The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-07
Formal Opening of the Sen
ate and House.
THRONGS AT THE CAPITOL
UNIQUE FLORAL OFFERINGS TO
GROSVENOR AND FORAKER.
HANNA, WOLCoTT AND OiNG.5Y GREETED
Marks of Respects 10 the Late Senator George
and Deceased Members Chaplain NIIburn's
Touching Prayer Close Attention to
Presidents Message.
Presidents Message.

Touching Prayer Close Attention to
Presidents Message.
Washington, ID. c., Dee. Cat noon
to-day the first regular session of the
Fifty-fifth Congress was launched upon
the unknown seas of legislation. Stimuli
taneously at both ends of the capitol
Speaker Reed, in the House and wee
President Hobart in the Senate. dropped
their gayels and called TO order the
respective bodies over which they pre-
side. The ceremony attending the open
ing of a Congress, though comparative
ly of a routine character and usually
devoid of dramatic incident, except as
it marks the formal promulgat OF
the policies of the administration as OUT
lined in the Presidents annual message,
Is spectacle which, in some respects,
ls regarded as the greatest Official event
Of the year at the national capltol. All
Washington attends. Hlgn ana low,
rich and poor, white and black, foreign
ambassador and street gamin, banker
and beggar, cabinet officer and depart
ment messenger join in witnessing the
starting of the numbering, intricate ma
ehinery of legislation. All roads on
noble architectural structure which sur
mounts it with its classic outlines and
broad spreading dome. To-day the
weather was propitious. The sun shone
brilliantly from a cloudless sky, making
q glorious bright December day with
tinge of frost in the air to inyigorate
the lungs and a breeze just strong
enough TO keep the stars and stripes
mapping from the fagstaffs.
Long before the hour for the assem-
bling the crowds began vending their
way to the American acrOpolis. AS
a sort of quasi official function, the
representatives of the foreign goyen-
ments, the social leaders and every body
who is anybody in Washington goes
thither on this day. The elegant equip
ages of the notables, many of them
emblazoned with coats of arms, with
Gveried footmen on the boxes and
drawn by prancing horses, with silver
mounted trappings and jingling chains,
added tone to the occasion as they
dashed up the broad avenue. At the
capitol the crowd swarmed 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 usausal on such Oc-
casions 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.
No unusual incident marked the open
ing of the House. The formalities at
tending the Inauguration of the session
are dry and, except as spectacle,
hardly repaid the crowds which throng
ed the public and private galleries. Yet
with few exceptions the visitors sat
through the whole proceedings.
The 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 it's unique character, graced
the desk Of Gen. Grosvenor, OF Ohio. 1t
consisted of a huge tree of yellow chry-
santhemums and American beauty roses,
under the nodding branches of which
stood an innocent looking toy lamb. 1t
was tribute from the National Wool
Growers Association.
A huge gavel, in red and white car
nations, stood upon the Speakers table.
At fifteen minutes before noon the
6Oor was cleared of all persons, except
members and officers. Soon afterward
Mr.. Bailey, Of Texas, the leader OF the
minority, and 'Silver Dollar" Bland, of
Missouri, entered the hall together. Mr..
Dingley, the floor leader Of the House,
smiling and affable as ever, came in
Just before the Speaker appeared. de
had difficulty in making his way to his
seat. owing to the pressure of those who
desired to attend their greetings. AS
the hands of the clock pointed to the
hour of II, Speaker Reed, attired in a
black cutaway coat and wearing a red
tie, pushed through the green baize
doors from the lobby and ascended the
rOStrum.
One crack Of the gavel subdued the din
on the floor and the conversation in the
Oyer-hanging galleries. The gavel with
which the Speaker called the House to
order was presented to him by j. g..
Groner, Sheriff of Knox county, Ten
nessee, who sent it in the name of the
"Stalwart Republicans of East Tennes-
see."
The gavel is made OF apple tree wood
which grew beside the log house in which
Farragaut was born. This house stood
at Loves Ferry, on the Tennessee riy-
er, six miles below Knoxville.
In the deep silence which followed the
calling OF the .assemblage to order, the
prayer Of the eminent English divine,
Rev. Charles A. Berry, OF Wolverhamp-
ton, England, who delivered the invoca-
ton, was solemn and impressive.
The Speaker then Immediately direct
ed the clerk 10 call the roll.
The roli-caIl showed the presence OF
801 members. There were five yacan.
cies from death or resignation during