Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-12-09
CONGRESS is IN SESSION
Was Convened al Noon Monday, With
All Washington In Attendance.
MANY ELEGANT FLORAL TRIBUTES
The Greatest Official Event OF
the Year.
SCENES DURING THE EARLY HOURS


tho fret regular session OF the Both
Cuugress was launched upon the un.
known sens at legislation. Simultano-
ously, at both ends Of the Capitol.
Speaker Reed in tho House and Vice.
President Hobart in the Senate.
dropped their gavcls and called 10
order the respective bodies over which
they preside. The ceremonies attend
ing the opening of Congress. though
comparatively of routine character
and usually devoid of dramatic incl
dent, except as it marks the formal
nromulgation of the policies OF the all
mistratiun as outlined in the FRESH
dcnt'H annual message, iH a spectacle
which, in some respects. is regarded Es
the greatest official event of the year at
the National Capitol. All Washington
attends. High and low, rich aud poor,
white aud black, foreign ambassadors
and street gamins, bankers and beggars,
cabinet officers and department messen.
gers jnin in witnessing the starting Of
the numbering, intricate machinery Of
legislation. 10 DAY the weather was
propitiOus. The sun shone brilliantly
from a Gloudlcss sky, making glorious.
bright December day, with a tinge of
front in the mir to invigorate the lungs
| and breeze just strong enough to keep
the Stars and Stripes swapping from
| the ilaEHtatfs.
long before the hour for assembling,
the crowds hegan venting their way
TO the American acropolis. At the
| Capitol the crowds BwRrmed into the
corridors at an early hour, and choked
the marble HtepH as the spec tators
wendell their way 10 the galleries from
which they were 10 view the show. AZ
is usual OH such occasions, the reserved
galleries were carefully guarded on
both the House and Senate stiles, adj
mission being only by card. and the
public had great difficulty in wedging
itself into the limited space set aside
for it.
The Senate chamber, at tho opening
of the session, was veritablc con
servatory. 4 he floral display was un.
usually rich, and the ohor of flowers
was heavy. The Republican members
were well remembered with floral
presents. One Of the most notable of
the offerings, both for size and beauty,
was that presented to Mr.. Foraker of
Ohio. a magni licent tree of American
Beauty roses, set in stand of ever
green and ferns, from the Senator's
| q.
Half an hour before the Senate con-
vened the public and executive and
reserved galleries. were filled with
spectators, to witness the opening of
the session. The handsome costumes
of the women added much 10 the
brightness Of the scene.
Precisely at l2 o'clock the gavel OF
Vice President Hobart fell, and the
Senate was called TO order. The invo-
cation was delivered hy the Rev. W.
il. Milburn, he'chaplain He made d
beautiful and touching reference to our
"bcloved President, who awaited news
from the bedside Of tho mother tC
whom he is devoted, and prayed that
she might have peaceful passage &c
the celestial shore.
Seventy-seven Senators responded tc
their names on the roll call.
Tho venerable Mr.. Morrill, of Yer.
mont was first recognized by the Vice
President. He offered a resolution,
which was passed in the usual form,
that the secretary inform the House
that tho Senate was in session anC
ready TO proceed TO business.
Mr.. Allison of Iowa presented reso
luton that committee of two Sena
! tors be appointed to join like com
mittee from the House, to inform tht
President that Congress was in session
and prepared to receive any rom
muuication which he might desire II
: make to it. The resolution was passed
and the Vice. President named Senator,
Allison and German as the committee
BY resolution Of Mr.. Cullom O
Illinois, tho time Of the daily maet
ings of tho Senate was fixed at /:
. O'Clock, noon.
J In tho Senate the death OF Senate
George OF mississippi was announced
and adjournment was taken until mex
; day as mark of respect to his memory
The House adjourned until to-morrov
in respect to the memories of Senator
George of Mississippi and Representa-
tive Wright Of Massachusetts, who hal
died during the recess.
A bill was introduced 10 tho Hous
, by Mr.. Adamson of Georgia, to maxi
every postollce n money order office; Il
, keep every railway pustofiico open n
all times for the reception of mails, AM
for the establishment OF postofiice n
any point on a public road outside tn
limit of an incorporated communi.
whenever applied for by 25 citizens.
Representative Evans OF Kentuck
faith and credit OF the United State
TO tho payment In gold coin of certai
: Of its outstanding obligations; to th
(; maintenance at ibe par value in gold d
all previously coined silver dollars. an
i prohibiting the further coinage OF an
D silver dollar unless 1t shall contai
sufficient standard silver to make th
dollar, when coined, intrinsicall
worth par in gold.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE.
The House of Representatives pre-
Q sented an animated appearance Ion
J. before the hour Of noon arrived. TIL
Q surrounding corridors were filled wit
q jostling crowds. and before II o'coc
8 the galleries overlooking the floor wer
0 black with people. Chairman Hit q
Q the foreign affairs committee an
Chairman Walker of the banking an
currency committee, whose position
will probably bring them much int
, the public eye during the session, wer
/, early ON the floor, mingling with thei
% colleagues.
i The floral tributes for the momber
were numerous and, in some instances
imposing. The representation Of Il hug
gavel, in red and white carnations
y stood upon the Speakers table. Anon
IL others who were remembered wit
. floral offerings from adniiring friend
D were Mr. McAleer, Mr.. Dalzell, Nj
lIarmer and @, W. Stone.
At IL. 40 O'Clock the floor was clcare
of all persons except members an
\ officers. Soon afterward Mr.. Bailey {
70 Texas, the leader of the minority. an
Is "Silver Dollar" Bland of Missouri ci
n tpred thn hull tn1nthpr MIR ninuIo,