The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-12-09
House PROCEEDINGS.

Washington, Dec. 6.-The hall of rem.
resentatives presented an animated an.
pearance long before the hour of noon
arrived. The surrounding corridors were
hlled with jostling, moving crowds and
before IL o'clock the encircling galleries
which overlooked the floor were black
with people.
The hall buzzed with the subdued hum
OF conversation as the members ex-
changed greetings and chatted in groups
=. AS the hands of the clock pointed to IL
Speaker Reed, attired in black cutaway
coat and wearing a red tie pushed
through the green baize doors from the
lobbies and assembled the rostrum
One crack of the gavel subdued the din
on the floor and the conversation in the
overhanging galleries.
In the deep silence which followed the
calling of the assembly 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 directed
| the clerk to call the roll, and this con-
sumed half hour.
The roll call showed the presence of
3O1 members. There were five vacancies
from death or resignation during the re-
cess, and the credentials of the members
elect were read by direction of the speak
er,. who then administered the oath of
office to them. They were r. NJ. Grit
| fifth (dem.), successor to the late Judge
Holman. in the Fourth Indiana district:
III. 5. Boutell (rep.l of Chicago. who sue
Geeded Edward d. Cooke, deceased;
James Norton (dem.) of the Seventh
South Carolina district, who succeeded
| John IL. McLaurin, now senator;
| George p. Lawrence (rep.) of the First
| Massachusetts district. who succeeded
Ashley B. Wright. deceased; j. n
| Griggs (dem.) of the Third New York
district. who succeeded Francis w. Will
son, who resigned to accept the position
, of postmaster at Brooklyn.
| The latter's credentials had not yet ar.
rived, but the oath was administered to
him by unanimous consent.
On motion of Mr.. Hopkins (rep) of
| Illinois. the clerk was directed to notify
the senate that the house was ready fol-
business and on motion of Mr.. Dingley
the floor leader. a resolution was adopted
for the appointment of n committee OF
| three to Join the senate committee t.
wait on the president and inform hin
that congress was ready to receive an!
communication he desired to make.
The speaker selected Messrs. Dinglcy
of Maine. Grosvenor of Ohio and Bailey
| of Texas for this honor.
On motion of Mr.. Henderson of Iowa
| q member of the committee on rules, the
rule at the extra session for Friday adj
| jOurnments was vacated and daily SEES
sions, to begin at noon each day, was
| ordered.
There being nothing to do but await
the reception of the presidents message,
the house then recessed until 1:20 p. m.
When the house recOnvened another re-
e ~, nab 0p1nr
When the house reconvened at 1:40,
the committee appointed to wait on the
president came down the central aisle
and Mr.. Dingley reported that the com
mittee had performed its mission.
"The president" said he, "was pleased
to send to the two houses his respectful
salutations and to inform them that he
would communicate his recommendations
in writing"
Mr.. Pruden who had followed the COM
mittee into the hall, Immediately present
ed the message of the president, when
by the direction of Speaker Reed was
read at the clerks desk.
The message was listened to with great
earnestness. particularly the portions
dealing with the question of revising our
currency legislation and with the attitude
toward Cuba.
The presidents utterances on both sub
iects seemed to impress the members
deeply. but there was no demonstration
of any any kind until the conclusion, when
the republicans Joined in sharp round
of applause. The reading consumed an
hour and twenty minutes.
On motion of Mr.. Dingley. the mes
sage was referred to fle committee OF
the whole and ordered printed. Mr.. lay
renee (rep) of MASSACHUSETTS, then ofh-
cially announced the death of his prede-
cessor. the late Representative wright
and Mr.. Allen (dem.) of Mississippi, tne
death of Senator George. Ont OF res1e tol
IN their memories, the house then at 800
n. M, adjourned until tomorrow.