davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29
SENATOR GEAR OF 10,


, SENATOR GEAR OF IOWA. and at his home
In Bloomington, and whose rudy complex
ion tells OF improved health, and DR.. Mil
burn, the famous "blind chaplain" who
has been In the service of congress off and
on since he was youth and whose thou
sands OF miles of travel have been increased
during the congressional recess by trip
to Europe.
The gavel of the vice president is an
ivory device, small and shaped something
like an hourglass. 1t has been in the care
of Captain Bassett through the summer,
concealed no one knows where but hidden
as completely as is the identity of Daniel
Webster's DESK which Bassett has stored
in his mind
When the Gavel Falls.
The vice president takes the little gavel
and taps lightly on the cloth covered desk.
Conversation ceases and many of the sem
ators rise and remain standing while the
chaplain delivers brief invocation. At its
conclusion the chairs fill rapidly. There
is no journal of the last days session to
read, and the first business to transact is
the swearing in of newly elected senators.
Many have been sworn In at the last ses-
sion in preparation for their Inauguration
today. So this business is accomplished
quickly.
Then committee of old senators is APP
pointed to act with committee of men,
bers of the house in notifying the president
that congress is in session. After this a
recess is taken till the committee is ready
to report. Carriages have been waiting to
convey the committee to the White House,
and the journey Is made quickly.
In half an hour the committee is back
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29

with the information that its duties have
been performed and that the president
will communicate with congress in writ
ing This formal announcement presages
the coming of the presidents message but
it is customary for the president to with
hold the message for day and to send 1t
in at the beginning of the session of Tues
day. II this Is TO be the programme, the
members of the committee are informed Of
the fact, and directly after the report of the
committee the senate adjourns.
But the adjournment is not had until a
flood of bills pours in. For even thus early
in the session the senators are prepared,
some with new measures which have in
cubated during the recess, some with old
measures of which they have obtained
printed copi.s from the document room.
All these bl.is are read merely by their
titles by Chief Clerk McEwan and referred
by the vice president to the appropriate
committees.
Ii the message of the president comes to
the senate on the opening day, it is pre-
sented by one of the White House clerks
usually by Mr.. Pruden, who is the chief
among them. 1t is in writing, carefully
engrossed on paper of light blue tint. 1t
Is accompanied by printed copies how
ever, and these are distributed to the SEN
ators as soon as the written copy is placed
in the vice Presidents hands.
Almost Immediately after the presenta-
ton of the message by Mr.. Pruden, a cere-
mony in which he has the ample assistance
of Captain Bassett, the vice president an
nounces that he "lays before the senate a
message from the president of the United
States"
The secretary of the senate, Mr. Cox,
takes the document from his hands, opens
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29

NlhGlNlA. hopeless TASK o.
effecting an agreement for the reorganiza
ton Of the Pacific roads.
A question which may affect Legislation
seriously will come up for consideration
in the senate Immediately after the meet.
ing of congress. 1t is understood gener-
ally that the Republicans and Democrats
will come to an agreement about the or
ganization of the senate so that the Popu-
lists and silverites will not hold the bal
ance of power
If the Republicans should take control
of the senate by any combination how
ever, and should take the responsibility
for legislation there, the senate's policy
may be very different from what it will be
if the two parties exercise joint control
and the responsibility lies nowhere.
Another problem which concerns the
fate of legislation is the choice of commit
tee chairlnen in the house. Much power
to suppress or forward legislation lies with
the chairmen of committees. Hit of Hi
nois will have foreign affairs and Boutelle
the naval committee. Appropriations may
go to Cannon of Illinois or Henderson of
Iowa, and Cannon is the favorite. For
ways and means there are Payne of New
York, Dalzell of Pennsylvania and Ding
ley of Maine, with chances favoring the
first named. If Mr.. Dingley fails on ways
and means, he will get coinage, weights
and measures without doubt.
GEORGE GRANTHAM Balm.
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29

ocratic house two years ago will have his
revenge as he strolls up the avenue, re-
hearsing the list of men who voted against
him and who are now in private life.
"Private John Allen of Mississippi,
the quaint humorist whose fun is never
bitter or malicious, and fernando Money,
his colleague, now hot contestant for
the senatorship from his stats, are both in
the new congress. but Money will possibly
be at home GU Monday next. attending to
his senatorial fences.
Ex-Speaker Crisp will join the process
sion at his winter home, the Metropolitan
hotel, headquarters Of southern statesmen,
but the Metz al ,...a 10 longer bar5ors
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29

Mr.. Dixon of
r b cd @ l s | a n d
es way to
George Peabody
Wetmore. W. J.
Sewell, once a
member of the
senate and well
known of later
years as President
Harrison's hunt
ing companion on
many a trip, takes
the seat of Mr..
Mcpherson. Ex-
Secretary Elkins,
once of the Harri-
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29

