The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-07
NO SEMBLANCE OF
DRAMATIC EFFECT
Hall of Representatives Presented
an Animated Appearance.
Exchange of Greetings In the Senate
Flowers For Senator Cannon
Arrival of Leaders In the House
Roll Call = Galleries Crowded
With Visitors = Reading of the
Message-Little Business Done
Adjournment Till Today.

Washington, Dec. 6.-At noon today
the first regular session of the Fifty
fifth congress was launched upon the
unknown sea of legislation. Stimuli
taneous at both ends of the capitol
Speaker Reed, in the house, and Vice
President Hobart in the senate,
dropped their gavels and called to or
der the bodies over which they pre-
side.
The sun shone brilliantly from a
cloudless sky, making "a glorious bright
December day, with tinge of frost in
the air to invigorate the lungs, and
breeze just strong enough to keep the
stars ard stripes swapping from the
fagstaffs.
AT the capitol the crowds swarmed
into the corridors at an early hour, and
choked the marble steps as they as
cended to the galleries from which they
were to view the show. AS is usual on
such occasions, the reserved galleries
were carefully guarded, admission be-
ing only by card, and the public had
great difficulty in wedginG itself into
the limited space set aside for it.
LOWER HOUSE.
The house OF representatives pre-
scented an animated appearance long
before the arrival of the hour of noon.
The surrounding corridors were filled
with jostling, moving crowds, and be-
fore IL every one of the encircling gal
| leries which overlook the floor were
black with people.
| The hal! buzzed with the subdued
murmured tones of conversation, The
| members who were pointed out from
/ the galleries, were slow in putting in
/ their appearance. Statesmen, like or
! binary mortals, have an eye for dra-
matte effects.
Chairman Hit, of the foreign rela-
lions committee, and Chairman Waller,
| of the banking and currency comTnlt-
tee, whose positions Will bring them
into the public eye during the session,
were early on the floor, mingling with
! their colleagues
FLORAL TRIBUTES.
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 General GrOsvenor of Ohio.
! 1t consisted of a huge tree of yellow
chrysanthemums and American beauty
| roses, under the holding branches OF
which stood an innocent looking toy
| lamb. 1t was q tribute from the Ma
! tional Wool Growers association. Some
one discovered that under the admins
tration of pressure to d portion of the
lambs anatomy, it would give forth
sound resembling a, beat, and much
comment followed this disclosure.
! The representation of a huge gaVel in
red and white carnations, stood upon
the speakers table.
ROLL CALL.
The roll call showed the presence of
va Va
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
the oath of office.
| When the house reassembled at 1:40
| the committee appointed to wait upon
the president came down the middle
aisle and reported that the committee
had perfected its mission.
The president" said the chairman,
was pleased to send the two houses
his respectful salutations, and to in
form them that he would commune
cate with them in writing
MESSAGE READ.
The message was listened to with
great earnestness, especially the por-
tons dealing with the currency reform,
and our attitude toward Cuba. The
presidents attitudes on both subjects
seems to impress the members greatly
buy there was no demonstration of any
! kind until the conclusion, when the Re
publicans joined in a sharp round of
| applause The reading consumed an
hour and twenty minutes.
Mr.. Lawrence (Rep., Kan.) then Off
cially announced the death of his pred
ecessor, the late Representative Wright,
and Mr.. Allen Dem. Miss.) the death
of Senator George. Out of respect to
! their memories the house, at 9:05 p. M,
adjourned until tomorrow