The San Francisco call., 1898-12-06
STATESMEN RALLY TO CONSIDER THE
 NATIONS AFFAIRS
Continued from First Page.

were much more numerous than usual. Some of them were of gigantic size, completely concealing the recipients.
 There yere huge baskets of roses, an- chors, horseshoes and floral pieces of many designs.
 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. Hit of Illinois, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs; DalZeu of Penn sylvania, one of the members of the Committee on Rules, and Henderson of Iowa of the same committee were each given an ovation.
 Dingley. the floor leader of the ma jority, and Bailey, the minority leader, came in simultaneously from the lob bies of their respective sides. Bailey went immediately to his seat and Mr. Dingley, as soon as he could disengage himself from the friends who crowded about him, crossed over to the Demo- cratic side and shook hands with his political adversary.
 As the hands of the clock pointed to noon, the giant form of the Speaker pushed through the green baize doors of the lobby in the rear of the hall and Reed ascended the rostrum. A wave of applause swept floor and galleries A played oyer his benign features as he raised his gavel aloft. When it fell with a resOunding whack hush fell on the vast assemblage.
 The blind chaplain stood in his place A moment the Speaker waited, with every. eye riveted upon him. Every member rose to his feet and many in the galleries.
 The chaplain will offer prayer" an nounced the Speaker in low tones Heads were bowed reverently as the chaplain, in eloquent words. invoked the divine blessing, giving praise for the victory that had attended our arms and the peace which had come, and asking for strength and wisdom to face the new problems which confronted the nation.
 At the conclusion of the chaplain's prayer, the Speaker announced that the first business in order would be a call of the roll to determine the presence of a quorum. While the responses were being made General Wheeler of Ala bama came in and took his seat in the room immediately in front of the Speakers rOstrum. He was instantly surrounded by half a hundred members and received the ovation of the day.
 The rollcall developed the presence of 267 members. 179 being a quorum. Three /uew members were sworn in. Grosve- nor of Ohio presented Charles Dick, elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Northway; Allen of Mis- sissippi, Thomas Spight, elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of MT. Sullivan, who was elected to the Senate, and Grow of Pennsylvania, William H. Graham, elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Stone elected Governor of Pennsylva- mia. With uplifted hands they took the oath.
 Dingley. the floor leader, offered the customary resolution for the appoint Uent of a committee of three to join similar committee of the Senate to wait upon the President and inform him that the House was ready to re- ceive any communication he had to make. It was unanimously adopted, and the Speaker appointed Dingley Cannon and Bailey.
 A resolution was adopted instructing the clerk of the Senate that the House was ready to proceed to business. The House then took a recess until 1:30 to await the arrival of the Presidents message
 When the House reconvened after the recess, the committee appointed to aait upon the President appeared and Tsported that they had discharged their mission and that the President had slid that he would communicate with Congress immediately in writing. Dingley had hardly made this report before Major Pruden, the Presidents executive clerk. appeared and an- nounced the message of the President. The seal of the envelope in which the message was contained was broken by the Speaker himself, and it was imme- diately laid before the House. The members on the floor and the specta- tors in the galleries then settled them selves and gave the reading earnest at tention.
 The Presidents review of the causes leading up to the war. the manner in which the preparations for hostilities were made and the succession of vic tories on land and sea were listened to with rapt attention. The other pro- visions of the message were followed with almost as much interest. There was no expression of approval or dis approval through the reading. As soon as the reading was concluded, on motion of Dingley the message was ordered printed, and then at 3:50 D. m.