The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-12-11
NATIONAL WISE MEN.
TIME CALLED IN CONGRESS FOR THE
SHORT SESSION.
Crowded Galleries and Much Activity on
the Opening Day-President Cleveiands
Last Annual Message Read In Both
Houses-Scenes and Incidents.

the Opening Day-President Cleveiands
Last Annual Message Read In Both
Houses-scenes and Incidents.
Washington, Dec. s. = The United
States senate began the second session
of the Fifty-fourth congress with
crowded galleries and with that accom-
paniment of activity and of greeting
that usually attends the re-assembling
Of congress. But the upper branch of
congress never puts aside its dignity.
and the meeting developed no demon
STATIONS or dramatic incidents. The
reading of the presidents message was
the feature of the proceedings, and be-
yond this no attempt was made to
enter upon the business of the session.
To many of the foreign representatives
OCCUPYING the diplomatic gallery the
message had special interest and
significance, owing to the part they
had taken in the conspicuous foreign
events to which the president referred.
On the floor of the senate there was
scant attention after the reading had
proceeded beyond the first half hour.
The reading of the message covered one
hour and fifty minutes, and at its con-
clusion the senate adjourned.
WLle the scenes attending the OPEN
T. of the house were both brilliant
2nd interesting in the crowds that
thronged the galleries and the con-
spicuous personages present, the pro-
ceedings themselves were dull and
spiritless, being distinctively routine.
The house met, the chaplain invoked
the divine blessing on the work of the
session, the roll was called, a commit
tee consisting of Cannon Of Illinois,
Payne of New York. and Turner of
Georgia, was appointed to wait on the
president and the latters, annual COM
munication was read. The holiday
nature of the day was saddened by the
announcement of the death of ex-
Speaker Crisp, which Turner of Georgia
for, ally made to hts associates. Out Of
respect to the memory of the dis
ttnguished Georgian the house, after
adopting appropriate resolutions, imme-
diately adjourned.
The house without wasting time pro-
ceeded to business yesterday and be-
fore the session closed had passed three
bills of considerable Importance and the
first of the regular supply bills-that
for pensions. Three of the bills related
to postal matters. One provided for
the use Of private mailing cards of the
same general size and character as the
present postal cards when one-cent
stamps are affixed. Another provided
for q limited indemnity of $40 for the
loss of registered mail matter, and the
third provided for a private carrier SER
vice in towns and villages where no
free delivery exists. 1t provides that
on the application of twenty persons
receiving their mail at the same Office
the postmaster shall appoint such per-
sons as are willing to undertake the
collection and delivery of mails; that
the chargeis not to exceed one cent for
each letter, and that the charge shall
be paid by the beneficiaries.
The pension bill was passed without
factious opposition, but Grow of Penn
sylvania took occasion in the debate to
submit some views in favor Of higher
tariff duties based on that portion of
the presidents message relating to the
tariff. The bill carries Sal, 263, $50,
about $4,000 less than the law for the
current year
The notice of the opening of Cuban
discussion was about the only feature
Of interest developed at the brief ses-
sion of the senate, which lasted only
twenty-five minutes. Cullom gave no.
tice of speech on Cuba tomorrow. The
senators had expected to start the
wheels OF actual business, but the APP
pearance of a house resolution relative
to the death Of ex-Speaker Crisp led to
the customary adjournment as a mark
Of respect. A large number of bureau
reports were read, including that of
the government directors OF the Pacific
railroads
Washington, Dec. 9-The action of
the Republican senatorial caucus yes
terday in referring the Dingley bill to
its steering committee, and the circum-
stances under which this action was
taken are accepted in the senate as
practically the end of the agitation in
the interest of this measure The de-
bate in the caucus developed that there
was a wide difference as to the advis-
ability of attempting to pass the bill,
even among the Republicans, and the
opinion was expressed by some who
were on the inside that fully one-third
Of the Republican senator's not includ-
ing the silver boilers, were antagonistic
to the bill. At the caucus the silver
bolt was "punctuated' by the fact that
all the boilers stayed away and Dubois
sent in his resignation as a member
and secretary" Of the Republican adj
visory committee. Teller has not yet
been heard from and Is not in the city.
Hives are not dangerous TO life, but they
oro On ,,roli6o hraaJ..r ~ mic ~ a,,6