The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-12-21
A day OF SURPRISES.
The President Sends an Anti-Re.
cess Message to Congress
URGING FINANCIAL LEGISLATION.

House Republicans Decide TO Ignore the
Adjournment Resolution and Continue at
work-The Senate Passes the Venezuela
Commission Bill without Amendment.
! WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-Yesterday was
a day of excitement and surprises in
| Washington. Events moved with rapid
ity, and when the sun went down public
/ men in all branches Of the service were
nervous and worn out from the tension.
Reports came of panic in securities
| throughout the country and here in Wash
ington affairs moved at the rapid pace of
a Kaleidoscope The house Venezuelan
commission bill was amended in material
respects by the senate foreign relations
committee, and then by sudden change
In sentiment in the senate was passed
unanimously just as it came from the
house. Then an adjournment resolution
from today over the holidays was passed
by the senate, only to be followed by an
urgent message from the president, strong
ly advising prompt action for the reform
of our currency system and the malnte-
nance of public credit.
At the other end of the avenue the pres
ident and his cabinet received prompt ad-
vices of the course of events here and on
the public exchanges. The cabinet held
two sessions something without prece-
dent in recent years. Secretary Herbert,
who returned from New York this after
noon, attended the second meeting for
brief time. All of the remaining mem
bers of the cabinet were present except
Secretaries Lamont and Smith, who are
out of town The financial situation was
the principal topic of conversation, and
the result of the meeting was revealed in
the message sent to the senate late in the
afternoon, the body being kept in session
by request from the White House for it's
reception.
The message was not fayorably received
in the senate. The summary adjourn
ment upon the motion of Senator Cock
rell one of the Democratic leaders, imme-
diately after the conclusion of it's reading,
was taken on the Republican side as dis
position not to consider the message seri-
ously.
The action on the Venezuelan commits
sion was the elimination of debate adding
a memorable page to congressional his
tory 1t was day of notable speeches by
notable men The subject of war between
the United States and Great Britain was
the prevailing theme, which found express
sion in lofty patriotic sentiments, in stir
ring appeals for preparation and defense,
in graphic portrayals of the horrors Of war,
and at times in defiant warnings to the
people across the water.
By a singular coincidence the session
which was to be marked by such vigorous
debate and action, was opened by an in
vocation of classic beauty from the blind
chaplain of the senate breathing the
spirit of good will between the two prom
inent English speaking nations. This
was speedily followed by the adoption of
Mr. Aliens somewhat ironical resolution,
calling on the finance committee to inves-
tigate the needs of the unlimited coinage
of silver
At all times during the four hours Of
discussion the galleries were besieged by
an eager crowd, whose patriotic impulses
found frequent expression in applause
which the presiding officer sought vainly
to suppress.
The most notable utterances of the day
were those of Senators Sherman, Teller,
Mills, Lodge, Platt Turpie, Chandler,
White Caffery, Call and Stewart, repre-
senting the three shades of political senti-
ment and yet in the main uniform in
urging the support of the president, Wig
orous assertion of the Monroe doctrine,
and, if need be, any action essential to
maintain the national dignity.
There were strong expressions also,
against the panic in American stocks and
securities which it was said the London
commercial houses were seeking to bring
about Throughout the debate, there was
an undercurrent of feeling that, while the
country would not shrink from war ii it
must come, such calamity was not i'm
minent