The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-12-16

d. I IpeHeu '3pr a. Tbo n0'h leadors dor
alil.ihSHshBiH and a very large ma
s..:+asssss .@s1z===--z-.-.4s.s jority of the men,
GsssvsSy77 9 sTir : ssissSs, bers of both houses
ES;fTs sfTs Il ! / ssit5sSS participated in the
li lil1 aEA y u @H-,,zs$S opening ceremonies,
-. - z1.sG-S = and President Nc
SN-E3TITTip X in ley made the
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that his absence might not delay the ma
tional legislature at its assembling. The
extra session robbed the opening of the
regular session of the excitement and in
terest which usually attach to it. AS
the House was completely organized at
the extra session, and all the committee
assignments were made then, beyond the
natural stimulus produced by the return
ing statesmen and the outlining of
schemes by members of the third house"
or lobby, Washington on the night preced-
ing the opening was tranquil.
The ceremonies attending the opening
of Congress, though comparatively of a
routine character. make q spectacle which
in some respects is regarded as the great
est official event of the year at the ma
tional capital Monday the weather was
propitious. The sun shone brilliantly
from cloudless sky, making glorious,
bright December day, with a tinge OF
frost in the air to invigorate the lungs and
breeze just strong enough to keen the
stars and stripes swapping from the hag-
staffs. AT the capitol the crowd swarm
ed into the corridors at an early hour and
choked the marble steps as they ascended
to the galleries from which they were to
view the show. As is usual on such occa-
siOns, the reserved galleries were careful
ly 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.
The Hall of Representatives presented
an animated appearance long before the
hour of noon arrived The surrounding
corridors were filled with jOstling, NOV
ing crowds. and before IL o'clock the en-
circiing galleries which overlooked the
floor were black with people. The hall
buzzed with the subdued hum of conver-
sation as the members exchanged greet
ings and chatted in groups.
The floral tributes for the members
were numerous and III some instances i'm
posing.
The program at the House Monday was
very simple. The House was called to
order by the Speaker, who. after the chap
lain's invocation. directed the Clerk to
call the roll. This having been accom-
plished, and the presence Of a quorum
demonstrated, the clerk was directed to
notify the Senate that the House was
ready for business, and n committee was
appointed to wait on the President. After
that there was Il recess to await the az
rival of the Presidents annual message,
which was read upon its reception and
was followed by an adjournment until
| Tuesday.
| 1t is the intention of the House leaders
to proceed with the business of the ses-
| sion as rapidly as possible. The commit
| tees will all begin their labors at once.
| The appropriations committee has been at
! work for ten days, and Chairman Cannon
expects to pass two of the regular budgets
| before the holidays.
Among the early general measures to re-
ceive consideration will be the bankruptcy
| bill. Whether it will be the Nelson bill,
| which passed the Senate at the last ses-
| sion, or a modification of the TOrrey bill
depends on the temper of the Judiciary
| Committee, which will submit the meas
ure to the House.
Beyond doubt there viii be several res
| olutions of inquiry during the first week
which may be more or less sensational.
and some of the radical pro-Cuba mem-
bers will attempt to get consideration for
a Cuban resolution before the Foreign
| Affairs Committee can act, but owing to
| the nature of the House rules all these
/ hasty efforts will prove abortive, and they
probably will take their regular course.
simultaneously with the fall of Speaker
Reeds gavel in the House, Vice Presi-
| dent Hobart called the Senate to order.
Half an hour before the Senate convened
the public and executive and reserved gal
| leries were filed with spectators to wit
ness the opening of the session. The hand
some costumes of the ladies added much
| to the brightness of the scene. The SEN
| ate chamber at the opening was verita-
BILE conservatory. The floral display was
unusually rich and beautiful, and the
odor of flowers was heavy in the hall.
| Seventy-seven Senators responded to
their names on the roll call.
The Senate to start with had a calendar
of about 800 bills reported from the COM
mittees during the special session. The
indications on the opening day were for n
little more activity than usual during the
| pre-holiday session. This is largely due
to the fact that the supporters of the ad-
ministration and advocates of annexation
| are very anxious to secure the earliest
| possible consideration cf the treaty with
| Hawaii. Senator Davis, chairman of the
Committee on Foreign Relations, an
nounced his purpose of pressing annexa-
| ton at the earliest possible moment. One
| po;nt which the committee will be called
| upon to decide is whether to proceed to
ratify the treaty of annexation or to an
| mex the islands by resolutions. The an
| nexationists have lost some votes during
| the vacation and there is now apprehen-
sion that the two-thirds vote necessary to
| assure the ratification cannot be secured.
Some members of the FOreigns Relati
| Committee who favor annexation advo-
| cate this course because they say they see
no reason for trayersing the same ground
twice. as they would be compelled to do in
case the matter should be first considered
in executive session, fail there, and then
be taken up in the form of resolution in
| open Senate and House.
Despite all opposition, it is not doubted
Hawaii will be brought under the stars
and stripes. No act of the American Con-
gress in many years past has attracted as
much attention throughout the world as
the annexation of a distant island is sure
to attract.
What Congress will do concerning THE
Presidents presentation of the State OF
our relations to Spain and Cuba only the
future can determine. Unless some turn
of events rouses public opinion and finds
response in Congress it may be regarded
as fairly certain the peace policy of the
President will be supported by both
houses of the national legislature. The
Presidents message, read between the
lines, does not indicate that he has aban-
doned Cuba, but rather that he hopes in
| thn fut11re To achieve the practical inle.