The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-03
THE 54TH CONGRESS
The Machinery for the Organization Of House
and Senate Worked Smoothly.
Mr.. REED SELECTED AS THE SPEAKER.
AcDoweIl, of fPcnnsyivnnin, Russell,
of Missouri: Glenn, of New York;
McEiroy, of Ohio, nnd Couden, of
Michigan, Were the Successful Cant
didaics for the Various Offices,

Washington. Dec 2.-Senate-The
bright cheerful appearance of the Sem
ate chamber on this, the opening day
of the first session of the Fifty-fourth
congress. was marked contrast to
the drfZzling, foggy weather outside.
A new carpet Of attractive green color
adorned the floor. the desks had been
scraped and newly Vanished, and the
walls frescocd. The unsightly cloth
covered doors leading to the lobby had
been replaced by new ones of mnhoga-
ny, having long ground glass panels.
Many of the desks were covered with
flowers.
Mr.. Davis. of Minnesota. was the
first Senator to occupy seat on the
floor lie came at 1880. At that hour
the public galleries had already had Il
sprinklins of visitors, the ladies gall
lerS in particular being more than
half filled. The next to appear was
Mr.. Stewart, of Nevada, followed close
by the venerable Senator from Yer
mont. Mr.. Morrill,. Then came Mr.
Pritchard of North Carolina. Mr.. Har-
ris of Tennessee. the Populist Senator
from Kansas Nr. PETER, and Mr. Tell
~" Of Colorado. and at II o'clock Sen
;..u!' Hawlcy. of Connecticut. After
RAG. they came in rapidly, and at noon.
:ht hour of convening. the seats were
generally filed and the galleries over
5.tWing.
There was an unusually large at
tcndance of Senators. the only recorded
ahsca,ces being Mr. Hill OF New York
Mr.. Lindsay of Kentucky Mr.. VOL
oo;t Of Colorado, and the two Senators
from Louisiana. Palmer of Illinois anG
Jones of Arkansas. absent during the
first half Of the proceedings, came in in
time for adjournment. The only inter-
csting feature OF the proceedings was
the swearing In of the new Senators
Being unoiticinly Informed that the
Presidents message would not be de-
livercd until tomorrow ut noon, the
Senate Immediately thereafter ad-
iourncd until that hour.
The cOrdiaiity with which Senator
German, OF Maryland. was received by
his associates on both sides of the
chamber was one Of the marked fea-
lures Of tile day. He entered the cham
ber closely followed by Mr.. Bricc, of
Ohio. and ass the two stood talking and
joking, Senators Frye. OF Maine, and
others joined in the badinage, and Sena-
tor Frye, in an audible voice remarked: ::
They have not downed this man yet"
Senator Sherman entered alone and
took little part in the general con-
Eratula tions.
Promptly at noon the blind chaplain
of the Senate, Milbnrn, tapped the Eavel
and offered PRAYER. At the close of the
chaplain's prayer Vice President Stcv-
cnson laid before the Senate the ere
dentuls of the Senator from Idaho,
Shoup, which were read and placed on
file in the usual way. Then the Vice
elect to come forward rs their names
were called by the Clerk ana take the
oath of ollice.
Following The usual custom, the Sem
ntorS came up In patches of four except
the last batch. when the fifth Senator.
Wolcott, was called but failed TO re-
.spund Each escorted by his collea-
que. walked arm in arm IL the left side
of the Nice-president's dais. where the
oath was read in audible tones by the
President
form I'm each case. and pledged the
Senators to duty and to support the
Constitution of the United States.
On motion Of Mr.. Cockrrli, Democrat
of Mississippi, the hour of meeting of
the Senate was fixed at - o'clock.
Sherman. Republican. Of Ohio. offer
cd resolution TO inform the House
that the Senate was organized and
ready for business which was adopted
on motion OF Mr.. Villas. Democrat, Of
Wisconsin. a committee of two was ap-
pointed to join similar committee on
the part of the House To wait upon the
President the r-Pre3ident naming
as such committee Messrs. Villas and
Allison.
House-Thc opening OF every new
Congress has always had the effect OF
bringing great crowds of people, bur
never. perhaps. in the history of Con-
Eress has 81 larger asscmblage of spec
tators gathered in the galleries. halls
and corridors of the great marble struc-
ture. AS usual. the principal attraction
was the House. because of the political
uphcaval by which the Democratic ma
jority of ninety in the Fifty-third
Congress was changed into a Republi-
can majority Of l39. enough, of itself
TO stimulate curiosity. And then. the
knowledge that Mr.. Reed, of Maine, was
again to weld the Speakers gavel and
steer legislation through the storms and
tcmpcsts that rage on the floor of the
House had a powerful attraction.
An hour before noon the galleries
were packed with crowds who forced
their way into the chamber itself
These. however We're dispose ssed by
the doorkccpcr as the hour OF meeting
approached. and some minutes before I2
all the seats on both sides were occupied
by those entitled to them. PA Republi-
cans occupying. as usual the western
side. and 105 Democrats the eastern
side. All this time the noise of hearty
greetings and animated converse ton
grew louder and louder but there was
no special greeting Of or applause for
particular members as they entered the
hall and took seats among their fell
lows.
AT noon. Rev Mr.. BaGby. Chaplain OF
the last House. offered prayer Then
Mr. Kerr. the Clerk OF the last House.
called the members to order and said .
Under the provisions of the Constitu-
ffOn N tho nj t,fC a tac ,IS 10 hn,