Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-07


Congressmen Dovener, Dorr and Miller
of the West Virginia delegation, were
in their seats when the House met TO-
day. CONGRESSMAN Dayton was absent
at Parsons on legal business. Some ad-
mirer had placed on Mr.. DORIS desk
big bunch of red roses.
The members of the delegation doh
anticipate a lively or important session.
and don't seem to think they Will get
many bills of West Virginia enacted
into law.
Both Senators Faulkner and Elklns
were in attendance at the Senate anu
were over-run with callers. senator
Faulkner said the annexation OF Hawai-
would be opposed with great determin-
alton and he was hopeful that it might
be defeated. He asserted that the hos
tilisv to annexation had increased ma
terial,y in the last few months. as 10
Cuba. he did not think there would De
any, acton by Congress at this session.
Washington. December 6.-At noon
to-day the first regular session OF the
Fsfty-ffth Congress was launched upon
tre unknown seas of legislation. Sim
ultaneously ct both ends of the capitol,
Sneaker Reed in the House, and Vice
President Hobart in the Senate, drop
ned heir gavels at IL o'clock and called
hnlipS
which they preside.
e ceremonies attending the open
ing OF a Congress, though comparative
" of a routine character, is spectacle
which in some respects is regarded as
the greatest official event of the year
at the national capital. To-day the
weather was propitious. The sun shone
brilliantly from a cloudless sky, making
a glorious bright December day with
lungs and a breeze just ssrone
enough to keep the stars and stripes
swapping from the fagstaffs. At the
capitol the crowd swarmed into the cor
rldors at an early hour and cloked the
marble steps as they assembled to the
galleries from which they were to view
the show. AS is usual on such coca
sions the 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,
TIE hall of Representatives present.
ed an animated appearance long before
the hour of noon arrived. The sur
rounding corridors were filled with
jostling, moving crowds and before IL
O'clock the encircling galleries which
overlook the floor were black with peo-
pie. The hall buzzed with the subdued
hum of conversation as the members
exchanged greetings and chatted in
groups. The leaders who were eagerly
pointed out from the galleries were as
usual slow in putting in their appear
ance. Statesmen, like ordinary NOR
tails, have an eye for dramatic effects.
Chairman Hit, of the Foreign Affairs
Committee, and Chairman Walker. OF
the Banking and Currency Committee.
whose positions viii probably bring
them much into the public eye durine
the session, were early on the floor
mingling with their colleagues.
TIE floral tributes for the members
were numerous and in some instances
imposing. One which attracted prob
ably more attention than any other on
account of its unique character. graced
The desk of Gen. Grosvenor, of Ohio.
u consisted of a huge tree of yellow
chrysanthemums and American beauty
roses under the nodding branches of
which stood an innocent-looking TOW
lamb. II was a tribute from the Ma
uoGal Woolgrawers' Association. Some
one discovered that under the admins
tratlon Of pressure to a portion of the
iamh's anatomy it would give forth
sound resembling bleat, and much
amusement and merriment followed
fais disclosure.
he representation of a huge eavel
Ii RED and white carnations stood upon
me Speakers table. Among Others
VINO were remembered with floral offer
,ngs were Gen. Wheeler, of Alabama:
Nj; Doven2r, of West Virginia; Mr.
oa'zeu, of Pennsylvania; Mr.. w. e.
Htone, OF Pennsylvania; Mr.. Henderson.
OF lo"a; Mr.. Lacey. of Iowa, and Mr.
layton, of West Virginia.
AT nfteen minutes before noon the
moor was cleared of all persons except
members. Soon afterward Mr.. Bailey.
OF Iexas, the leader of the minority.
ana Silver Dollar" Bland, of Missouri.
entered the hall together. Mr.. Ding
icy. the floor leader of the House,
smlllng and affable as ever. came in
Just before the Speaker appeared. AS
1he hands of the clock pointed to II.
speaker Reed, attired in a black cut
away coat and wearing red tie,
pushed through the green baize doors
rom the lobby and assembled the ros-
trum.-
One crack of the gavel subdued the
GIN on the floor and the conversation
4 II the overhanging galleries. The
EaVel with which the Speaker called
me House to order was presented 70
him by j. c. Groney. sheriff of Knox
county, Tennessee, who sent it in the
name OF the "Stalwart Republicans of
last Tennessee" 1t was formally
presented to the Speaker through II.
Clay Evans. the commissioner Of PEN
sions. The savel Is made Of apple
tree wood. which grew beside the Log