The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-07
CONGRESS CONVENES
in REGULAR SESSION.
Sunny Skies and Frosty Air prOpitiouS for tie
bling Of the Nations legislators. .S5I
UROA CROWDS OF interested Spectators HLL TH GA[IERES
Opening Of the Session Unattended by Any Incident
Unusual on Such OCCASIONS 5S.$s#SS
FLOWERS FOR SOrlE PROMINENT MEMBERS
Three Hundred and One Members Of the House Answer the
Roll Cal-New Members Sworn n--Cose Aten- s9
ton Given to the Reading Of the ssgs
Presidents Message. 5S#8
Opening Of the Session Unattended by Any Incident
Unusual Such Occasions S5ssSSsS
FLOWERS FOR
n sOFlE PROMINENT MEMBERS
Washington Dec. 6, 1897.

Washington Dec. 6, 1897.
At noon to-day the first regular ses-
sion of the Fifty-lifth Congress was
launched upon the unknown seas of
Legislation. simultaneously at both
ends OF the Capitol, Speaker Reed In the
House and ViceJPresident Hobart in the
Senate. dropped their gavcls and called
to order the respective bodies over
which they preside. The ceremony at
tending the opening of n Congress,
though comparatively Of routine char
actcr and usually devoid of dramatic
Incidents, except as 1t marks the formal
promulgntion OF the policies of the ad-
ministrnuion as outlined In the Pres
adents annual message is u spectacle
which In some respects Is regarded as
the greatest official event Of the year
ut the National Capitol All Washing
ton attends. High and dow, rich and
poor. white and black, foreign anrbas-
sad'or and street gamin, banker and
beggar, Cabinet officer and department
messenger join in witnessing the start
ing or the numbering, intricate machln-
cry OF Legislation. All roads on this day
lead to Capitol hill and the noble archl-
tectural structure which surmounts II
with dts classic outline and broad
spreading dome. To-day the weather
was Dropitlous.
The floral tributes for the members
were numerous and in some instances
Imposing. One, which attracted proba-
bly, more attention than any other on
account Of dts unique character, graced
the desk Of General Grosvenor, of Ohio.
1t consisted Of huge tree of yellow
chrysanthemums and American Beauty
Rises under the nodding branches OF
which stood an innocent looking TOW
lamb. 1T was n tribute from the Ma
'tional Wool Growers association a
huge ghVel In red and white carna-
tlons. stood upon the Speakers table
AT hfteen minutes before noon thc
f,oor was cleared of all persons eScnnt
members and officers Soon artnrword
Mr. Bailey, OF Texas, the leader of tbn
minority. and Silver Dollar" Bland,
of Missouri entered the hall together
Mr., Dlngley, the floor leader OF the
touse. smiling and affable as ever, came
IN Just before the Speaker appeared IIo
had difficulty In making his wnv ~ his
scat, owing TO the pressure of those
VINO desired to extend their s,renssInrs
As the hands of the clock potntad II
fhe hour Of IL. Speaker Reed. att,rod In
n MACK cutaway coat and wearing n red
,ie' pushed through the green hoisa
doors from the lobby and ascended III =
tust.u!h. ,. ~. one crack Of the gavel sub
versation in the overhangtnr gall ,.rinr
IN the deep silence which folIowod IN =
caring OF The assemb!age to or5ar tbe
prayer nf the eminent Enpltal, jI,.i,,e
the rev Charles a. Berry. OF NrnI,,a,
hampton, England, who delivered tho
iiroc"cioh' ,,,, was solemn and impressive
me speaker then immediately dircct. !.
Y" ''e eferk to call the roll. The roll
can showed the presence of 3o1 I,,aro
bers: There were five vacanctas fr.,,
aeath or resignation during tho reness
ana the credentinls of the mano ho,.
erect were read by the direction ne ~ I.
speaker. Who then administered NY
GA IN or office to them They We're u
"a: Grilhth lDem), successor TO the
n.e uuSe Hoiman, In the Fourth Gn-
u.ana) District; III. S. Boutella (Ren1
OF chicago, who succeeds Edward *
COOKE deceased; James Norton iDan, :,
or the seventh (South Carolinal ni.,
trict, VINO succeeds John l., Mel ami,
now Senator; George p. Iawrar,ns r ~.
Mep?, Of the First (Massa ch,,setts1 tts
ms' 1s.rict' VINO succeeds Ashley ii
Dem), Third New York; District we
succeeds Francis u. Wilson. tvbn VIZ ,a
signed to accept the position Of nos.
master of Brooklyn. post- p't
on motion Of Mr.. Hopkins (Ren1 of
Illinois. the clerk was directed to No.
NY the senate that the House was
ready for business, and on motion nf
MI Dingley, resolution was nno-taa
tnr the appointment Of a committee IF
ehree to join the committee of ltba
senate to wait on the President and
inform him that Congress was readv adv
tS TO receive any communication he de.
si,su sInssrs TO MAKE. MAKE. The Speaker selected
honor. !. 81 : IN - - ~ tc.s.' 80
On motion OF Mr.. Henderson. OF own.
member OF the Committee ON Rnies,E
the rule at the extra sess on for three
gay ao1ournmentsBSyya NJ ecat ed ana
were ordered.
There being nothing to@ do bur avn ii II