Birmingham state herald., 1897-03-06
THE CABINET CONFIRMED Bliss the Only One to Meet Op-
 position. MARCUS ALONZO HANNA Of Cayuga County, Ohio, the Able Lieutenant
 of the Major, DoNS A SENATORIAL T0GA With Foraker He Faces the Vice-President and Takes the Oath-Floral Offer
 ings from Labor to Pennsy1-
 vania's Senators.
D0NS A SENATORIAL T0GA

Washington, March 5.---The proceedings of the first session of the Fifty fifth con- gress were witnessed today by a very large assemblage of spectators in the gal leries of the senate chamber, the senate being today without the legislative part nership of the house of representatives which body will remain in a state of sus- pended animation until called into re- newed existence on the first day of the extraordinary session soon to be con- vened by President Mckinley.
 The republican side of the chamber looked as though the contents of a con- servatory had been deposited in it.
 Magnificent floral offerings had been placed on the desks of numerous sena- tors who had taken the oath of office yesterday as we'll as on that of Vice President Hobart. Among the senators so distinguished were Foraker, of Ohio Spencer, of Wisconsin; Penrose, of Penn sylvania; Platt, of New York; and Fair banks, of Indiana.
 The democratic side of the chamber was free from such offerings. Senator Wolcott, (rep. of Colorado), back from his European travel in furtherance of an 1nterna tional monetary conference, was in his place and received greetings from his associates.
 AS soon as the journal of yesterdays formal meeting was read the new senator from Ohio, MT. Foraker, rose and pre- sented the credentials of MT. Hanna as successor to MT. sherman, resigned. The credentials were read They were dated at Columbus O., March 5. 1897, and recite that by reason of the resignation of MT. Sherman as senator from the state of Ohio, there is a vacancy which 0he legislature not being in session), the gov ernor is authorized to fill. he has appoint ed Marcus Alonzo Hanna, of Cayuga county, Ohio, to fill it from today until a successor be elected and qualified"
 The credentials having been read, Vice. President Hobart invited MT. Hanna to come forward and take the oath of office. Together the two republican senators from Ohio, who take the places of Sena- tors Brice and Sherman, walked to the Vice-president's desk, where the oath was duly administered to Hanna, after a round of handclapping in the galleries and then Senators Foraker and Hanna took their seats, not together, but at some distance apart. @
 Ths, next stage in the proceedings of the day was the appointment of @ committee of two senators, Allison, of Iowa, and German, of Maryland, to wait upon the president of the United States and in- form him that quorum of the senate is assembled and that the senate is ready to receive any communication he may de- sire to make The next stage was the adoption of a resolution, offered by Fre, republican, of Maine directing that until otherwise ordered, MT, Davis, republican, of Minnesota, be acting chairman of the committee on foreign relations, the chair manship having been vacated through the retirement of Sherman.
 And then recess was taken until 12:45. During the recess large artistic struc- ture of flowers in which the national flag was figured out was placed on the desk of MT. Quay, republican, of Pennsylva- nia, with card showing it to be the of- fering of '"The Bourgeoise and the Men in BlouSes" The flowers which had been previously placed on the desk of MT. Camerons successor, MT. Penrose, were from the 'sLabor Union" and figured out the emblem of labor, ths brawny upIifted arm of the worker.
 When the recess ended and the senate was again called to order Senators AL 9ison and German made their r=port that they had waited upon the president of the United States and that the president had sent his kindly greeting to the sen ate" and informed them tha; he would at once communicate with them in writing. The report had no sooner been made than the presidents promise was fulfilled. Mr.. Prllden, of his secretaries, appe airing and delivering "sundry message in writing"
 Thereupon, at 12:30, the senate, on mo- tlon of MT. Hale, republican, of Maine, proceeded to the consideration of execu- tive business and at 2;37 D. m. adjourned until Monday.
 The length of the executive session led to the rumor that contest was being made against the confirma ton of at least two of the members of the cabinet, se- lected by President Mckinley Rumor had it that the opposition was aimed at Mir McKenna, selected for the attorney generalship. and MT Alger, for secretary of war.
 Tha 1elav 1yae ,,nucuaI rrl,a ,,or,;oo tlon of Mir Sherman was confirmed im- media tely without the formality of a. reference to the committee. While this Is not the invarlable rule, it is generally extended ex-senators as an act of cour- tesy. The rule has been proved in the past. however, by several marked ex- captions. It was suggested privately on the floor that the whole cabinet be at once confirmed; but this was not done, for had such action been taken the com pliment intended for MT. sherman would not have been compliment at all.
 All the other nominations were referred to the various committees which al once met in the cloak rooms adjoining the chamber, and after an informal discus sion of the nominations, made favorable reports in each case.
 MT. Teller addressed thu senate briefly He said he did not want to oppose any selection MT. Mckinley had made. He recognized the fact that the ca binet was the family of the executive, and the pres ident ought not to be hampereq by the senate in the choice of his cabinet.
 But he did oppose the confirmation of Mn Bliss.
 MT Teller emphasized the fact that he did not criticise the nomination of MT. Bliss on personal grounds. He held MT. Bliss to be man of affairs who had been successful and was held high in the esteem of his felloY men. He did not doubt but that Mr Bliss would bring f6 the office all his business and executive ability. The interior department was one of the most important In the government, and particularly those of the great west The secretary annually made more im- portant decisions involving property than did the supreme, court of the United States The head of this great depart