeency almost with
out a parallel in Congressional annals.
SENATOR'S NOT SO DOWNCAST
The gloom which cnveloped the dominant party
in Congress was. Of course less noticeable In the
Senate than in the House In the "dehperat'e
branch all public functions are conducted "!th
a subdued and partially funereal air and severity
and solemn!ty of manner are never inappropri-
ate Then too the immediate victims OF last
months political cyclone were really few, and the
nersonal sense Of defeat on the majority side was
bv no means 50 pronounced or emphatic. AS the
day wore on a certain subdued cheerfulness de-
vcoped among the Democratic leaders ana even
the especial sufferers on that side. Messrs Kan
som. Jarvis Mcpherson and Camden. received
and returned the condolences offered them with
some degree of good humor and equanimity. Mr.
dl,rrun,.ed and he sal glumly in his seat while
most ~ the other Senators chatted and passed
okcs on their recent political misfortunes. Sena-
tor Hill prudently remained away from the Capt
,ol and escaped what would naturally have been
a rather irving experience: for on both sides OF
the senate great curiosity was felt to see now
he would face out his humiliating reputation py
the people Of New-York four weeks ago
The legislative proceedings I'm the Senate were
very scant and ~ purely routine interest Inc
galleries were fairly we'll crowded. however when
Vice President Stevenson raped for order and
The blind chaplain opened the session with
uravcr or the Republican Senator'S all but
two or three wcrc on hand. radiant with triumph,
but sympathctcally avoiding any too open eX-
rrcssion II their feelings. Mr.. Morrll, the
father II the Senate" was in his seat In the
from, row. looking greatly refreshed after his
long absence from the Capitol. Behind him was
Senator Sherman with newly cropped beard
seemingly as alert and vigorous as he was ten
wears ago Mr. Teller another veteran. sat near
bv also improved in health and appearance by
a. no.ded vacation In Colorado. His youthful coll
league Mr. Wolcott. full OF life and dash as
over shook hands with maly friends who hadn't
soon him since n sailed early last summer for
surgical treatment In Paris. Don Cameron. OF
Pennsylvania held reception near the LOBBY
door and was for ten or nfteen minutes the
centre II l. crowd Of the friends OF silver VINO
are said 10 see In him highly aVailaple fresi-
DENTAL candidate Mr.. Quay sat quietly In the
front row near Mr. Morrill,, and proudly told a"
callers that he had predicted before election over
200 900 majority for General Hastings In Penn
sylvania. Senator Lodge passed about the chafi-
bcr Shaking hands and exchanging consratuia-
lions Mr. Aldrich came in late and sat In deep
conversation with Mr. Allison while the Senate
waited for the Presidents message.
FLORAL OFFERINGS IN GREAT QUANTITY.
The ridiculous footlight custom Of presenting
floral designs to Senatorial favorites seemed 10
be carried to greater excess this year than ever.
Mr. Proctor and Mr.. Mitchell were the worst
sufferers on the Republican side from this form
| Of misdirected enthusiasm ON the other slde
| of the chamber air Smith. Of New-Jersey, had
most TO complain Of Some admirers from the
Raritan or the Passaic had forwarded 10 MS
address an enormous shield In immortelies. with
Tho words "New-Jersey" across it. Mr.. Smith
p,odestlv retreated to the cloakroom when THIS
monumental design was planted on his desk ana
l,, oo, re,nnear until the immortelles had van
shed
ur Mcpherson whose "imperfectly admins
| tered. household will be closed politically after
March 2 next. sat contemplatively in the shadow
| of his colleagues floral gift, but made no pro-
te,t against his involuntary obscur1ty MI. NC
Pherson It Is understood has been cultiVauhg
resignation ever since he discovered that' though
a member of the Finance Committee, he had ap-
soIutely no influence with the Democratic lead
ers who were trying to revise the WILSON
Tariff bill Mr.. Voorhees,. the nomlhal chair-
| ,,., of tho committee. who subsequently made
the same discovery. was on hand again. some
uho, restored To health and cheerfuly greeted
ola associates. Mr. German modestly whispered
Nth a few close friends about the order Of busi-
ness for the day. and then left the Senate
Messrs. Jones. Harris and Cockrel sat In the
front row and waited to see that the PRESIDENTS
| message was read with due formality.