The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-08
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS-.
The Closing Session Raeonvened
Yesterday.


terest.
Inc senators were rather late in arriv-
ing. The venerable, white-haired white
moustached MIR. Harris, of Tennessee
was the first arrival. He was Joined soon
after Ivy Mr.. Faulkner Dem.) of West
Virginia, and the two chGtted while the
galleries filled. Mr.. Palmer Dem.) of
Illinois, came about II 80 and was II CEN
ter OF interest from the galleries owing
60 MS prominence in the recent cam puign.
Fir. Tillman Dem, S c. also came in
ior considerable attention us he went to
his desk and busted himself writing.
Exactly at - o'clock the aaVice- Presi-
dent entered the chamber and going TO
the desk OF the presiding officer gave Il
tap which brought the Senate tc order,
While the blind chaplain, Rev. DR.. Mil
burn. delivered an impressive invocation.
The roll call showed seventy Senator's
present.
Mr.. Cullom was the first to receive rec
ognlton and his resolution that the
House of Representatives. be notified that
the Senate was in session mud ready TO
proceed with business WAS agreed to with.
out comment Mr.. Hale followed with Il
resolution that the daily hour for meet
ing ce II clock meridian, which was
agreed to-
ton Tor committee of Senator's and
members to wait unon the President and
upon its adoption the presiding officer
named Mr.. Sherman and Mr.. Smith
Dem., y. j. us the Senators of the com
mittee.
At 1915 p. IN. the Senate took II recess
until O'Clock
at O'Clock there was further recess
for thirty minutes.
AT 30 the Senators who had waited
on the President had not returned and
there was another recess until 10 u. IN.
Senators Sherman and Smith walked
down the middle aisle OF the Senate when
the session was resumed and the Ohio
Senator briefly reported that the Presi
dent had been waited upon and would
communicate his views in writing. Sec
Rotary l'ruden, of the White House staff,
immediately stepped forward, and made
the foriEa.Rnnouncemcnt of II commu-
nication from the President. 1t was talk.
en- To the presiding officers desk where
the seal was broken and thereupon Gen.
Con, secretary of the Senate, began read.
ing the document.
Most OF the Senators remained in their
seats while the reading of the Presidents
message proceeded and followed it with
close interest through the early stages
Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British am
bassador and the new Turkish minister
Moustapha Bey, we've present.
Senior Dupuy de Lone the Spanish
minister, was not in attendance during
the day, but two of thessecreturies 'of the
Spanish legation carefully noted the ref
erenccs to the Cuban conflict Minister
Hatch, of Hawaii, and Mr.. Cooper, the
Hawaii minister of foreign affairs. were
listeners, although the message contained
no reference TO the Hawaiian islands
The reading OF the message closed Mt
3:''5 p m: having taken just one hour
and fifty minutes. The Presidents clos
ing references to trusts and monopolies
was carefully followed by Mr.. Sherman,
author of the ANTITRUST law to which the
President referred. After the usual for
mality of laying the message on the tn
bile the Senate on motion of Mr.. Hale
(Rep., Maine) adjourned.
While the scenes attending the open
ing OF the House were both brilliant anu
interesting in the crowds that thronged
the galleries, and the conspicuous per-
sonages present. the proceedings them
selves were distinctivelv routine
.iuder the rules the floors are not clear.
ed until fifteen minutes before the hour
for assembling. Pages were scurrying
about the carrying to the seats OF mem
bers flowers and floral pieces from CON
sttucnts or admiring friends. This
heightened the brilliaucy of the House
landscape and filled the air with the
sweet keen scent. But in the midst of
this general rejoicing their WAS an air of
sadness % members glanced at the black
pull which covered the conspicuous desk
OF the late eX.Speaker Charles f. Crisp,
the Democratic leader On it were some
- -.
the rear OF the House was also wreuthed
with Gala lilies
As The hands Of the clock pointed to IL
Speaker Reed quietly entered the hall
and assembled the rostrum. He was at
tired in Il black frocli coat and looked
hronzcd and vigorous The silver mace,
the emblem of authority OF the House,
was lifted to its place on the green mala-
chte pedestal TO the right of the rostrum
and with II sharp crack of the cavel the
Speaker called the House to order.
Rev. Cowden, OF Michigan, the blind
chaplain of the House, offered the invo-
cation. His prayer was simple but i'm.
pressive.
The roll cal! showed the presence of 211
members AS soon as the Speaker an.
nounced the presence of IL quorum and
that the House was ready to proceed to
business dozen members demanded rec.
ognition, but the -Speaker first received
the usual message from the Senate stat
Ing that the Senate had quorum pres
cnt and was ready to proceed to business
J. William Stokes, from the Seventh
Congressional district OF South Carolina,
and Charles j. Doatncr, from the Fifth
district OF Louisiana, were sworn IN
The usual formal resolutions were
adopted, providing for the appointment
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