The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-06
CROWDS AT THE CAPITOL
GENERAL WHEELER RECIPIENT
OF AN OVATION.
WARM WELCOME GIVEN TO SPEAKER REED
Mr.. Bailey Named as the Minority Member of
the Committee TO Wait Upon the Pres
dent. CordiaIity Between
Bailey and DngIey.

Washington, Dee. 5.-COngress re-as-
sembled to-day under circumstances of
unusual interest. The same Congress,
six months ago, declared war against
Spain and now. with the war fought and
won- it came together again for the
first legislative considerations of the
questions developed by the eventful
months just past. The spirit of the &c.
casion was not, however, one OF mme.
diate expectancy, for the few months
left of the existence of the nfty-t ftll
Congress gave promise of little more
than beginning on the m0menc0us poll
cies and problems growing out Of the
war.
As usual all Washington turned It's at
tention to the capitol for that gala event
which marks the opening day OF j ses
sion. The weather imposed no barriers
for the hurricane of yesterday had given
way 10 clearing skies and bamy air
Long before the noon hour, when the
Senate and House began their work, the
corridors were filled with surging
crowds, centering in the rotunda and
statuary hall, and pushing towards the
private galleries. No evidences remain
ed of the explosion and fire which re-
Gently ravaged the building.
When the Senate convened the cham
ber presented noble and beautiful ap
pearance BY IL o'clock the public
and private galleries were filed almost
to their capacity with a distinguished
assemblage, including many ladies in
brllant attire.
On the floor the display of flowers was
unusually beautiful even for the on' IL
ing day of a session of Congress- The
odor Of the flowers filled the chamber.
Through the courtesy of the Vice
President. the members of the joint
High Commission were admitted to the
floor of the Senate and were the recip.
tents of much attention.
Just before the session was called to
order, several well known members u
the diplomatic corps appeared in .tht
diplomatic gallery Among them were
Sir Julian Pauncefote, Ambassador oi
Great Britain to the United States ana
Dean of the corps, with a party from
the British Embassy; Mr.. WI Tine
Fang, the Chinese Minister and party
Mr.. Ye Pun Chin, the Korean Minister
was also present.
All were interested spectators of the
opening scenes of the session and at
tentive listeners to the reading of the
Presidents message.
During a recess of three quarters OF
an hour, while the Senate was waiting
the presentation of the message from
the President, the members of the joint
High Commission held an informal
lcyee, greeting personally nearly all of
the members of the American Senate.
The reading of the Presidents mes
sage which occupied two hours and elgh-
teen minutes. was received with very
careful attention for an hour, but after
that the Senators drifted to the cloak
rooms or to the committee rooms, where
they could persue the message at theil
leisure in the printed copies which had
been furnished them.
When the clerk had concluded the
reading, Mr.. Mason, of Illinois, presented
a telegram from Mr. Pritchard. of North
Carolina, announcing that illness pre-
vented his attendance at the opening OF
the session.
At 3:46 the Senate adjourned.
In the House the greetings of the
members were most cordial and there
was no outcropping of partisan rancor tc
mar the occasion. One Of the most
striking incidents was the cordial meet
ing between the floor leaders of the re
spcctive sides. Messrs. Dingley an6
Bailey. In view of the gossip about The
possibility of Mr. Bailey being deposef
ms the minority leader, it is significant
that the Speaker named Mr.. Bailey a'
the minority member Of the committee Il
wait uDon the President, an honor al
ways bestowed upon the recognized lead
or of the minority.
Speaker Reed received a warm wei
come from both sides OF the House wher
he ascended the roStrum to call the ttoust
to order, but perhaps the greatest per
sonal ovation to any member was tha'
given Major General Wheeler, of Ala
bama, who has not been seen by many
of his old colleagues since he went tC
the front at the head of the cavalry di
vision of General Shafter's army.
The floral tributes to-day were un
usually numerous and made the hall g
vcritable bower of beautiful flowers
The proceedings themselves were dull
all interest centering in the reading Of
the Presidents message. For over TIVE
hours the clerk droned through the Ions
document. but the interest Of member.
and spectators never tagged. No ex
pressions of approval or disapproval in
terrupted the reading.
At $50 the House adjourned until to
morrow. 1 y