The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-12-08
CONGRESS- RESUMES WORK
SENATE AND HOUSE REASSEMBLED
 YESTERDAY.

ASdiBc NEOWu ffeSenL-DOIn ShathDerB Contained Many Floral Tributes From Members Admire rers-President's Mes sage Resd-House Adjourns Out of Re- spect to the Late Speaker Crisp.
 Washington, Dec. 7.-Congress re- sumed business at the old stand to-day in the presence of one of the largest crowds that have ever witnessed the opening of a short session. A perfect day and the possibility that the presi- dents last annual message to congress might contain something sensational relative to the Cuban question proved to be irresistible attractions at the cap- itol.
 Senators and representatives were in holiday attire, and every statesman who owned q silk hat wore it to-day. The crowd of spectators commenced moving on the capitol long before Il o'clock, and as soon as the doors lead ing to the senate and house galleries were opened there was grand scram- ble for the most desirable seats.
 As usual the house proved to be the most attractive point for the sightseers. The rules of that body are more pliable than those in force in the senate, and the spectators who could not obtain seats in the galleries had the small sat- ie,fo of floor of the house brushing against the early arriving members until the order to "clear the f1oor' was given A ma- jority of the occupants of the house and senate galleries were women, who had taken the precaution to provide themselves with tickets of admission from friendly congressman.
 The senate chamber, in it's new dress and with the improvements in the seat ing capacity, evoked general common dation, and the floral display was fully up to the standard.
 In the house floral displays were in profusion, but only one attracted gen. eral attention. This was a green and white wreath on a black background, and was placed on the desk occupied by the former leader of the democrats in the house, the late Speaker Crisp.
 Allinterest Tn this session of congress attaches to the senate, because the house has nothing whatever to do ex- icept pass the regular appropriation bills and act on such measures as may come from the senate. Speaker Reed cleaned up the house calendar com pletely last session, and so the senate is now alone responsible for legislation during the brief remainder of the life of the Fifty-fourth congress.
 There is still a wide difference of opinion among the republicans as to what will be or can be done, and more than one senatorial caucus may be necessary before a decision is reached.
 The semi-off1cial statement of Sena- tor Thurston, made in the presence of Mark Hanna, that an extra session will be called to meet about March 16, is generally accepted as sealing definitely the fate of the Dingley bill and putting off the question of tariff and financial legislation to be settled by the new congress- There was, therefore, only one topic of interest at the capitol to- day, and that was with regard to what the president would say in his message
 Promptly at F o'clock Speaker Reed called the house to order without word of introduction and, the members all standing, the chaplain offered the customary morning prayer.
 The roll of members by states was then called, and the second and final session of the Fifty-fourth congress was under way.
 At 12:40 o'clock an adjournment was taken until 80 o'clock.
 Both houses reassembled at 1:30 o'clock.
 Shortly after reassembIing the presi- dents message was read in the house.
 When the reading of the message was finished it was on motion of MT. Dingley, rep, of Maine, together with the accompanying documents, referred to the committee of the whole and or dered printed.
 w. A. Stone, rep, of Pennsylvania, from the appropriations committee, re- ported the pensions bill for the coming fiscal year.
 MT Turner, dem, of Georgia, On be- ing recognized, stated that it was his duty to inform the house of the death of his colleague, ex-Speaker Crisp, who died at Atlanta, Ga, on October 23. At later day he would ask that a day be assigned to pay proper respect to MT. Crisp's distinguished character and eminent public services. He offered the following:
 Resolved, That the house has heard with profound sorrow of the death of Hon. Charles F. Crisp, late represen- tative from the state of Georgia.
 Resolved That as a mark of respect to his memory the house do now ad- journ.
 The resolutions were adopted and the house at $50 adjourned.
 In the Senate.
 Washington Dec. 7.-At first close attention was paid to the message by senators, most of them following the reading with pamphlet copies of the messa ee in hand The Judicial sum-