The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-12-11
CONGRESS IN SESSION.
The National Legislature Gets Down
90 business.

appearance iohE btAOlt NHt nun VI
noon arrived. The surrounding cor
ridors were filed with jostling, moving
crowds and before IL o'clock the en-
circling galleries which overlooked the
floor were black with people. The
floral tributes for the members were
numerous, and, in some instances, inn
posing.
AS the hands Of the clock pointed TO
! 12 Speaker Reed, attired in a black cut
away coat and wearing a red tie,
pushed through the green baize doors
from the lobby and ascended the ros-
trum.
In the deep silence which followed
the calling Of the assemblage 70 or
der the prayer Of the eminent divine,
Charles a. Berry, Of Weayerhampton,
England, who delivered the invocation,
was solemn and impressive.
The speaker then Immediately direct
ed the clerk 20 call the roll, and this con
sumed half am hour.
The roll call showed the presence Of
s01 members. There were five yacan-
cies from death or resignation during
I the recess. and the credentials OF the
members-elect were read by the direc-
tion Of the speaker. who then admins
\ tered the oath OF Office TO them. They
were: i. NJ, Griffith (dem,), successor
to the late Judge Holman in the Fourth
Indiana districts; II. s. Boutelle (rep6
\ Of Chicago, who succeeded Edward d.
\ Cooke. deceased; james Norton (dem.),
Of the Seventh South Carolina district,
who succeeded John l.. McLaurin, now
D senator; George p. Lawrence (rep.).
I OF the First Massachusetts, district
who succeeded Ashley 3. Wright, de-
I ceased. and j. n. Grggs (dem.), of the
\ Third New York district, who succeed
\ ed Francis Z. Wilson, who resigned to
accept the position Of postmaster at
\ Brooklyn. The latter's credentials had
not yet arrived, but the oath of Office
was administered 20 him by unanimous
consent. On motion OF Mr.. HoplIins
/ (rep., I'D the clerk was directed 20 mott.
\ fy the senate that the house was ready
/ for business, and on motion OF Mr.. Ding
/ ley, the floor leader, a resolution was
adopted for the appointment Of a COM
mittee Of three TO join the committee Of
\ the senate 10 wait on the president and
/ inform him that congress was ready
/ TO receive any communication he de-
sired 10 make. The speaker selected
/ Mcssrs. Dingley (Me.), Grosvenor (O.)
and Bailey CTex.) for this honor.
When the house reconvened at 1870 p.
IN. the committee appointed TO wait on
7 the president came down the center
aisle and Mr.. Dingley reported that the
committee had performed its mission.
I Mr.. Pruden. who had followed the
/ committee into the hall, Immediately
presented the message to the president,
| which, 10y the direction Of Speaker
I Reed. was read at the clerks desk.
On motion OF Mr.. Dingley The mes
sage was referred 20 the committee OF
the whole and ordered printed. Mr.
Lawrence (rep., Mass.) then officially
announced tie death Of his predecessor.
the late Representative Wright, and
Mr. Allen (dem., Miss) the death of
Senator George Out Of respect 20 their
memories the house Then, at 1905 p. M,
adjourned until to-day.
Washington, Dec. THE senate
chamber at the opening Of the session
was a yeritable conservatory. The flor
al display was unusually rich and
beautiful and the odor Of flowers was
heavy In the hall. Precisely at IL
o'clock the gavel of Vice President IIo-
bart fell and the senate was called TO
order. The invocation was delivered
by Rev. W. II. Milburn, the blind chap
lain.
Seyenty-seven senators responded TO
their names on the roll call. The ven
cradle Senator Morrill,, Of Vermont, was
first recognized by the vice president.
He offered q resolution, which was
passed in the usual form, that the Sec
rotary inform the house that the senate
was in session and ready to proceed to
business.
Senator Allison Qa) presented
resolution that a committee OF two
senators be appointed 10 join a like
committee from the house TO inform
the president that congress was in
session and prepared 20 receive any
communication which he might desire
to make 10 Il. The resolution was
RA+AaNh hAiN tAN WV IfANFiNAAAN AiAtAA'A
Senators Allison and German (Md) as
the senate committee.
At 1890 the senate recouvened and the
committee consisting OF Senators AL
lson and German reported through the
former. The presidents message was
presented by Mr.. Pruden, the presi-
dents assistant secretary, and was at
1875 laid before the senate and read.
Senators gave the closest attention 10
the reading Of the message, majority
Of them following It from printed cop
les with which they bad been supplied.
The reading Of the message was con-
cluded AZ 1850. The document was or
dered printed for the use Of the SEN
ate.
Senator Walthall (Miss.) was recog-
nized and announced the death Of his
colleague, Hon. James =. George. OF Mis-