Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-12-16
IT'S FINAL SESSION.
BEGINNING OF THE END ron
PRESENT CONGRESS.
Gay Scene. ut tho capito, ON .hs Open.
Ing Day Outline Of the Work 1t IL
intended TO Accomplish Before
Lvth Congress Adjourns.
Washington correspondcncc:

~ ~ AOuAHC60 AO$ONH1l0s
Washington correspondence:
Congress rcasscmblcd Monday. under
circumstances oc unusual public interest
The same congress six months ago de-
clarcl var against Spain, and now, with
the war fought and won, 1t came together
again for the first legislative consideration
Of tho questions developed by the event.
full months just past. The spirit Of the
occasion was not, however, one Of imme-
date expectancy, for the few months
left to the. existence of the LVth Congress
gave promise of little more than a be-
ginning on the momcntous policies and
problems growing out OF the war.
AS usual. all Washington turned its ut.
tntion to the capitol for that gala event
which marks the opening day Of a session.
New Members Sworn In.
The opening was without ceremony be-
yond that which marks the usual begin.
ming of a session. Outside of the Presi-
dents message there was no reference
to the glorious history of the past sum-
mer. Practically the entire work in both
the Senate and the House consisted in
giving the oath to new members and
reading the Presidents message.
In the Senate Joseph Simon, of Oregon,
took the oath, completing the membership
of that body for the first time in several
years. The members were not all present.
But there arc now somewhere ninety
Senators Of the United States, the full
number authorized by the constitution.
In the House the oath was taken by
Charles A. Dick. of Akron, Ohio, who
represents the famous Nineteenth Dis
trict, the district once represented by the
lamented Garfield. Mr.. Dick succeeds the
late Stephen A. Northway. Two new
Representatives from Mississippi also
took the oath, Il. A. McLanc, of Glostcr,
for the Sixth District in place of the late
Mr.. Love, and Thomas Spight, of Ripley,
for the Second District, in place of w. V.
Sullivan, appointed Senator.
Distinguished Visitors in the Senate
There We're some notable spectators on
the floor OF the Senate. The Lord High
Chancellor of England, the Premier Of
Canada, and other members of the joint
nigh commission We're given seats with
the Senators as a mark of consideration.
In the diplomatic gallery were Sir Julian
Pauncefote, the British ambassador, and
his daughter, the minister from Siam and
his secretary, the minister from Corea
and his wife and secretary, WI Ting
Fang, minister from China, and one Of
the attaches of the Chinese legation, be-
sides several diplomats of lesser promi-
nence. Nearly all of them went out when
the reading of the Presidents message
began, prcferring to read the message at
their convenience. The reading of the
message occupied two hours and eighteen
minutes. Then the Senators driftcd to
the cloakrooms and the committee-rooms
to pcruse it at their pleasure.
Attendance in the House.
There were more than the usual number
of distinguished p%ersonages in the thropg-
ed galleries Of the House, including many
representatives of foreign governments.
high officials, and ladies' and gentlemen
conspicuous in social and political life.
The greetings of the members were most
cordial, and there was no outcropping Of
partisan rancor to maj the occasion. One
of the most striking incidents was the
cordial meeting between the floor leaders
of the respective sides, Mcssrs. Dineley
and Bailey.
Speaker Reed received n warm welcome
from both sides Of the House when he
assembled the rostrum to call the House
to order, but perhaps the greatest person.
al ovation to any member was that given
to Major General Wheeler Of Alabama.
who has not been seen by many of hie
old colleagues since he went to the front
at the head of the cavalry division Of
General Skaters army. w. A. Stone. Of
Pennsylvania; Benton McMiilin, of Ten
ncssce, and Joseph ID. Sayers, of Texas.
who have been elected Governors of their
respective States since Congress adjourn.
ed, were also overwhelmed with congratu.
iations. The floral tributes were unusual.
" numerous.
Representative Cousins of Iowa has the
honor of introducing the first bill in the
House at this session of Congress.
Legislation to Re Enacted.
Though many questions may press for
solution, the brief space covered by this
session, which expires by Limitation
March 4, precludcs the probability Of
much being accomplished beyond the
passage OF the regular money budgets, the
legislation for the increase Of the regular
army, which the administration deems
necessary to meet the obligations imposed
upon the country by the result of the'war.
and probably the enactment of a law to
give a permanent territorial government
to the Hawaiian islands. This covers all
the important legislation which the Com
grcssional leaders expect to see enacted
at this session. 1t is almost the unani-
nous sentiment of the members that no
attempt should be made to legislate con-
corning the possessions acquired by the
war with Spain at this session. There
arc earnest advocates of the N~icaraeuan
canal bill, who will strive to secure its
passage now, and they may possibly be
successful, but neither it nor the pooling
bill nor anti-scalpers' bill, each. Of which
has strong friends, will be allowed to in.
~terfere with the bills the passage Of which
Is deemed absolutely necessary to prevent
an extra session.
The leaders at both ends of the capitol
have put their heads together. and the
work Of the session is to be entered upon
with the idea OF avoiding an extra SEES.
sion. With this purpose in view the an.
preparation bills are to be given the road
at both ends of the capitol and pressed
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