The San Francisco call., 1897-12-07
HOUSE FORMALITIES.
Mes age the Representatives Are
Now Ready for Business.

Message the Rep p-esentatiVes Are
Now Ready for Business.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The opening
day OF the regular session in the House
passed without unusual incident of any
character. The formalities attending the
inauguration OF the session are dry and
except as a spectacle hardly repaid the
crowds which thronged the public and
private galleries. Yet with few excep.
uons the visitors sat through the whole
proceedings.
Mr.. Dngley, the floor leader of the ma
iority, Mr.. Bailey. the recognized leader
OF the minority, and Mr.. Grosvenor of
Ohio enjoyed the distinguished honor
Of being appointed 10 wait upon
the Presidenj, whose message was
OF course the event OF the day It's
reading was long and tedious, out it y as
followed with close attention BY the MEM
bers and the spectators in the galleries.
There was no demonstration until the
reading was conc udeI, when the Repub-
licans Joined in hearty expression OF
approval. Immediately after the reading
OF the message the House adjourned out
OF respect 10 the memory of Senator
George of Miss s>ippi ana Representative
Wright OF Massachusetts, who had died
during the recess.
The House of Representatives presented
an animated appearance long before the
arrival OF the hour o. noCn. The sur
rounding corridors were filled with jost-
ling, mlvIng crowds, and before IL O. clock
the enci:cling 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.
The leaders, who were eagerly pointed
out from the gallery, were slow in putting
in their appearance, Statesmen like or
dinary mortaIs, have an eye for dramatic
effect.
Chairman Hitl OF the Fore en- Relations
Committee and Chairman Waller of the
Banking and Currency Committee, whose
positions will probably bring them a hint
OF the public eye during the session, were
early on the floor mingling with their col
leagues.
The floral tributes of the members were
numerous and in some instances i'm pos
in. One, which attracted probably more
attention than any other on account OF its
unique character, graced the desk of Cen
eral GTosyenor OF Ohio 1t consisted OF A
huge tree of yellow chrysanthemum5 and
American Beauty roses, under the nod
ding branches OF which stood an innocent
looking toy lamb 1t was trib butte from
the National Wool-growers' Association.
Some one discovered that upon the appli-
cation OF pressure to a portion of the
lambs anatomy it would give forth a
sound rese mbing a bleat, and much
amusement and merriment followed this
disclosure.
he presentation of a huge gavel in
red and white carnations stood upon the
Speaker table.
= lfau hae~- a
was cleared Of all persons except mem bers
snd officers. Soon afterward Mr. Bailey
OF Texas The leader of the minority and
Silver Dollar Bland of Missouri en-
tered the hall ogether. Mr.. Dingley, the
floor leader of The House, smiling and
affabe as ever, came in Just before the
Speaker appeared. AS the hands OF the
clcck pointed to u Speaker Reed, attired
In black cutaway coat and wearing a red
tie. pushed through the doors from the
lobby and assembled the rostrum.
One -ack of the gavel subIued the din
on The fl 5or and the conversation n the
6 sllerles The gavel with which the
Speaker called the II use to order was
presented TO him ny J. Z. Groner, Sheriff
If Knox County, Tenn, who sent it in
the name OF the 'Stalwart Republicans OF
East Tennessee" 1t was formally pre-
sented TO the Speaker by H. Clay Evans,
the Com missioner of Pensions. The gayel
s made of apple tree wood which grew be-
side the log house in which Farragut was
horn, at Loves Ferry, on the Tennessee
River, six miles below Knoxville.
In the deep silence which followed the
calling to order, the prayer of the eminent
divine, Rev. Charles A. Berry o. Wolver-
hampton, Eng and, who delivered the in
vocation, was solemn aud impressive.
The Speaker then Immediately directed
the clerk to cal the roll, and this con-
sumed half an hour.
In the diplomatic gallery were Mr.. Le-
fevre, Charge d d'Affaires, and other at
laches OF the Fre"ch Embassy; Senior
Corea.. Charge a Aft i-es of the Greater
Republic OF Centrai America ana other
uiplomats. In the executive ga lerv, re-
served for the President, were number CT
the exccu i've household, who were ad-
mitted on cards from Secretary Porter
On the floor We're number OF ex.mem-
bers.
The rolcall showed the presence of 30I
members. There were five vacancies from
death or resignation during the recess and
The credentials OF the me III bers-elect were
read by direction of the Speaker, who then
made adm nistration OF oaths to them.
They were F. M. Grit Dem. }, successor to
the late Judge Holman In the Fourth In