Phoenix weekly herald., 1897-12-09
CONGRESS IN SESSION The Fifty-fi Gonvenes
 Today. HUSTLE AND ANIMATION Attend the Opening Many Inn pOrtant Things to Come Before
 the Present Body.
ANIMATION

| meetIuG or Lew congress IS iooi
 sessioD, so known because it may las
 indefinitely instead of expiring ss doe
 the second. regular session on the fourti
 of March. From the nature end nun
 Der of the legislative matters to bs con-
 sideFed it will be one or the most i'm
 portant sessions of Congress in reoen' years. The currency question, tht 1 Cuban question and the ratification ol she pending treaty fer the annexation l cf H8wBii viii each demand prolonged 1 sDd careful consideration. h edditioI
 shere is ths Ensi- seq ping bill, the prob
 .ble reconsideration ot the famous Sec 1 sion 9 of the D,oglsy tariff sct, con
 csFoiag which Congress will oe asked 1 by j1pt resolution to declare that it was meaut to impose s discriminating
 duty on inp ports carried by Canadian
 rosdR, the Attorney Generals opinion
 to the contrary ,wishstandIng. The | dsternined eau psiGE against civil ser
 vice, which is 50 be wsged by ths nat
 ioael Republican anti evil eervice ra- 1 form league, and lest, bat not least, the
 consideration of the appropriation bile, which ers likely so be clossly ecrutiniz ed from the fact thst strict economy
 xill De necessary, ths revenue bill hay ing bae constructed to meet the rev
 snus foc 3he past requicem msnts of the government and conse qusntly DO allow anes fer the inevitable expansion Of the uesds of tns federsi eervics. These are but 8 fragment Of the matters to come before the national legislature, sUd el- together it gives promise of being busy session from beginning to end.
 There wsa unusual bustls end anime- ton n and about tee csni5ai thie morn ,ug, the q meada for a5al asioG to tae visitors gallery in each house being three times in excess of the eccommo- dGtione, and hest Of late corners were disappointed. The galleries reserved for the foreign diplomats and the gentler sex filled up early. and the bril- liant toilestes of the latter, com bined with the uniforms snd robes of the foreigners, frightened up the surround ings and gave gala touch to the same. Precisely at noon Speaker Raed, in ahe House, and Vice President Hobart, in the Sen ate, brought down their gsvela and declared Congress in session. The gavel yielded by the soe-President vas 6 bFsa-new one, and there is 8 lit tie bit of history back of is. It was made from blanks of the American schooner Royal Savage. which was sunk by the British of Vsloour island. in Lake Chenpiain, October Il, 1776. This schooner was commanded by Oaptsiu Wincopp, and Benedics Arnold was in command of the American squadron. The vessel lay under water for 100 years, bus when brought to the surface the wood was ia psrfect state of preservation. Out of an avsilsbIe portion John Martin, spscisl deputy collector of Plattshnrg, New York, caused the gavel to bs fashioned, and with bis compliments it WAS laid on the desk of ths VIcs President.
 Bind Chaplain Golden, as usual, of fered prayer in she House, while blind Chaplain MlbuFn presented for that duty in the Senate, Rev. Dr. Barry or England. ohsirmsn of the OongFsge- tioDel Union of Gress Britain Ofdi- nsciiy the election of speaker ard other officers of the House and the lottery for seats occupy pretty well the whole Of the first days session, but this year there were none Of these formslities to take pleca, and immediately upon the coaciueion of she devotions the ususl com mitsees were eppointsd to infoFm the President that Congress WAS in ses- sion and prepared to receive any mes sage ke might have to communicate. Half en hour later Assstent Secretary Pruden pat in su appearance wish the official copies of the Presidents mes- eags. Albbough it's salient points had 1 in measure been accurately forcasted l it was listened to in both houses with i close ettsn ton. AS the coDolusiop of | the Ese ding both houses took recess 1 and the Senators and R representatives, gathered in groups on the foors ard in 1 the corridors 10 exchange opinions or l abe views Of the chief executive
 WASHINGTON. Dac. 6.-Roll call iu the 1 House showed the presence of 3O1 mem- bare.
 The Speaker selected Dingley, Maine; Grosvanor, Ohio. &nd Bailey. Tsxas, to wait on tbe President.
 Daily sessions to begin at F o'clock ! were ordered end the House eojourned i to 1:20. Upon reasaem bling the read l ing Of the Presidents message was be- gun at LAO.
 WAsHINGroN, Dsc 6.-Tae Senate chamber at the opening Of the session today was veritsble conservatory. The ! aoral display was unusually rich aud Ssvaaty seven responded to i their names on the roll call. The V ce i President nemsd Allison end Gormap as the Senate committee to wait on she i, President and receive his message. By resolution of Mr. Oullom of Illinois, the time of she daily meetings Of the Sen 4ae WEB fixed at F neon. Recess vas .hsD taken to l o'clock.
 WAsHINGT lN, Dac. Senator Dave, Chairmen of the S5nats Committee ou Foreign R ,IRtions, eaid he would 10 ask 5he Ssosts to take up the Hawaiian treaty. The Commission viii