Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-08

conspicuous pereonages present the pro-
ceedings tht mselves were dull and spirit
less, being dstinctively routine The house
met, the chaplain invoked the divine bless
ing on the work OF the session. the roll was
called, a committee consisting OF Mr.. Can
non OF Illinois, Mr.. Payne OF New York and
Mr.. Turner OF Georgia. was appointed to
wait on the president, and the latter's an
nual communication was read. The read
ing consumed about two hours. II was
MIR. Clevelands farewell message, and there
was much curiosity as to his views, on
Cuba especially but there was no demon
straton, either of approval or dissent,
throughout It's reading. The holiday nature
OF the day was saddened by the announce
ment of the death of ex-Speaker Crisp,
which Mr.. Turner of Georgia formally made
TO his associates, out OF respect to the
memory OF the distinguished Georgian, the
house, after adopting appropriate resolu-
tions, Immediately adjourned
The house presented very ami
mated scene for an hour before
Speaker Reed appeared. The gal
leries, to which the public was admitted
without cards were crowded 20 the doors
before IL o'clock, while the halls were
jammed with those unable to gain entrance
The reserved galleries filled moro slowly
but before 12 o'clock were frightened with
handsome gowns of fair women.
On the desk OF Mercer OF Nebraska, sec
mittee, was huge shield Of chrysanthe-
NUNS and American Beauty roses, across
which was written in large letters the WORD
Secretary" while IN that OF Mr. Babcock
OF Wisconsin, chairman of the committee
was miniature Chairman of roses ana
soft NOSES
There were many conspicuous personages
both on the floor and in the galleries. NJ.
Patenotrc. the rrenoh ambassador. ana
several other diplomats with their families
were in the diplomatic gallery. Vt was
notable, perhaps significant that all the
Ohio members were the centers of little
groups of members. There were no demon
strations of any character.
STARTS THEM PROMPTLY.
AS the hands of the clock pointed to
IL Speaker Reed quietly ent ercl the han
and ascended the rostrum. lie was attired
in black frock coat and looked vigorous
The silver mace, the emblem of the author
ity of the house lifted to it's place
on the green malachite pedestal to :he righ:
OF the rostrum and with sharp crack of the
gavel the speaker called the house to order
The hum of conversation instantly ceased
and the galleries became quie:. Rev. Mr..
Cowder of Michigan, the blind chaplain OF
the house, offered the invocation. HIS prayer
was simple but impressive. When IL was
finished the speaker ordered the clerk to call
the roll. The rol lcal showed 271 present
AS soon as the speaker announced the pres
ence OF quorum and that the house was
ready to proceed to business a dozen mem
bers demanded recognition, but the speaker
first read the usual message from the senate,
stating that the senate had quorum present
and was ready to proceed to business. j.
w. NJ. Stokes was then sworn in as a menlr
ber from the Seventh district of South Caro-
lima The credentials of Charles J. Boatner
from the Fifth district of Louisiana were
read also. Both OF these gentlemen received
certificates of election to this congress, but
their seats were contested and declared vacant
by the house at the last session. They were
then reelected. The usual formal resolution
for the appointment of committee TO Join
a similar one from the senate to inform the
president that they were ready to proceed to
business and one directing the clerk to notify
the senate that the house was ready were
adopted. Mr.. Cannon. Mr.. Payne and Mr.
Turner we're appointed on the committee
The selection of Mr.. Turner was considered
a significant indication that the Georgia mem
Der would succeed eX-Speaker Crisp as a
member OF the committee on rules. as II was
a formal recognition of him as the leader on
the democratic side. In order to await the
presidents message the house motion of
Mr.. Henderson of Iowa took recess until
1.36.
When the house reassembled the message
was read. The opening words congratuat-
ing the country on the result OF the cleo
tion, created a broad smile the democrats
well as the republicans seeming to join
in the political condition which allowed
democratic president to feicitate upon
victory gained under the banner OF the
republican party. The presidents express
sions upon Cuba and Venezuela were lis
tened to attentively, but there were no dem
onstrations even when he announced that
the administration some months ago had
suggested home rule for Cuba to Spain. or
when he announced the termination OF the
controversy between Great Britain and the
United States over the Venezuelan boundary
line
There was not much interest in the re-
mainder of the message, except those por-
tions relating to the tariff, the currency
and the trusts The reading of the message
occupied one hour and forty minutes. At
its conclusion, on motion OF Mr. Dingley,
republican of Maine the message and ac-
companying documents were referred TO the
committee OF the whole on the state of the
union. Mr.. Grow, republican OF Pennsyl-
vania showed disposition to debate the
message, but yielded until later time.
Mr.. Turner, democrat of Georgia then in
formally announced the "untimely death
of his late colleage, ex-Speaker Crisp, and
stated that at some future day he would
ask the house to fix day for paying trib-
ute "to his distinguished character and en-
inent public service" A resolution pre-
sented by him reciting that the house had
heard with profound regret the announce
ment of Mr.. Crisp's death, was adopted,
after which, at 345 p. m, as further
mark of respect the house Immediately