The record-union., 1897-12-07
IN THE HOUSE

journed until tomorrow.
IN THE HOUSE
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The opening
day of the regular session of the House
passed without unusual incident of any
character The formalities attending
the Inauguration of the session are dry,
and, except as q spectacle, hardly re-
paid the crowds which thronged the
public and private galleries. Yet, with
few exceptions, the visitors sat through
the whole proceedings
Mr.. Dingley, the floor leader of the
majority, Mr.. Bailey, the recognized
leader of the minority, and Mr.. Grosve-
nor of Ohio. enjoyed the distinguished
honor of being appointed to wait upon
the President, whose message was, of
course, the event of the day. It's read
ing was long and tedious, but it was
followed with close attention by the
members ana the spectators in the gal
leries. There was no demonstration un-
til the reading was concluded, when the
Republicans Joined in a hearty expires
sion of approval.
Immediately after the reading of
the message the House adjourned, out
of respect to the memory of Senator
NicQl - VI AhiS-oISSippl e&ild INGplSSclAtd-
tive Wright of Massachusetts, who had
died during the recess.
At 1:45 the floor was cleared of all
persons except members and officers.
Soon afterward Mr. Bailey of Texas. the
leader of the minority, and Silver
Dolla:'' Bland Of Missouri entered the
hall together. Mr.. Dingley, the floor
leader of the House, smiling and af-
fable as ever came in just before the
Speaker appeared.
AS the hands of the clock pointed to
i O'Clock Speaker Reed, attired in a
black cutaway coat, and wearing a red
tie, pushed through the doors from the
lobby and ascended the rostrum. One
crack of the gavel subdued the din on
the floor, and the conversation in the
galleries.
The gavel with which the Speaker
called the House to order was pre-
sented to him by J. G. Groner, Sheriff
of Knox County, Tenn, who sent it in
the name of the "Stalwart Republicans
of East Tennessee 1t was formally
presented to the Speaker by H. Clay
Evans, the Commissioner of Pensions.
The gavel is made of apple tree wood
which grew beside the log house in
which Farragut was born, at loves
Ferry, on t e Tennessee River, six
miles below Knoxville.
In the deep silence which followed
the calling of the assemblage to order
the prayer of Rev. Charles a. Berry of
/ Waverhampton, England, who deliv
cred the invocation, was solemn and
impressive.
The Speaker then Immediately direct
ed the Clerk to call the roll and this
consumed half an hour
In the diplomatic gallery were Mr.
Lefvre, Charge d'Affaires, and other at
taches of the French Embassy; Senior
Corea, Charge d d'Affaires of the Greater
Republic of Central America, and other
diplomats. In the executive gallery re-
! served for the President We're a num-
Der of the Executive household, who
were admitted on cards from Secre
| tary Proctor. On the floor We're a
number of eX-members.
| The roll-call showed the presence of
3O1 members. There were five vacan-
cies from death or resignation during
/ the recess and the credentials of the
/ mem bers-elect We're read by direction
of the Speaker, who then made the ad-
!
were: F. NJ. Grit, Democrat, successor
to the late Judge Holman, in the Fourth
Indiana District; II. C. Boutelle, Repub
lican, of Chicago, who succeeded Ed
ward D. Cook, deceased James Norton
| Democrat, of the Seventh South Caro-
lima District, who succeeded John l..
| McLaurin, now Senator; George 2.
Lawrence. Republican, Of the First
Z Ixa1
Arley +. Wright, deceased, and j. n.
Griggs, Democrat, Of the Third New
York District, who succeeded Francis
w. Wilson, who resigned to accept the
position of Postmaster at Brooklyn.
The credentials of Mr.. Griggs had
not yet arrived, but the oath was ad-
| ministered to him by unanimous con-
sent.
On motion of Mr.. Hopkins (R.) of
Illinois, the Clerk was directed to notify
the Senate that the House was ready
for business, and on motion of Mr..
Dingley, the floor leader, a resolution
was adopted for the appointment of
committee of three to join the commit
tee Of the Senate to wait on the Presi-
dent and inform him that Congress was
ready to receive any communication he
desired to make.
The Speaker selected Messrs Ding
ley of Maine, Grosvenor of Ohio and
Bailey of Texas for this honor.
On motion of Henderson of Iowa,
member of the Committee on Rules, the
rule at the extra session for three-day
adjournmentS was vacated, and daily
sessions to begin at noon each day
We're offered
There being nothing to do but await
the reception of the President
message, the House recessed until 1:20
p m.
When the House reconvened another
recess for twenty minutes was or
dered
When the House reassembled at LAO
the committee appointed to wait upon
the President came down the middle
aisle and reported that the commit
tee had performed 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 communicate
with them in writing"
Mr.. Pruden, who had followed the
committee into the hall, Immediately
EISSEiitCN tiiS iiSSodSe, WHICH Dy Ul-
rection of Speaker Reed was read at
the Clerks desk.
The message was listened to with
great earnestness, especially the por-
tions dealing with the question of re-
vising currency legislation and with our
attitude toward Cuba The Presidents
utteEances on both subjects seemed to
impress the members deeply. but there
was no demonstration of any kind until