The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-08
Senate and House Begin Proceed
:: p. ings With the Presidents
= Message.
When the Decks Are Cleared of All
? Preliminary Matters Appropria-
tiCn Bills Will Come Up.

sunshine, gently bracing air, tempera-
ture running from 40 to go degrees, and
both halls of the assembly renovated and
purified and ventilated in a manner more
nearly conforming to hyRienic require
ments that has ever been before at
tempted.
. There was not by any means full at
tendance OF Senators when Vice-President
Stevenson raped the Senate to order,
though many grzzled veterans were on
lfand. Among the prominent absenttes
Il he early hours of the session-many
III whom, however, subsequently put in
an appearance-were: Senators Allison
of Iowa, Bates of Tennessee, Blackburn of
Kentucky, Blanchard of Louisiana, Call
OF Florida, Chiffon of Texas, Clark of
Wyoming. George ofNAfississippi, Gordon
of Georgia, Gray of Delaware, Hill OF New
York, Jones of Nevada, Kyle OF South Da-
kota, Mitchell and Mcbride of Oregon,
Murphy OF New York, Nelson of Mime
sofa, Palmer of Illinois, Pasco of Florida,
Perkins of California, Sewall of New Jer-
eey, Teller of Colorado. Tillman OF South
Carolina, Warren of Wyoming, White of
California.
= The House presented bright and cheer
faI. appearance this morning when the
galleries were thrown open 10 visitors.
The members OF the House, like the occu-
pants OF the galleries, commenced to put
i an appearance as early as 10 o'clock,
aleough the hour OF the meeting was u
O'Clock. The Republicans from the West
and middle West who secured a renomina-
& ton and who were not engulfed in the
Of ell hrs;acDn NJ
over that section of the country, congrat-
ulated themselves and each other over
their good fortune.
.. Dave" Mercer of Nebraska, secretary
of the Congressional committee, one of
Two Nebraska members who secured a re-
e lection, was the recipient of many cordial
congratulations from his Congressional
friends. Some of the veteran members of
the House we're also much in evidence
and each, as he moved about the chamber,
received q small ovation from his friends.
Mr. Crisps desk was draped in mourning.
Principally at noon the Senate was
called TO order by Vice-President Steven
son, and prayer was offered by the blind
chaplain, Rev. Mr.. Milburn- A special
blessing was asked for the Senator from
Iowa (Mr. Allison, r. ), that he might be
restored TO perfect health and brought
Speedily to his seat.
Y At the conclusion of the prayer the list
}ot Senators was called and seventy-one
Senators responded, the absentees being:
Allison, Blanchard, Brown, Butler, CAT
fegy, George Hansbrough, Hill, Irby,
Zones of Nevada, Lindsay, Mcbride, Mar
tin, Morgan, Stewart, Teller. Warren and
White.
Indefinite leave of absence, on account
of ckness. was given to George (D.l of
Mississippi
"A resoludon was adopted to appoint two
Senators to join like committee on the
part of the House to wait on the Presi-
dent Senators Sherman (R.) of Ohio
and Smith CD of New Jersey were Sc
licked on the part OF the Senate, and
recess was taken until O'Clock.
80 At1:45 Sherman reported that the COM
mittee had waited upon the President and
had been informed that the President
would Immediately communicate a mes
sage in writing Thereupon the message
was delivered by Pruden, one of the Presi-
beats secretaries, and the secretary of the
:Seyate, Cox, began its reading, but that
dtity was soon turned over to the reading
clerks.
The Presidents annual message was
.read without evoking any special interest.
T he only exception to the rule was as to
the portions OF the message devoted to
Armenian outrages and to the revolution
in Cuba. On the first of these subjects
the President stated his belief THAT the
present somber prospect in Turkey will
aA to OTfonA eli bt
of Christendom."
The Presidents discussion of the Cuban
question is exhaustive and impartial, but
is summing up indicates the temper and
fyiews of the administration. 1t is in
these words: when the inability of Spain
10 deal successfully with the instruction
has become manifest q situation will be
presented when our obligations to the
sovereignty of Spain will be superseded
.bv higher obligations which we can hardly
hesitate to recognize and discharge"
Both declarations appeared to obtain
GENERAL favor and approval. The message
covered eighteen printed pamphlet pages
ard its reading occupied one hour and
fifty minutes.
tomorrow.
Promptly at noon Speaker Reeds gavel
fell: and the second session of the Fifty
fourth Congress began. Chaplain Couden
offered the opening prayer, at the close OF
which the Speaker ordered call OF the
House. The call disclosed the presence OF
271 mem bers.
William A. Stokes, re-returned from the
South Carolina District, was
sworn in, and in regard to q. J. Boatner
of Louisiana, similarly unseated on con-
teSt during the last session, certificate
from the Governor of Louisiana was read
certifying 10 his election. Cannon (R. OF
illinois, Hayne (R.) of New York and
Turner Cd of Georgia were appointed a
com ittee 10 wait npon The President.
The House then took recess until 1870
p. N. -
House at 1:30 P. NJ. took further recess
until P. NJ.
The first of the general appropriation
bills for the coming fiscal year, the pension
bill. was reported from the Appropriations
Cdmmittee ard placed on the calendar.
TIe death of ex-Speaker Crisp was an
nArnced by Turner Cd of Georgia and
IheN House as a mark of respect to his
al mn al fo.morrow