Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-07
CONGRESS LAUNCHED
II Is Now Upon the Unknown Sea Of
Legislation.
THE WEATHER AUSPIClOUS.
Usual Large Crowd of SishtSeerS
Gathers at the Capitol.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Ii is Attcntiveiy Listened TO In
Both Houses-Fine Floral Tri-
butcs for Members-Mr. Hanna
In His Seat.
THE PRESIDENTS VI

WASHINGTON, December Cat noon
| to-day the first regular session Of the
| Fifty-ffth Congress was launched upon
] the unknown seas Of legislation. Simul-
| taneously at both ends Of the Capitol
| Speaker Reed I'm the House and Vice
President Hobart in the Senate dropped
| their gavels, and called to order the re-
spective bodies over which they preside
The ceremony attending the opening Of
| a Congress, though comparatively of rou-
| tine character and usually devoid of dra-
matte incident, except as it marks the
| formal PRONUNCIATION of the policies OF the
administration, as outlined in the Presi-
| dents annual message. is spectacle
which in some respects is regarded as
| the greatest official event at the national
capital. All Washington attends. High
and low, rich and poor. white and black,
| foreign ambassador, and street gamin,
banker and beggar, Cabinet officer and
department messenger join in witnessing
the starting of the lumbering intricate
| machinery of legislation. All roads on
this day lead TO Capitol Hill, and the
noble architectural structure which sur
mounts it. with its classic outlines and
| broad, spreading dome.
The weather was prOpitious. The sun
shone brilliantly from cloudless sky
making a glorious, bright December day,
with tinge of frost in the air TO invigor-
ate the lungs, and a breeze just strong
enough TO send the Stars and Strips
swapping from the fag-staffs. Long be-
fore the time of assembling the crowds
began vending their way to the American
Acropols. The representatives, OF foreign
governments. the social leaders, ana
everybody who is anybody in Washing
ton goes thither on this day. The elegant
equipages of the notables. many OF them
emblaZoned with cOats-of-arms, with
liveried footmen on the boxes, and drawn
by prancing horses, with silver-mounted
trappings and jingling chains, added tone
to the occasion, as they dashed up the
broad avenue.
At the Capitol the crowds swarmed
into the Corridors at an early hour, ard
choked the marble steps as they ascended
to the galleries from which they were
to view the show. As is usual on such
occasions, the reserved galleries We're
carefully guarded on both the House and
Senate sides, admission being only by
card. and the public had great difficulty in
wedging itself into the limited space set
aside for il.
The House.
No unusual incident marked the OPEN
Ing of the House. The formalities at
tending the inauguration Of the session
are dry, and except as a spectacle, they
hardly repaid the crowds which thronsed
the public and private galleries. Yet, with
few exceptions, the visitors sat through
the whole proceedings.
The floral tributes for the members
were numerous, and in some instances
imposing. one, which attracted perhaps
more attention tnan any other on ac-
count of its 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 nodding branches OF
which stood an innocent-looliing toy
lamb. 1t was a tribute from the Ma
tiOnal Wool Association. a huge gayel
in red and white carnations stood upon
the Speakers table.
At fifteen minutes before noon the
floor was cleared Of all persons except
members and officers. Soon afterward
Mr.. Bailey, Of Texas the leader OF the
minority, and "SiverDollar' Bland, CT
Missouri. entered the hall together. Mr..
Dingley. the floor leader of the House,
before the Speaker appeared. He had
difficulty in making his way to his seat,
owing TO the pressure of those who de-
sired to extend their greetings. As the
hands of the clock pointed TO the hour
of twelve. Speaker Reed, attired in
black cutaway coat and wearing red
tie. pushed through the green baize doors
from the lobby and ascended the rosuum.
GAVEL FROM TENNESSEE.
one crack of the gavel subdued the din
on the floor and the conversation In the
overhanging galleries. The gayel with
which the Speaker called the House 10
order was presented TO him by }. Z.
Greeuer. Sheriff of Knox county Tenn
who sent it in the name of the stall
wort Republicans Of East Tennessee"
The gayel Is made Of apple-tree wood,
which grew beside the Lighthouse in which
Farragut was born. This house stood
Al loves Ferry, on the Tennessee river,
six miles below Knoxville.
In the deep silence which followed the
calling Of the assemblage to order, the
nrayer of the eminent English divine
rev. Charles f.. Berry, Of Wolverhamp-
ron Eng. who delivered the lnVocatlon'
was solemn and impressive. The speaker
then Immediately directed the clerk 10
call the roll. y,
qol members. There were five vacancies
S.oro death or resignation during the re-
noss and the credentials Of the members
otoo,ed were offered by direction OF the
cncaLer who then administered the oath
81 office to them. They were: f. ~
criath DemocraO, successor to the late
Iudre Holman. I'm the Fourth Indiana
District. II. S. Boutelle Republican), OF
cbicoo.o who succeeds Edward ID. Cooke.
soceesed. James Norton OemocraO, OF
The Seventh South Carolina District, VINO
succeeds John L. McLaurin, now Sena-
tor. George p. Lawrence QRepublcan)'
~ the First Massachusetts, District, VINO
srcceeds Ashley b. Wright, deceased
ond I n. Griggs Democrat, OF the
Thtrd New York District. who succeeds
Erarcis II. Wilson. who resigned to ac-
cent the position Of postmaster OF BROOK
,,n Mr. Griggs's credentials had not
- orr,ved. but the oath was admins
,,os,5 "a him by unanimous consent
a., motion OF Mr.. Hopkins Qepublican).
% I1linois the Clerk was directed 10
ootifv the Senate that the House was
-, for business and on motion OF Mr.
,e,.,Iov resolution was adopted Tor
- ory,ointment OF n committee OF three
-, .oir a committee from the Senate 10
W I. mon the President and inform MIN
49, Congress was ready to receive any
ean,r,rnica ton he desired TO make. Inc
cneoker selected Messrs. Dlngley, oi
Maine. Grosvenor, OF Ohio, and Bailey'
Of Texas, for this honor.
On motion of Mr.. Henderson, OF Iowa.
- ,oenber of the Committee on Rules
10 ,,,le at the extra session for three-
Say adiournments was vacated ana