The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-10
CONGRESS- ASSEMBLIES
OPENING OF sECuND SESSION OF
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS

The Galleries Crowded by <iehtseerr, High
and Low-The Pr. sides M ss~Ee Ro
ceIv.d in Both Houses and K~sd-C1Ose
Attsnsi"n Paid by Senators AID Congress
m~n Adj urnln~nt Of 10th HOUSES In
Rep. ct To Memory Of Congr~ssinen Who
Have Died Sine, the Last 81 ssi"n
Washington. December Cat noon
today the first regular session or the
Tifty-fifth Congress was launched upon
the unknown seas OF legislation. Stimuli
~taneously at both ends Of the capitol
Speaker Reed, in the house and Presi-
dent Hobart In the senate. dropped
their gavels and called to order the
respective bodies over which they pre-
side. The attending the
opening Of congress. though compare
lively Of a routine character and usual
" devoid OF dramatic incident, ex-
oept as it marks the formal promul-
CATION of the policies of the admins
tration AZ outlined in he presidents
annual message. Is a spectacle which
IN some respects Is regarded as the
greatest official event of the year at
the national capital. All Washington
attended. High and low. rich and
sadors and street gamin, banker and
beggar, cabinet officer and department
messenger, Joined in witnessing the
starting Of the numbering, intricate ma
chinery of legislation. All roads on
fhfs dov load To "a nttn1 Hil and the
noble architectural structure which
surmounts it with It's classic outlines
and broad spreading dome.
Long before the hour for the assem-
bling, the crowds began vending their
way to the American Acropolis. AS a
sort OF quasi official function, the rep
representatives. Of the foreign govern
ments, the social leaders and every
body who Is anybody in Washington
goes thither on this day. The elegant
equipages Of the notables, many o.
them, emblaZoned with coats OF arms,
with liveried footmen on the boxes n
drawn by prancing horses with silver
mounted trappings and jingling chains.
added tone to the occasion, as they
dashed up the broad avenue. At the
capitol the crowd swarmed into the
corridors at an early hour and choked
the marble steps as they assembled to
The galleries from which they were
to view the show. AS Is usua on such
occasions, the reserved galleries we're
carefully guarded on both the house
and senate side, admission being only
by card. and the public had great diff
ficulty in 'wedgirg itself into the linn
tied a set aside for 1t.
No unusual incident marked the OPEN
ing Of the house. The formalities at
HA-li-- 49, ki@- ~. -A~
sion are dry and, except as q spec
thronged the public and private gal
ierfes. Yet, with few exceptions, the
visitors sat through the whole proceed
ings.
The floral tributes for the members
were numerous n in some instances
imposing. One, which attracted prob
ably more attention than any other IN
account OF it's unique character, graced
h desk Of General Grosvener, Of Ohio.
1t consisted Of a huge tree of yellow
chrysanthemums and American Beau
ty roses under the nOdding branches of
which stood an innocent looking toy
lamb. 1t was a tribute from the Ma
ttonal Wood Growers Association. A
huge gavel, in red and white carna-
lions, stood upon the speakers table.
AT fifteen minutes before noon the
floor was cleared Of all persons ex-
cept members and officers. % af-
terward, Mr.. Bailey, Of Texas, the
leader OF the minority, and Silver
Dollar" Bland, OF Missouri, entered the
hall together. Mr.. Dinsley, the floor
leader Of the house. smiling and af-
fable as ever, came in just before the
speaker appeared. He had difficulty in
making his way to his seat. owing to
the pressure of those who desired to
extend their greetings. AS the hands
Of the clock pointed to the hour Of II,
Speaker Reed, attired in a black cut
away coat and wearing a red tie. push
ed through the green baize-dOOrs from
che lobby and assembled the rostrum.
One crack of the gavel subdued the
din on the floor and the conversation in
the ov~er-hanging galleries. The gavel
with which the speaker called the
house to order was presented to him
by J. C.. Grones. sheriff Of Knox county.
Tenn, who SEM 1t in the name OF the
"Stalwart Republicans Of East Tennes
see. The gavel is made Of apple tree
woO which grew beside the loghOuse
IN which Farragut was born. This
house stood at Loves Ferry. on the
Tennessee river, six miles below Knox
willie.
In the deep silence which followed
h calling of the assemblage to order,
h prayer Of he eminent English di-
vine, Rev. Charles A. Berry, of Wolver
Hampton. England. who delivered the
invocation, was solemn and impress
sive.
The speaker then Immediately direct
ed the clerk to call the roll. The roll
call showed h presence of $40 men,
bers. There were five vacancies from
death or resignation during the recess
and the credentials of the members
eject were read by the direction of the
speaker. who then administered the
oath Of office to them.
On motion Of Mr.. Hopkins. republic
can, of Illinois, the clerk was directed
TO notify the senate that the house was
ready for business. n on motion Of
Mr.. Dinsley, a resolution WIS adopted
for the appointment Of a committee Of
three to join the committee of the sem
ate to wait on the president and in