President of the senate
sion of the congress is it's first session, and
the men who will gather in the hall of the
hou>" of representatives and the senate
chinb'" will have waited 13 months for
thu cE' i,e of tho privileges and powers
conferred on them in the election of 1894.
No, not for all the privileges. The SER
geant-at-arms has habit, long established
by common usage, of advancing newly
elected members money on their salaries
after the 4th Of March provided there is no
contest for their seats. The pay of men,
bers and senators begins March at noon,
though neither members nor senators are
sworn in until the meeting of congress,
which may not occur, as in the present
case, until nine months later
In at least one instance, which is part
of the unwrtten history of the house. the
sergeant-at-arms advanced money to a
member who was contesting a seat, know
ing that the contestant was of the same
faith as majority of the members of the
house and having no doubt that the con-
test would be decided in his favor from
political sympathy, as is the common rule.
And it Is recorded in the memories of
many of the older members that this con-
test was decided on it's merits, and that
the sitting member was permitted to keep
his seat, which so complicated the accounts
of the officers of the house that a great |
scandal resulted. Since that time no |
money has been advanced to members I'M |
til 1t had been earned, at least construc-
lively. Constructively a member serves |
his country from noon of the 4th of March |
after his election; actually the new men,
Der in most cases begins his work after the |
first Monday in December
The Pennsylvania Avenue Parade.
The procession which will move on the
capitol by way of Pennsylvania avenue
Monday morning Dec. 2, will be remark
able chiefly for the absence of familiar
faces.
Mr.. Reed of Maine will be there no doubt |
He usually walks to the capitol because it |
affords him the only exercise he gets dur
ing the long legislative day, and even
through the term of his speakership, so
soon to be renewed, his slow swinging gait
was familiar to the pedestrians on the av
enue between 10 and IL o'clock of every
bright morning.
His colleague, Boutelle, just back from
Europe will be another pedestrian figure. |
So will the hard worked DingJey and the
earnest, thin faced Milliken, for the cleo
ton of 1894 left the Maine delegation in
tact
Dockery of Missouri, cordially hated by |
the department. clerks for his crusade in
favor of the revision of the list of govern
ment employees, will be one of the few
survivors of the Missouri congressional
colony.
Cobb of St. Louis, elected in spite of
himself; the fiery Tarsney of Kansas City,
Hall and De Almond are all that are left
to Missouri, but Charles F. Joy of st.
Louis, who was unseated by the Dem
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29

speakers gavel is no ivory toy it is a
malet of hard wood, guaranteed to wear
out the top of the speakers desk before
the session is over If the house is inclined
to be at all lively.
The noise in the hall is hushed in great
part when the clerk begins to call the roll
of the house. To him is given the au-
thority to make up the roll of the new
house, and any person whom he deprives
of a seat in making up that roll must go
to the elections committee and through it
to the house for redress.
When the roll has been called, the men,
bers are called to the desk in patches to be
sworn in. III raise their right hands and
so take the oath which the clerk reads to
them This ceremony concluded the cleo
ton of officers of the house takes place.
The selection has been made a day or
two beforehand, each party preparing in
caucus list of candidates. But the names
are presented to the house as formally as
though no selection had been made, and
the clerk calls the roll and records the vote
of each member as carefully as though the
contest was being fought out on the floor.
The Lottery of Seats.
When Speaker Reed has been chosen
formally, he will be escorted to the chair
by committee, and he will make brief
speech as he takes the gavel. The other
officers will be installed in the order OF
their Importance. And then will occur the
only really exciting incident OF the day.
For no one can determine in advance
what the allotment of the seats in the hall
will be, and SO much depends on this al
lotment that it is watched by new men,
Der and old with almost feverish anxiety.
The rules of the house provide for lottery
of seats. and two pages are stationed at
the clerks desk to draw from box the
names of the members. Each member as
his name Is called selects seat and takes
possession of 1T.
The least experienced of the new MEM
bers may have first choice of seats, and the
father of the house-to whom, by the way,
Ia intrusted the duty Of swearing In the
speaker-may be the last person reached
in the list. Old or new, member muso
take possession of his chosen seat and hold
it till the end of the call, for only posses
sion is proprietary after the roll call has
begun. The Importance of location Is bet
ter appreciated by the older members who
know how difficult it Is in an obscure
place to catch the speakers eye in an eff
fort to address the house.
Other incidents of the opening session
are the appointment of the members OF
the Joint committee to notify the president
and If the president should send the an
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29

it and affects to
read from theorig-
inal document.
But this is Who'll
ly a sham. The
reading is done
from a printed
copy. Few of those
on the floor listen
with much atten-
ton. They prefer
as a rule to read
the message at
their leisure later.
When the reading
of the annual mes
sage is concluded,
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29
LEADING PENN


