Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-05
IN SENATE CHAMBER.
PROCEEDINGS Connected WITH
THE INAUGURATION.
MESSRS STEVENSON AND HOBART
Speeches OF the Out-Going md In
coming -Presidents-Proces-
the CapitoI--Interesting Details.

|
The Senate met at s A. NJ. the time un-
| III which a recess was taken. The sun
was shining in a cloudless sky, giving
assurance Of splendid weather for the
| Inauguration. Admittance to the north
wing of the Capitol was obtained only
through the presentation at one Of the
outer doors Of a card emitting the
/ bearer to entrance; and as those cards
were restricted to newspaper-men and
others whose business required their
| presence in the Senate wing, very few
could avail themselves OF the privilege
/ The Senate chamber had been complete
| ly metamorphosed during the three hours
OF the recess. The heavy. dark-red, mo-
! rOcco-covered chairs OF the senators had
all been removed, and had been replaced
| by three or four times the same number
Of small, ash chairs. some cane-bottomed,
but most Of them wood-bottomed, placed
closely together. and filling all the
! angles Of the room. Only inside Of the
| front row of desks were some dozen
large armchairs, designed for the use
| of the dignitaries who were to take part
in the ceremonies Of the day. Every
| spectator was excluded from the galleries
| while the finishing touches were being
| given 10 the arrangements Of the floor.
The recess was extended, If mot by con-
| sent at least by the non-appearance Of
| any senator's. until $50. At that time
| Senator Carter took the chair as pre-
| siding officer called to order the Senate,
| in the person Of Senator Stewart, who
was engaged in looking over the morn
| ing newspapers, and on whose motion
the recess was extended till A. NJ.
When this action was taken the only
| other persons in the chamber besides
these two senators, were the Journal
| Clerk. the Chief Clerk, Mr.. Shuey, the
| official stenographer; the assistant door
| keepers and a dozen young pages.
| When the Senate really did reconvene the
| only necessary business remaining un-
disposed Of was the conference report
on the deficiency bill, which had not yet
been presented. No action had been
| taken. or was likely to be taken. on the
| Presidents veto Of the immigration bill.
! At A. NJ. the chair was again taken
by Mr. Carter, and one Of the House
clerks appeared with the sundry civil
| appropriation bill. signed by the Speaker
and requiring the signature Of the Vice
| President This was promptly obtained
| and the bill sent TO the President for
l
| his action.
At 9:40 Mr.. Hale presented the confer
! ence report on the general deficiency bill.
| 1t merely gave the amendments by num-
| Der on which agreement had been reached
| and Of those on which the Conference
| Committee had been unable 10 agree
| The latter We're more numerous than
the former. The report was agreed to-
| but the usual request for further con-
& rrrf1I
| fail 10 become a law)
THE RUSH OF SPECTATORS.
The gallery doors were not opened un-
| til 10 o'clock. and then the crowds who
| had been waiting, with tickets of admis-
sion, flowed in, and soop every seat was
/ occupied except in I've section reserved
for the diplomatic corps and for the fami-
/ lies Of senator's.
About this time Mr. Carter vacated
the chair. and Vice-Presdent Stevenson
occupied H. After a littles while. how
ever. he yielded II 10 Mr. Hoar, when
resolution was offered by Mr.. Morrill,
| and was unanimously adopted rendering
10 the Vice President the thanks OF the
| Senate for the "dignihed. impartial and
courteous" manner In which he had pre-
sided over the deliberations Of the Sem
ate. A resolution to the same effect was
| Frye. as President pro tenn, the terms
used being courteous. dignihed. and
able"
At half-past 10 a message was re-
ceived from the House. stating that that
body had agreed to the Senate amend
ments 10 the labor-commission bill Mr.
Hoar offered an amendment. which was
agreed TO, for the appointment Of a
committee OF two senators. TO join "A
Ike committee on the part Of the House
to wait on the President Of the United
States and inform him that both houses,
having concluded the business OF the
present session. We're ready 10 adjourn
unless he should have some further com
munication to make. Senators Hoar
and Brlce were appointed on the part Of
the Senate.
THE DIPLOMATS.
At 1f.45. the Assistant Doorkeeper. Mr..
Stewart. announced the ambassadors Of
foreign countries" The Vice-Presdent,
senators. and spectators arose and re-
mained standing while the four ambas-
sadors from Great Britain, France Ger
many. and Italy walked down the main
aisle made profound bows 10 the Vice
President. and took seats adjoining those
reserved for the President and Vice
President-elect. That was Immediately
followed by the announcement, "The
ministers of foreign countries" and the
same ceremony was observed as the
ministers entered and took seats behind
the chairs reserved for the Chief Justice
and Associate Justices of the United
States. The ambassadors and ministers
were resplendent I'm their uniforms.
sasbes and decorations. Next to enter
were the Chief Justice and Associate JUS
tices of the Supreme Court Of the United
States I'm their black silk robes. They
occupied chairs within the area In front
of the Presidents desk. They were
attended bv the Clerk Of the Court. who
held a eiIt-bound copy of the Bible in
quarto size. on which the oath Of office
was 10 be administered 10 the new Presi-
dent.
Exactly on the strok5 OF IL the Speaker
and members of the House were an
nounced. and the same ceremony was
observed as Speaker Reed and the men,
bers in his train were taking their seats
I'm the right-hand section OF the hall.
Speaker Reed took his seat beside ana TO
the left of Vice-P President Stevenson.
AT 1215 Mr. .HOar reported that the
committee TO wait on the President had
nerformed that duty. and had been re
auested bv the President TO extend his
concentrations TO Congress and the
country. and that he haQ no further com
munication to make.
AS soon as that report was made, the
Vice-President-elect was announced. and
AN stood up while Mr.. Hobart walked
down the aisle 10 the Nice-Presidents
desk and took a chair reserved for him
TO the right Of Tice-President Stevenson.
AT 1926 the President and President
elect were announced; and the vast as
semblage stood while Mr.. Cleveland and
Mr.. Mckinley walked slowly up the main
aisle and took the seats reserved for
them. Finally. all We're seated Presi-
dent Cleveland and President-elect Nc
Kinley on the two central chairs i'm front
of the Vice-President with their backs
10 the Clerks desk, and their faces
turned 10 the South. The Vice-President
then called upon the Vice-Presdent-elect