, 1898-12-06

the hour Of daily meeting at u O'Clock
to appoint a committee to notify the
president that the senate was waiting
any communication he might desire 10
make.
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont and Mr..
Cockrell of Missouri were named by the
vice president to join a like committee
of the house of representatives to call
on tn president.
Mr.. Mcbride of Oregon presented the
credentials of his newly elected COL
league, Mr.. Simon, TO whom The vice
president administered the oath of of
flee.
Pending the receipt of the presidents
message the senate, OF motion of Mr..
Allison, Iowa, took a recess of 80 min
utes.
At 1:25 p. m. the committee appoint
ed to wait upon the president reported
the performance of its duties and an
nounced that the president would i'm
mediately communicate with the senate
in writing. Scarcely had the report
been made when Major Pruden, execu-
tive clerk of the president, entered the
| chamber and presented the message.
Vice President Hobart laid it before the
senate at once and its reading was be-
gun at 1:2S p. m.
The reading of the message occupied
two hours and eighteen minutes. Many
persons remained in the galleries
throughout the reading, but, as is usual,
little attention was given to the pre-
%sentatinon of the message, either in the
galleries or on the floor, after the first
few pages. Many Of the senators, who
had been provided with printed copies
of the message, retired either to the
cloak rooms to read the document at
leisure. Not the slightest demonstra-
message.
When the clerk had concluded the
reading Mr.. Mason of Illinois present
ed a telegram from Mr.. Pritchard of
North Carolina, announcing that illness
prevented his attendance at the opening
of the session.
At 3:45, on molten of Mr.. Platt Of
Connecticut. the senate adjourned.
THE HOUSE In SESSION.
Washington, Dec. 5.-The opening
session of congress today was a spec
tacular occasion. animated and brilli-
ant. There were more thar the usual
number Of distinguished personages
in the thronged galleries, including
many representatives Of foreign ma
tons, high officials and ladies and
gentlemen conspicuous in social and
political life.
The greetings Of the members were
most cordial and there was no outcrop-
ping of partisan rancor to mar the oc-
casion. One Of the most striking Incl
dents was the cordial meeting between
the floor leaders of the respective sides,
Messers Dingley and Bailey. In view Of
the gossip about the possibility of Mr..
Bailey being displaced as the minority
leader, it is significant that the speaker
named Mr.. Bailey as the minority mem
Der of the committee to wait upon the
president, an honor always bestowed
upon the recognized leader of the mi
nority.
Speaker Reed received ii warm well
come from both sides Of the house when
he assembled the rostrum to call the
house TO order, but perhaps the greatest
personal ovation to any member was
that given Major General Wheeler Of
Alabama, who has not been seen by
many of his old colleagues since he
went to the front at the head of the
cavalry division OF General Skaters
army.
w. A. Stone of Pennsylvania, Mr..
McMillin of Tennessee and MI. Sayers
of Texas, who have been elected COVER
nors of their respective states since
congress adjourned, were also over
whelmed with congratulations. The
floral tributes today were unusually
numerous and made the hall a vertible
bower of beautiful flowers. The pro
ceedings themselves were dull, all in
terest centering in the reading OF the
presidents message. For over two
hours the clerk droned through the
long document. but the interest Of the
members and spectators never tagged.
With rapt attention they followed the
presidents recital OF the war m lis
tened eagerly to every suggestion or
recommendation he had to offer. No
expression Of approl or disapproval in
terrupted the reading.
At 11:45 the floor was cleared of all
those not entitled to the privilege. The
leaders, as a rule, were late in arriving,
but as they appeared they were sur
rounded and cordially greeted. Mr..
Hit of Illinois, chairman OF the COM
mittee on foreign affairs; Mr.. Dalzell,
Pennsylvania, one of the members OF
the committee on rules; MI. Henderson
OF Iowa OF the same committee, were
each given an ovation.
Mr.. Dingley, the floor leader of the
majority. and Mr.. Bailey. the minority