the age OF chivalry in the south, is also
gone into retirement. Georgia sends Au-
gustus o. Bacon to take the seat held for
brief space by Patrick Walsh, the editor
of the Augusta Chronicle. Mr.. Gear, an
old time member Of the house, best known
as Governor Gear" fills the seat of Will
son of Iowa.
Ex-Governor Knute Nelson, known not
so long ago as member of the house,
takes the place of Washburn of Minnesota.
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29


soon as the reading is concluded, and the
first session is usually hardly more than
an hour or an hour and half in length
No bills are introduced because, unlike the
senate. the house has no rules to govern it.
II is acting under general parliamentary
law until such time as it shall adopt the
rules of the preceding house or formulate
a code for itself.
II is more than likely that the rules
adopted by the house in the Fifty-fourth
congress will be those prepared under the
supervision of Mr.. Reed when he was
sneaker before, those famous rules whose
enforcement won for him the hatred Of
the Democratic members of the house and
gave him throughout the country the title
of "oZar."
The Business of Congress.
When the house has adopted a code oil
rules. there will be no lack of bills and
resolutions There is always much I'M
finished business left by one congress for
its successor to take up. And then there
are changing conditions which make nee
essary certain new legislation.
For example, the new congress will have
to consider the question of providing rev.
pnue adequate to the government rs expend-
lures, condition which was not expected
when the compromise tariff bill was agreed
20.
Vice President Stevenson said this sum-
mer that he had no doubt the Republicans
in congress could agree with the admins
tration on some measure to increase the
revenue which would be acceptable to both
parties, but already Senator Sherman is
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29

nual message in,
the reading of that
document.
Here, as in the
senate, the mes
sage receives but
scant attention in
the reading. Most
of the members
take their printed
copies into the
committee rooms
and read the docu-
ment at leisure
there. The house,
Too adiol1rns as
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29

them, now past the semicentenary of serv-
Ice and conscious of his Importance as a
one time protege Of the great Webster, is
in charge of the floor Everything is fresh
and clean ana bright looking. The furni-
ture has been reupholstered, new carpet
has been lalu' The senate wears out Q
carpet in every congress.
The senators drop in one at time
There are not many in their places usually
when the gavel falls, but on the opening
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29

day there Is a lar
ger number than
Is customary at
other times.
The galleries are
fairly well filled
when at one min
ute b efore IL
O'Clock the eastern
door leading to the
lobby opens and
the vice president
and the chaplain
appear, Mr.. Stew
9 n son, who has
been \ ending his
1Ha
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29
An Astronomers Paradise.

On the high desert plains of Algeria the
atmosphere is 50 clear and translucent
that the satellites Of Jupiter are visible to
the naked eye, and the crators of the moon
on the dark surface of that luminary can
be examined with telescope.-El Mundo
Pintoresco.
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29
FIFTY.FOURTH
CONGRESS.
1t Begins It's First Session at
Noon, Dec. 2.
WORK BEFORE BOTH HOUSES.
New Members and the Faces That Will
Be Missed.

What the National Legislators Do on the
First Day-Ceremonies Which Mark the
Incoming Congress-A Reading Which
Nobody Listens To-Taking the Oath of
Office In Batches-The Excitable New
Member and the Stoical Old One.
p The Fifty-fourth congress will begin it's
first session in Washington Dec. 2.
When its members were chosen, there
was grave question whether they would
be called together last spring in extraor
binary session. The president did not see
the necessity for that, SO the regular ses-
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29

MI. Uray OF D6ld- WEol NlhSlNlA
ware says he believes the two houses of
congress will be SO busy playing politics"
that they will not be able to come to an
understanding about finance
One of the first bits of politics to be
"played" will be undoubtedly the institu-
ton of a series of Investigations Of the ad-
ministration's bond issues and its foreign
policy. The Republican members of the
house are aching for chance to get at
Mr.. Cleveland. Hawaii will come up for
consideration, and SO will Nicaragua and
the more recent happenings in Venezuela.
1t was Republican boast last summer
that the president did not want to call a
special session of congress because he
feared stigation.
Two importantforeign matters are to be
considered again during this congress
the Boring sea award and the Nicaragua
canal. Mr.. Gresham agreed with England
on payment of $425, 900 to the sealers in
Boring sea, but the last house refused to
accept this adjustment Of the question.
Cuba will also come in for early atten-
ton, for there is no doubt a proposition to
recognize the rebellious natives as belliger-
ents will be made in both house and SEN
ate, and the discussion Of it will give the
Republicans more campaign material.
In home affairs there is the bankruptcy
bill, which has come so near adoption In
two congresses, but which still hangs fire.
1t passed both house and senate three
years ago, but never got through confer
ence, In the last congress it passed the
house. Its legislative experience has pol
ished it and made it a more perfect meas
ure of its kind than when Mr.. Torrey first
brought it to Washington.
The bill to reorganize the navy and so
dispose of the "hump" in the naval list as
to give younger officers fair chance of
promotion will be taken up again at the
urgent recommendation Of the secretary of
the navy.
The proposed reorganization Of the army
also will come in for share of attention.
This measure differs from the other in
that it is not supported unanimously by
the officers affected. The cavalry officers
think the reorganization proposed by SEQ
rotary Lamont will do them great I'M U.s.
tioe.
From the postoffice department will
come many propositions which will call
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29

