The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-04
AT THE CAPITOL.

The Senate Chamber was completely
metamorphosed during the three hours
OF recess in the early morning. The heavy
dark red morocco covered chairs of Sen
ators had been removed and had been re-
placed by three or four times the same
number of small ash chairs, some came
bottomed, but most of them wood-bot-
toned placed closely together and filling
all the angles of the room. Only inside
of the front row of desks were some
dozen large arm chairs designed for the
use of the dignitaries who were to take
part in the ceremonies of the day. Every
spectator was excluded from the galleries
while the finishing touches were being
given to the arrangements of the floor.
The recess was extended if not by CON-
sent, at least by the non-appearance of
any Senators from to $3.50. At that
time Senator Carter (Sil, Mont.) took the
chair as Presiding officer, called the Sem
ate to order in the person. of Senator
Stewart Pop., New, who was engaged
in looking over the morning newspaper
and ON whose motion the recess was ex-
tended till 8 A. NJ When this action was
taken the only other persons in the Cham
ber besides these two Senators were the
journal clerk, the chief clerk Mr.. Shuey
the official stenographer, the assistant
doorkeeper and a dozen pages.
In the meantime the Houses of Con-
gress were making preparations for their
part in the ceremonies. The House of
Representatives, headed by Speaker Reed,
proceeded in a body to the Senate Cham
Der, where seats had been assigned them
Vice President Adlai E. Stevenson pre-
sided over the joint assembly, but simply
till the hour should arrive when he would
step down to make way for his successor.
The eight Justices of the Supreme Court
of the United States, robed in silk gowns,
but wearing no wigs, occupied a front
row of chairs to the right of the presid-
ing officer. Behind them in their order of
precedence entered the diplomatic corps
all of them, except the Representatives of
the Swiss and South and Central Ameri-
can Republics, were resplendent in off,
cial uniform and adorned with the in
sigma of decorations conferred. Sir
Julian Pauncefote, the British Ambas-
sador, took precedence; he was followed
by the French and German Ambassadors
the Mexican and Austrian Ministers and
vividly conspicuous in their quaint silk
en- dresses, the members of the Chinese
Legation came next. They were the only
Orientals who wore their national cos
tune.
The wife and daughters of Sir Julian
PPauneefote were escorted to the gallery
by Sir Julian and were provided with
seats by the doorkeeper. With their ar
rival others, who had procured tickets
from the State Department, came in, and
soon every seat was occupied.
In the meantime the gallery reserved
for the families of Senators was COM
pletely filled-proniinent among the ladies
seated there being Mrs Mckinley, the
mother, and Mrs. Mckinley, the wife of
the President-elect, and Mrs. Barrett the
sister of Mrs. Mckinley, Jr.
Queen Liliuokalani came in to the Dip
lomatic Gallery at quarter past eleven,
attended by her secretary, Mr.. Palmer,
and they took seats three rows back of
Madame Yang Yu.
When promptly at noon, ex-Presi-
dent Cleveland and President Mckinley
entered the chamber, the whole assemble