The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-08
CONGRESS MET AT NOON.


The Speaker called the House to order
promptly at 2. MIR. Cannon announced
that the committee appointed to wait up
on the President had performed iJs du-
ties and the President would commune
Gated with Congress at once. Major Pur-
den, one of che Presidents secretaries,
presented the annual .nessage and at
three minutes after two the clerk began
TO rsad it. (Ths message will be found
on the sesond and third pages of the
PRESS.)
When the reading of the message was
finished, ii was on motion of MIR. Ding
ley, with the accompanying documents,
referred to the committee of the whole
and ordered printed.
W. A. Stone Republican of Pennsyl-
vania, from the appropriation commit
tee, reported the pensions appropriation
bill for the coming fiscal year. Mr..
Turner, Democrat of Georgia, stated that
it was his melancholy duty TO inform
the House of the dsatb OF his colleague,
ex-Spoaker Crisp, who died at Atlanta,
Ge., October %. At a lator day he would
ask that day be assigned for paying
proper respect to Mr.. Crisp's distinguished
character and eminent public services.
He offered the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the House has heard
with profound sorrow of the death of
IlOu OuesHs L SJlep, leoo AeSPACSoAtte7
tive from the State of Georgia.
| Resolved, That as mark of respect
to his memory, the House do now ad-
journ.
TIE resolutions were adopted and the
II louise at 8. so adjourned until noon TO-
morrow.
IN THE SENATE.
Principally at noon the Senate WAS
called to order by Vice President Steven
son. Prayer WIS offered by the blind
chaplin, Rov. Mr.. Millburn. The list of
senators was called and II responded.
The resolutions were adopted to appoint
two senators to join like committee on
the part Of the House TO wait upon the
President Of the United States. Senators
Sherman, Republican of Ohio, and
Smith, Democrat of New Jersey. were
selected on the part of the Senate. Recess
was taken until one.
At that hour the recess was extended
until half past one and then further ex-
tension until 1. tsp. m. AT 1.50 Mr..
Sherman reported that the committee
had waited upon the President and had
been informed that the President wonld
Immediately communicate message in
writing. Thereupon the message was
delivered by MIR. Pruden, one Of the
Presidents secretaries. The secretary of
the Senate. MIR. Cox began reading.
That duty was very soon turned over to
the reading clerks.
At first pretty close attention was paid
to tho message by the Senators, most of
them following the reading with
pamphlet copies Of the message in their
hands. Many of the strong points up.
peared to give general satisfaction su0h,
for instance, us that Oh the subject of the
Armenian outrages, that the present
sombre prospects in Turkey would not be
long spermitted to offend the sight of
Christendom.
The judicial summing up of the Cuban
question by the statement that when the
inability of Spain to deal successfully
with the insurgents has become manifest
a situation will be presented in which
our obligations to the sovereignty of
Spain will DO superseded by higher obli
cations which we can hardly hesitate to
recognize and discharge, also seemed to
BIZ satisfactory to both sides of the
chamber.
Very littlo attention was paid by the
Senators to the other portions of she
message which had to 90 solely with in
ternal affairs. The reading occupied one
hour and fifty minutes. The MESA &c
was laid on the table and the Senate at
3. 35 adjourned until tomorrow.
Republican Senatorial Caucus Called.
Washington, December IA Republic
can senatorial caucus has been chilled for
tomorrow at /. Notice of this caucus
was sent to all Republicans to whom
Gnrinu the last
session. This includes the boiling Re-
publican silver senators and Senator
Jones of Nevada.
Pension Appropriation Bill.
Washington, Dscsmbe THE general
pension appropriation bill for the year
ending June 30, 1898. today reported to
the House from the appropriations conf
mittee carries total of S141, 1858, $50,
$50, 600 less than the appropriation for
the current fiscal year and the same
amount under the estimates submitted
nv the coln m issiouer of DeuSiOnS