Evening star., 1896-12-07
THE SENATE.

A new interest took hold of the throngs
that went to the Senate chamber this
morning to witness the beginning of the
short session Of the Fifty fourth Congress.
The entire chamber had been thoroughly
renovated and supplied with a splendid
system Of ventilation that showed its ca
pac!ty for keeping fresh air on floor and
galleries despite the large crowd that as
sembled.
Vice President Stevenson arrived at the
Capitol at IL O'Clock and went al once 10
his office, where he remained until noon
receiving the callers who came TO welcome
him back to the city and TO the Senate.
He looked IN much better health than he
has enjoyed during the past summer.
Distine ufshed Visitors in the Gal.
leries.
The galleries of the Senate were filled an
hour before that body was called TO order.
In the Senators gallery sat Mr.. Mark
Hanna, chairman of the republican national
committee, by his side being Gen. Horace
Porter of New York and Gen. Martin Nc
Mahon. Sir Julian Pauncefote sat in the
front row of the diplomatic gallery. which
was filled from the colony of foreign resi-
dents here.
Senators Faulkner and Harris were the
first to arrive in the Senate chamber. Sem
ator Tillman was at his desk half an hour
before the time for assembling, writing let
tiers, as has been his custom in the past.
A couple dozen of the desks were deco
rated with handsome floral tributes pre-
sented by admiring or grateful constituents.
Before noon ii seemed as if the democratic
side was almost wholly ignored 10y the Civ
ers of flowers. but by near the time for as
sembling the desks on both sides of the
chamber were equally favored with floral
decorations.
When the Vice President called the Sen
f.atrr- hos
in their places.
Behind Baskets Of Flowers.
Mr.. Vest of Missouri. tine shortest man in
the Senate, stood behind the largest basket
of flowers in the chamber. Gen. Palmer
the presidential candidate of the national
&c mocrats. was without floral decora-
tion on his desk. Senator Mitchell of Ore
gon was largely favored, as four massive
bouquets ornamented his desk Mr. Eoor-
hees of Indiana, Walcott of Colorado Gall
lirger of New Hampshire, Cullom OF Illi-
ho!s, Proctor of Vermont, Allison of Iowa.
HansbroGgh of North Dakota, Lodge of
Massachusetts,, Shoup of Idaho Thurston
of Nebraska, Morrill, of Vermont, Mantle of
Montana, Sewell of New Jersey, Smith of
New Jersey, Walthall of Mississippi. Berry
of Arkansas and Pasco of Florida, all We're
membered by their friends Chairman
Jcnes was consoled with small bunch of
flowers, and he and Mr.. Faulkner. chair
nan OF tne democratic cOnRrtSSlOnal COM
mittee, had quite a conversation on the
floor before the Senate was called 10 order.
Mr.. Clark of Wyoming had small bunch
of violets on his desk, which was in mark
ed contrast with the mammoth basket of
roses that placed before Mr.. PETER Gf
Kansas. Mr.. Blackburn had been remem-
bered with flowers, and looked well and
determined in spite of the efforts he Has
had to make in trying to retain his sena-
torial honors. The yellow ribbon. emblem
of the gold standard was prominently dis
played among the flowers on Mr.. Cullom's
desk.
The Chaplnfn's Prayer.
1t was a strange scene on the floor of the
Senate as the blind chaplain, Mr.. Mlburn,
began his prayer. The campaign was over.
The fight had been made, won and lost. and
the victors and conquered were again to-
gether for The first time since one of the
great events of American history had been
written. Senators had parted in the Capitol
of the same political faiths and came lack
without a party or In the ranks of a party