The Press., 1895-12-05
Washington Letter.
Washington. Dec.

Washington, Dec. 2, 1895.
 Barring the tumultuous applause which greeted Speaker Reed from the floors and galleries of the House when be took his seat in the speakers chair, and some more dignified applause from the sgalle- ries of the senate when several of the new senators were sworn in, there was noth- ing exciting connected with the opening day of the congressional session, and ab- solutely nothing to indicate what the na- ture of the session is to be. There were the usual crowds in the galleries, corri- dors and even on the floor of the house and senate-all the ex's and others who have the privilege of the floors seemed to make it point to show themselves there on the first day of the session. There was the usual floral display upon the desks of those who have expectant or grateful constituents, CT pull upon the government conservatories and the ten- derfoot, or green members, made them selves conspicuous because of their anxi- ety to appear at ease. The Presidents message will not go in until Tuesday, as the time of the house to-day was taken up in electing officers, and by the old grab bag game of drawing for seats. Other officers elected by the house were: Alex ander Mcdowell, of Penn, clerk; B.. Russell, of Mo, sergeant-at-arms W. J. Glenn, of N. Y, doorkeeper; J. c. Me- Elroy, of O., postmaster; and Rev. H. N. Couden, of Mich, chaplain. The last named is blind man.
 The senate only remained in session long enough to swear in the thirty new senators, fourteen of them re-elections, and then adjourned to allow the republi- cln members to hold caucus to consider the question of reorganization. What probably struck old-timeFs most about the short session of the senate was the absence of the venerable figure and silver beard of Capt. Isaac Bassett from it's ac- customed place in the big arm chair, to the left of the vice-pIesident. Captain Bassett, who has been an employe of the senate for more than fifty years, is very ill. This Is the first opening session of the senate that he has ever missed since he entered it's service. He is%8he only living man who knows which of the desks in the senate chamber was used by Daniel Webster.
 The talked of fight against the nOmina- ton of Ex-Speaker Crisp for speaker of th9 house, by the democrats, did not ma i"rialize, owing, 1t is said, to the discov- try by the administration democrats that a majority of the democratic members of the house agree with Mir. Crisp on silver. According to those who claim to know, i was the lack of votes and not of will that prevented the fight being made.
 Shrewd observers express the opinion that Governor McKinley's chances for becoming the presidential candidate of his party have been materially lessened of late. First, by the bitter feelings aroused over the publication of Senator Slerman's book, which made unnecessary enemies for Mckinley, and lastly by the ;i:'tion of the Ohio congressional delega- ton in gobbling up the postmastership of he house, which was specially wanted by th9 south.
 None of the new senators sworn in to- ''y attracted more attention than did arion Butler, the populist leader of ; orth Carolina. He Is the youngest man ir the senate and one of the handsomest, and those who are familiar with his home rhreer are predicting that he will make his mark in the senate. He Is a man of forceful opinions and he expresses them in way to convince his hearergf of his c ;rnestness '
 Senator Tillman, of South Carolina, also attracted much attention. He would lot be handsome man if he had both of his eyes, but he had the misfortune to 10 'e one of them some years ago. But 1t is easy to see that he doesn't care any thing for looks, and some of the ultra conservative senators are afIaid he will care less for senatorial dignity. He Is 8 representative of the element which was known in the south in ante-war times as 'poor white trash" and which in his own s' ate has more lately been called "the wool hats," and he Is proud of 1t. AL though elected as democrat he Is prob ably the bitterest enemy President Cleve- land and his administration have in the S.ADofo