The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-07
Galleries in Both Senate and
House Crowded.
Vice President Stevenson snl
Speaker Reed Present.
Message of President Clevelsn. Tor.
mally Received and Read.

WAsHlNGJON, ~. -, DeC. I-Ars re
assem- bling of Congress toda7 for the
closing session OF the Fifty-fourth C9n-
Rress, wss an OCCASION of unnsGaI bill
iisncy and interest. The opening cay is
always a gala affair, marking ss II cors.
the offIcial inauguration OF spcial az we'll
as the political season lin Washington;
but todsy was all the more ir,o eslirg
because of the long and hard fought poll
tical battle that had been wagsd during
the recess Tho weather wns perfecv.
The throngs which streamed MP tue hill
to witness the opening ceremonies, formed
an unorganized civic pagaDt. Gay equI-
pages with rattle OF chains. Drawn by
prancing steeds conveyed the diplor lts,
the fashionables and those pror:insrt Ia
official life to the capitol. Thonssnds
moved up Pennsylvania avenue on feet or
in street cars. Then came the throug5 in
the corridors, pushing for afsniasicn TO
the galleries, the minated scapss on tho
floor of the house and senate. tbs denoi
strations for conspicuouai7 pscnincn;
statesmen, the buzz and nr'tlr whic7
marked the entrance of sect ightsi1 tne
reserved gall ries and at Jas. sns ~s'pins
of the gavel and the regular csr-wonies
attending the opening of the sos ion ami
the rec ption Of tire s,idsnlI snnc-l
Communication TO Congress.
In tk. Senate.
The Senate cham DER was o center al ir-
terest long before the nour for assem-, !.
ing bad arrived. and by IL O'CLOCK tae
pu bile galleries filed, and crowcs were at
the entrance unable to gain admission.
Sir Julian Pauncefort accompanies by
mem bers of his staff and several mem hers
OF the diplomatic corps were In ire nests
reserved for foreign representative snd
with them were several ladies' boating
cards from Secretary OlDey. In tine sesss
reserved for the Vice Presidents family
and friends sat Mrs. Stey epson and sey-
eral ladies. Back of them In the sesta ss-
ser ged for the families OF senators, yer.
many OF the wives and daughters ut
those prominent on the floor. Are gall
lery crowds found ease and comfort In
the new theater seats put In since tnc
last session closed, although II reduced
the seating capacity almost one-half.
The senators were rather late in srriv-
ing. The venera bic white haired, whits
moustacbed Mr.. Harris, of Tennessee was
the first arrival. He was joined soon sfser
by Mr.. Faulkner (DcrI.) OF Wost Esr-
ginia and the two chatted while the gnl-
leries filled. Mr. Palmer (Dem.) ot ILL
nois, came abont IL 80 and was center
OF Interest from the galleries owing 10
his prominence In the recent campaizn.
Exactly at IL O'Clock the Vice-Presi-
the desk of the presiding officer gave
tap which brought the Senate TO orJer
while the chaplain, Rev. Milburn made
an impressive Invocation. N
MIR. Cullom was ths first TO rccci7e
recognition and his resolution ttsr tre
House OF Representatives, be uotiil' q 'h''
the Senate whs in session ana ra y o
proceed with business was acisei ~
without comment.
Mr., Hale followed with a resolrtlon
that the daily hour for meeting bo IL
o'clock, which was agreed to.
Mr.. sherman made the customary
motion for a com mittee to wait upon tte
President and upon Its adoption tho Pre-
| siding officer named Mr.. Sherman aud
MIR. smith, Democrats, New Jersey, as
the Senators of the COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Morrill,. Republican, was the arst
| to suggest anything in the nature Of
| legislative business by presenting several
petitions asking for the passage OF tns
| Dingiey bill. he Welded however. To
| sir. Hoar's suggestion that all business
| be deferred, as q matter OF courtesy Until
| the President and House OF keprescnta-
! tives mad been communicated with and
thereupon at 1916 .. m. the senate tooS
| n recess until 1 o'clock.
The Senate took another recess at Lar
| at which time the Presidents messake
was read. IL was followed closely by t-s
| mem pers.
In the House.
The House presented a very animated
scene for an hour before Speaker Keel
appeared. The galleries to which ,"s
| public were admitted without cards, W. -
| crowded to tho doors before III o'sio"s.
while the halls were jsmmed with tro.'
unable 10 get an entrances. The res,ryci
galleries filled more slowly. but before q;
| o'clock they were frightened With ;Ls
4 I'D
the floor below rose the inoescrif ATE
buzz OF many voices as the members -
| changed greetings. There wsrs reni.-
niscences Of campaigns, explanations of
| defeat, ,exploitations OF victorys conErs.c-
| lations and condolences.
In the midst OF general rejoicing thsrs
| vas en- air Of sadness ss mem hers glanced
at the black psll which covered the dssE
| OF the late Speaker Crisp. On II were
| some cut flowers. His portrait In the
lobby iu the rear OF the house was
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