, 1897-12-07
OPENED.
THE FIRST DAY OF THE SESSION
DEVOTED TO HEARING
THE MESSAGE.
At the Conclusion Of the Reading 1t
Was Warmly Applauded-The
House Adjourns Immediately After
the Reading-The Galleries are
Packed With People to Witness
the Opening.

fifth congress was launched upon the
unknown seas Of legislation. Stimuli
taneously at both ends Of the capitol.
Speaker Reed in the house and Vice
President Hobart in the senate, drop,
ped their gavels and called to order the
side. The ceremony attending the
opening of a congress, though compare.
lively of a routine character, is a spec.
tacle which in some respects is regard.
ed as the greatest official event of the
year at the national capital Today the
weather was propitious The sun shone
brilliantly from a cloudless sky, max.
ing a gloriously bright December day,
with a tinge of frost in the air, to in.
vigorate the lungs and a breeze just
strong enough to keep the stars and
stripes swapping from the flagstaff. At
the capital the crowd swarmed into the
corridors at an early hour and choked
marble steps as they assembled to the
galleries from which they were to view
the show. AS is usual on such occa-
sions. and reserved galleries were care
fully guarded on both the house and
senate sides, admission being only by
card and the public had great difficulty
in wedging itself into the limited space
set aside for it.
IN THE SENATE.
The senate chamber at the opening
was a veritable conservatory. The for
al display was unusually rich and beau
tiful and the odor of flowers was heavy
in the hall.
The republican members were par
ticularly we'll 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 magnificent tree Of American
beauty roses, set in a stand Of ever
republican friends Of Columbus, Ohio"
Among the senator's who received
flowers YER Mr.. Butler, a horseshoe
of roses; Mr.. Hansborough, a basket of
roses and lilies; Mr.. Deboe of Ken
lucky, roses; Mr.. Allis IN of Iowa, roses;
Mr.. Cannon of Utah, a bunch Of hand.
some roses; Mr.. Smith Of New Jersey,
American beauty roses and chrysan-
themums, tied with pink ribbons; Mr..
McEnery of Louisiana, a handsome
crescent Of pink roses; Mr.. Shoup OF
Idaho. basket of fruits and flowers; Mr.,
Perkins Of California, a birch bark
canoe filled with carnations and a
basket of roses and chrysanthemums;
Mr.. Proctor of Vermont, lunches OF
roses; Mr.. Hawley of Connecticut roses;
Mr.. Nelson OF Minnesota. ~chrysanthe-
NUNS; Mr. hurston of Nebraska, hand
some jar OF roses and ferns; Mr.. Nal
lory Of Florida. stand of American
beauty and bride roses.
Half an hour before the senate con'
vened the public and executive and re-
served galleries were filled with spec
tators to witness the opening Of the
session. The handsome costumes OF
the ladies added much to the bright,
ness of the scene.
Precisely at II o'clock the gavel OF
Vice President Hobart fell and the sen,
ate was called to order. The invocation
was delivered by Rev. w. H. Milburn
the blind chaplain. He made a beauti-
full and touching reference to " our be,
loved president, who awaited news from
the bedside of his mother, to whom he
is devoted, and prayed that she NIGH
have a peaceful passage to the terres'
trial shore"
Seventy-seven senators responded tt
their names on the roll call.
The venerable Mr.. Morrill, Of Vernon
was first recognized by the vice presl
dent He offered a resolution, which
was passed in the usual form, that thu
secretary inform the house that the
senate was in session and ready t.
proceed to business.
Mr.. Allison presented a resolution
that a committee Of two senator's b,
Appointed to join a like committee from
the house to inform the president tina
congress was in session and prepared
to receive any communication which
he nigh. desire to make to it.
The resolution was passed and tn,
vice president named Senators Allison
and Borman as the senate committee
By resolution Of Mr.. Cullom the tim,
Of daily meetings Of the senate wa,
fixed at IL O'Clock noon. On motion O
Mr.. Hale q recess was then taken unit
l O'Clock.
At 1870 o'clock the senate reassem
bled and the committee, headed by MI
Allison. reported. He said a like com
mittee from the house had waited upol
the president and informed him that tn
branches Of congress were in session
and were ready. to receive from hin
any message he might desire to present
MI. Allison said that the presiden
would communicate to congress II
writing and he expressed the hope tina