for consideration,
among them I'M
doubtedly being
the bill to classify
clerks in first and
second class post
offices, which fail
ed of considera-
ton at the last
session, and the
bill to pension the
wives of mail
clerks killed in
railway accidents.
The Pacific rail-
roads committee
will have again
the 8 g m / n gly
hnnolocc tacE of
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29
Don't Tobacco Spit or Smoke Your Life Away

Is the truthful. startling title of book about
NO-To- BAG, the harmless, guaranteed tobac-
co habit cure that braces up nicOtinize0
nerves, eliminates the nicotine poison, makes
weak men gain strength, vigOr and man
hood. You run no physical or financial risk
as No-rO-Bac is sold by AlOnz0 T. Clarke
under a guarantee to cure or money refund
ed. Book free. Address Sterling Remedy
Co.. New York or Chicago.
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29
Consumption Can be Cured

by the use of ShilOh's Cure. This great
Cough Cure is the only known remedy for
that terrible disease. Sold by A. L. Clarke.
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29

talking about agreeing to nothing II IL
does not include protection to wool.
If all the Republicans take the same
view of the matter, it is not likely any
agreement can be reached. There would
be as much fighting over local interests In
that case as there is when a general tariff.
bill is under discussion. 1t the Democrats
had house and senate, it is likely internal
revenue taxes would be increased Even
many Republicans are said to favor tax
on "patent" medicines and an increased
tax on beer
Then the congress has the financial
problem to solve, and that will include no
doubt the accommodation made by the
president just before the 4th of March for
the passage of law authorizing the issue
of bonds to keep up the gold reserve. On
what lines the financial problem will be
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-29

treated Is some
thing no one could
venture to predict.
In fact, many
public men-men
who will have
something to say
about it's solution
S h a Ike t h g / r
heads and say they
see no hope of dis
posing Of the ques-
ton in the coming
congress at all.
Mr. Grav of Dala
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1895-12-24

how compelled to begin business
anew at the foot of the ladder.
No doubt had insurance rates
been moderate Brother Stephens
would have seen to it that he had
been better protected, against
loss, but as it. is now to pay in
surance On frame buildings in
close proximity to othersamounts
to the same as paying a good rate
OF interest on capital invested,
and in many cases rates are en-
tirely prohibitive, What has be-
come Of the movement on foot
among the county publishers of
Minnesota to organize a mutual
insurance company? Three or
four hundred members paving.
say $40 a year, would soon create
a fund large enough to meet all
losses, and it would be the m cans
Of saving thousands Of dollars an
nual]y to the boys. who are now
paying from 500 to $50 a year per
thousand dollars of insurance.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1895-12-24
SENATOR KNUTE NELSON

Senator Knute Nelson has been
honored by the craftsmanship of
the Mississippi River improve
ment committee, quite an impor-
tant one. Senator Nelson is 60
ing to cut all important figure in
national politics. He is by con-
siderable odds the ablest man in
his party in the state and one who
has a will of his own. His indie.
pendence Of his party was prov
en- when he was a member of the
House and voted for the Mills
bill in spite Of strong party pres
sure. Sturdy independence
coupled with ability is the one
great element needed in congress
now. For that reason we have
always regarded with satisfaction
knute Nelson's election to the
Senate. We are of the opinion
that the time will prove him to
be much nearer to the true inter
est of the people Of Minnesota
than Washburn ever would have
been when the test comes. He
was elected as u protection re.
publican to the House. yet he
form ulated a tariff bill in oppo-
sition to his party, that exper.
fence has proved to be one Of the
best ever proposed. There is nc
telling that he may now formu.
late some monetary reform OF
Importance. We know his
views are not circumscribed with
in party limits, and also that he
has the courage to act on his own
motion. It is from that class OF
men no matter what their party
utilization may be. that relief tc
the country is to come. Towne
is another such man. We only
wish there were more of them in
Washington. For a crisis in the
nations history is impending
and bound to come up for settle
ment during the next few years
G.