The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-06
GORGEOUS FLORAL DISPLAY
The Senate Chamber Made a Bower
of Beauty by Admirers of Senators

Washin gtOn. Dec c-6.-The senate cham
Der at the opening of the session today
was a Verftable conservatory. The
floral display was unusually rich and
beautiful, and the OdOr of flowers was
heavy in the hall
The Republican members We're par
ticularly 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 magnificent tree of American
beauty roses. set in stand OF ever
greens and ferns, from the senator's
Republican friends Columbus, o."
Among the senators who received flow
erS We're Mr.. Butler On. Co, a horse
shoe of roses; Mr.. Hansbrough, On.
Dak.). q basket of roses and lilies; Mr..
DebOe, (kentucky), roses; Mr.. Allison,
QOWa), roses; Mr. Cannon, (Utah), a
bunch of handsome roses Mr.. Smith,
(NeW Jersey, American beauty roses
and chrySanthemumS tied with pink
silk ribbons; Mr. r-McEnnery, LOuislana),
handsome crescent of pink roses; Mr.
ShOup, OdahO), baskets of fruits and
flowers; AIr. Perkins, (Calif.), a minia-
ture birch bark canoe with carnations
and a basket of roses and chrysanthe-
NUNS; Mr.. Proctor, (VermOnO, bunch
of roses; Mr.. Hawley, (Conn.), roses;
Mr. Nelson. (Ndinn.), chrySanthemunlS
and roses; Mr.. ThurstOn, (Neb.), hand
some jar of roses and ferns; Mr. Nal
lOry, (FlOrida), a stand of American
beauty and brides roses.
Half an hour before the senate con-
Vened the public, and executive and
reserved balleries were filled with spec
tators to witness the opening of the
session. The handsome costumes Of the
ladies added much to the brightness of
the scene. Precisely at u o'clock the
gaveI of Vice President Hobart fell
and the senate was called to order The
Invocation was delivered by Rev w
H. Milburn, the blind chaplain. S1e
made a beautiful and touching refer
ence to our beloved president who
awaited news from the bedside of the
he. n n Ia is
prayed that she might have a peaceful
passage to the celestial shore.
SeVenty-seVen senators responded to
their names on the roll call.
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont was first rec
Ognized by the vice president. He offer
ed a resolution, which was passed in
the usual form, that the secretary in
form the house that the senate was in
session and ready to proceed to busi-
ness.
Mr. Allison Iowa) presented a reso-
luton that a committee of two senators
be appointed to join a like committee
from the house to inform the president
that congress was in session and pre-
pared to receive any communication
which he might desire to make to it.
The resolution was passed and the vice
president named Senators Allison and
German (Maryland) as the senate com
mittee.
By resolution Of Mr. CulIom QlIfnois)
the time of daily meetings of the senate
was fixed at u o'clock noon. On mo-
7. J.
then taken until I o'clock.
At 1;3O the senate recOnvened and
the committee consisting of Mr- Allison
and Mr.. German reported through the
former. He said the committee with
like committee Of the house had waited
upon the president and informed him
that the two branches of congress were
in session and ready to receive from
him any message ne might desire to
present to them Mr.. Allison reported
that the president had Informed the
committee that he would Immediately
communicate with congress in writing
and he expressed the hope that the de-
nberatiOns of congress might result in
great good to the country and reflect
honor upon itself
The presidents message was then
presented by Mr. Pruden, the presi-
dents assistant secretary and was at
1:35 laid before the senate and read.
Senators gave the closest attention to
the reading of the message a majority
of them following it from printed cop
les. That part of it which dealt with
the Cuban question and outlined the
policy of the administration with ref
erence to that question was listened to
with particular attention
The reading of the message was con
cIuded at 2:50. The document was or
dered printed for the use of the senate
Mr. WalthaH (Afiss.) was recognized
and announced the death of his col
league, Hon. J. Z. George of NJ fssissip-
pl After lingering illness, Senator
George died at Mississippi City on the
14th of August last. BY his death said
Senator Walthau the state of Missis-
sippi lost its most useful and distin-
Su9shed citizen and this body one of
its most prominent and able members.
SENATE ADJOURNS.
Mr Walthall presented the usual res
olution of coincidence with the family Of
the deceased senator. The resolution
was adopted and as a further mark of
respect the senate adjourned until to-
morrow.