The record-union., 1898-12-06

"
presentation of the message, either in
the galleries or on the floor, after the
end of two pages. Many Senators, who
had been provided with printed copies
OF the message, retired either to the
cloak rooms or to the committee rooms
TO read the document at leisure. Not
the slightest demonstration occurred
during the reading of the message.
When the clerk had concluded the
reading, Mason of Illinois presented q
telegram from Pritchard of North Car
olina announcing that illness prevented
his attendance at the opening session
At $40, on motion of Platt of Con-
necticut the Senate adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-Exactly at
| noon Speaker Reeds gavel came down
with sharp crack, the great ebony
| mace entwined with silver and sur
| mounted with silver eagle was lifted
| into place on it's marble pedestal, the
spreading folds of American flags We're
broken to the breeze about the brilliant
stained-glas ceiling and the House Of
/ Representatives entered upon the clos
| ing session of the memorable War Con-
| gress. The scene within the great hall
was animated, brilliant and pictur-
esque.
The sea of desks within the brass
| rails which cut off the lobbies, spread
| ing in semi circular lines from the
| Speakers rostrum like waves from a
center, was a veritable flower garden.
A majority of the members were in
their places. while the encircling gall
| leries were banked to the doors with
people The assembling of a session of
| Congress is always a great magnet for
the multitude but to-day the attraction
| was fraught with the added interest
| of all the memories which clung about
the War Congress, the triumphs and
reverses of the recent political battle
| at the polls and the eagerness to hear
! the Presidents message with it's re-
view of the events which have crowd
| ed the stage during this memorable
year and its recommendations of pol
| icies for the future. The public seemed
| to feel that this was to be an epoch
making session, and for hours before
| noon a steady stream of people de-
| bouched from the corridors into the
| galleries. Even the private galleries
were crowded an hour before the hour
! for conyening, and they contained
many people distinguished in social and
| high official life. The dainty creations
of the milliners' art and brilliantly su-
perb gowns gave color to the picture
The members began arriving shortly
| before IL O'Clock, and the hall began
! to buzz as they exchanged greetings,
congratulations or condolences For
| those who had gone down at the No
vember elections there We're expressions
| of sympathy; for those who had been
| victorious words of congratulation
| Some of the members had regular le-
wees as they appeared. This was mark
! edly true of w. A. Stone of Pennsyl-
vania, Sayers of Texas and Mcmillan
| of Tennessee, each of whom was
| chosen Governor of his respective State
at the recent election. Here and there
throughout the throng was an officer in
full uniform, an unwonted figure on the
floor and a vivid reminder of the war.
The floral tributes which the scurry-
ing pages bore into the hall and desks
OF those for whom they were destined.
were much more numerous than usual.
Some of them were of gigantic size,
completely concealing the recipients.
There were huge baskets of roses, an
chors, horseshoes and floral pieces OF
many designs
AT 11:4o 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
or Illinois, Chairman of the Committee
on Foreign Affairs; Dalzell of Pennsyl-
vania, one of the members of the Com
mittee on Rules, and Henderson of
Iowa, of the same committee, were each
given an ovation.
Dingley, the floor leader of the major
ity, and Bailey, the minority leader.
came in simultaneously from the lob
bies of their respective sides. Bailey
went Immediately to his seat and Ding
ley, as soon as he could disengage him
self from the friends who crowded about
him, crossed over to the Democratic
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
upon his appearance.
slight smile played over his benign
features as he raised his gavel aloft.
When it fell with resounding whack
hush fell on the vast assemblage
The blind chaplain stood in his place.
A moment the Speaker waited, with ev-
cry eye riveted upon him. Every mem
Der 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 conclusiop. 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 roll call developed the presence of
261 members, 179 being a quorum.
Three new members were sworn in.
Grosvenor 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 Sullivan, who was elected to the SEN