The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-12-08
CONGRESS- IN SESSION
Lawmakers Of Country Meet
at Washington.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE BEAD

ha1!oCy OK SiortGS aud 6UCier OF -'oFIH
CsroIina Among tho Senators to Eecei.e
Flowers-OnIy Routine Business Trans
acted Oh the First Day.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Cat noon the
first regular session Of the Fifty. hish
congress was launched upon the un.
known seas Of legislation. Simultane-
orsly at both ends Of the capitol.
Speaker Reed, in the house, and Vice
President Hobart, in the senate. dropped
their gavels and called to order the re-
spective bodies over which they preside.
The ceremonies attending the opening
OF congress, though comparatively OF
routine character, is spectacle which
in some respects is regarded as the
greatest official event Of the year at the
national capitol
The weather was p,opitious. The
sun sbone brilliantly from cloudless
sky, making glorious bright dry day,
with tinge of frost in the air to lnvlg
crate the lungs and breeze just STRONG
enough to keep the stsss and stripes
swapping from the 6agstaIfs.
At the capitol the crowd swafmed
into the corridors at an early hour ana
choked the marble steps as they as
cended to the galleries from which they
were to review the show. As Is usual
on such occasions. the reserved gale
ries were carefully guarded on both
the house and senate side. admission
being only by card. and the public
had great difficulty in wedglng Itself
into the limited space set aside for 1t.
House cslled to Order.
In the deep silence which followed
ehe calling of the house to order, the
prayer of the eminent English divine.
Rev. Charles A. Berry of Wolverhamp-
ton, England. who delivered the invo-
cation, was solemn and impressive.
The speaker then directed the clerk
to call the roll and this consumed half
an hour.
The rollcan showed the presence Of
S0l members. There were five yacan-
cies from death or resignation during
the recess and the credentials OF the
members elect were read by direction
Of the speaker, who then administered
oath of Office to them
They were F. NJ Griffith (Dem. sue
cessor to the late Judge Holman III the
Fourth Indiana district; 4 S. Boutell
(Rep. of Chicago. who succeeded Ed
ward D. Cook. deceased; James Nor
ton Dem Of the Seventh South Caro-
lima district, who succeeded John Nc
Laurin, now senator; George P. Law
renee {Rep. Of the First Massachusetts,
district, who succeeded Ashley B.
Wrighe, deceased, and J. n. Grlggs
(Dem. Of the Third New York district.
who succeeded Francis Q. Wilson. who
resigned to accept the position Of post
master at Brooklyn.
The latter's credentials had not yes
arrived. but the oath was administered
so him by unanimous consent
On motion Of Mr.. Hopkins (Rep,
Ills. the clerk was directed to notify
the senate that the house was ready for
business and on motion of MIR. Dingley.
the floor leader, 8 resolution was
adopted for the appointments of COM
mittee of three to join the committee Of
the senate to wait on the president and
inform him that congress was ready to
receive any communication he desired
to make. The speaker selected Messrs.
Dingley, Grosyenor and Bailey for this
homer.
There being nothing to do but await
thereception Of the presidents message, i
the house then recessed until l:2O p. N.
House Hears Message.
When the house reconveued another
recess Of 20 minutes was ordered.
When the house reconvened at 1:4O,
the committee appointed to wait upon
the president came down the central
aisle and Mr. Dineley reported that the
committee hadperformed its mission
.sThe president, said he. was pleased
to send to the two houses his respectful |
salutations and to inform them that he
would communicate in writing.
Mr.. Pruden, who had followed the
committee into. the hall, Immediately
presented the message of the president,
which by the direction Of Speaker Reed
was read at the clerks desk.
Flowers For Senators.
The senate chamber at the opening
of the session was a veritabie floral con-
servatory. The floral display was uu-
usually beautiful and the odor OF fow-
ers was>heavy in the hall Among the
senators who received flowers were Mr.:
Butler, (Rep., N. O. horseshoe OF
roses. and Dir. Mallory, (Dem-, Fla a
stand of American beauty and brides
roses.
Half an hour before the senate con.
Yeued the public and executives re-
Served galleries were filed with specta-
tors to witness the opening of the ses-
sion The handsome costumes OF the
ladies added much to the brightness OF I
the scene. +
Precisely at 12 o'clock the gaval OF
Vice President Hobart fell and the sen.
ate was called to order. The invocation
was delivered by Rev. W. H Milburn, |
the blind chaplain. He made beauti-
ful and touching reference to ''our dear |
beloved president" who awaited news |
from the bedside Of the mother to whom
he is devoted, and prayed that she
might have a peaceful passage to the
celestial shore.
Seyenty-seven senators responded to
their names on the rollcall,
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont was first
recognized by the vice president. He
offered resolution, which was passed,
that the secretary inform the house
thas the senate was in session and ready
to proceed to business.
Mr.. Allison Of Iowa presented reso-
lution that 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 as the senate committee.
On motion Of Mr.. Hall q recess was
taken until O'Clock. -
The Message Read.
At 1:30 the senate reconvened and the
committee consisting Of Mr.. Allison
and Mr. German reported through the
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