The times., 1898-12-04
some ANTE-SESSION CHAT
National Legislators Meet in
Hotel LObbieS.
WELCOME AND GOOD CHEER
Senator's Hanna and Platt at the
ArIington-Snrulscr Reed Declines
to BE cInter.icaed-ten.G Grosycnor
Arrives With Part of the Ohio
Deiegntion-Sccnes at the Capitol.

From the North. South and West, legis-
Iators in both houses of Congress poured
into Washington yesterday, and in spite
of the driving rain during the day and
the diagreeab.e chnliness which pre-
vailed last night, everything in the vicin-
ity of the uptown hotels wore bust
ling. business-Ilke and very familiar
aspect.
The corridors have already begun to be
crowded, and h. Monday morning 1t is
thought that the vast army of people in
terested in the conduct of national af-
fairs. and those who like to be in the city
at the opening of Congress. to observe
the ways of statesmen, will have arrived.
Many of those who viii take prominent
parts in the drama of government which
will begin tomorrow at noon, arrived yes
terday and last night. Senator Platt is
at the Arlington. and soon after him
came Senator Hanna, who has resumed
his quarters in the same hotel.
Senator Hoar reached the city at IL
O'Clock last night, and proceeded directly
TO his residence in X Street northwest.
where he declined TO be interviewed.
Speaker Reed is at the Shoreham. where
he also denies himself to newspaper men.
and Representative Grosvenor. accom-
panied by number of the Ohio delega-
ton, including Representative Taylor. is
at the Cochran
Senator Kyle came in from Chicago yes-
terday afternoon, but managed to eIude
the interviewer. While in Chicago. how
ever, he was interviewed and has been
quoted as saying that the peace treaty
VIII not be ratified by the Senate He
IS of the opinion that the payment of the
S2OOOG0D establishes a very dangerous
precedent, and, besides that. he does not
think We need the Philippines
The corridors, lobbies, and committee
rooms of the Capitol yesterday looked
very much as if a session of Congress
We're in progress. Clerks were busy ev-
erywhere getting the paraphernalia of the
various offices into shape before the OPEN
ing OIL the session tomorrow. Senators
and representatives were scattered
throughout the rooms and in the corri-
dors, holding impromptu receptions. shak-
Ing hands with friends and colleagues
and nearly all of them looking really glad
to be back.
There was nothing in the tranquility
everywhere apparent to indicate the polit-
ical strife which will develop the moment
the gavels fall on the desks of Vice Pres
ident Hobart and Speaker Reed at 12
O'Clock tomorrow Party opponents who
are soon to face each other in the legis-
iative arena met, shook hands, and talked
with the greatest apparent cordiaIity.
A little ripple of excitement was created
In the House end of the Capitol by the
simultaneous appearance of Representa-
uves McMillin and Bailey greeting their
friends in the corridors, and these who
understood the controversy between the
two men looked forward to a possible
meeting with some little apprehension
The great questions of the hour did not
furnish topics for the small talk of the
statesmen. Expansion. the peace treaty
war scandals, the Nicaragua Canal and
the Panama deal were not the words cne
heard on every side. The gloomy weather
furnished such an excellent subject that
conversation was confined largely to that
and the exchange of commonplace COM
pliments. The Senate and House restau-
rants, which have been thoroughly reno
waited during the interval since the ad-
3ournment of last session, did good busi-
ness during the day.
Last night senators and representatives
were seen in the corridors of all the ho-
tells. Many of them participated in the
banquet of the Gridiron Club. Those who
had no such engagements remained within
reach of the comforts of their hotels or
houses rather than venture out into the
disagreeable weather. New arrivals con-
stantly appeared and many more are ex-
pected today.