, 1898-12-06

crowded about him, crossed over to tn,
democratic side and shook hands with
his political adversary.
AS the hands of the clock pointed to
neon the giant form of the speaker
pushed through the green Daize doors
of the lobby in the rear Of the hall, and
Mr.. Reed assembled the rostrum. A
wave of applause swept floor and gal
leries upon his appearance.
A light smile played over his benign
features as he raised his gavel aloft.
When it fell with a ~resounding whack a
hush fell on the vast assemblage.
The blind chaplain stood in his place.
A ONE the speaker waited with
every eye riveted on 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 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
row Immediately in front of the speak
er's rostrum. He was instantly sur
rounded by half a hundred members
and received the ovation of the day.
The roll call developed the presence
cf 267 members, 179 being a quorum.
Three new members were sworn in.
Mr.. G~rosvenor, Ohio, presented Mr..
Charles Dick, elected TO fill the vacancy
caused by the death of Mr.. Northway.
Mr.. Allen of Mississippi, Thomas Spight
elected to fill the vacancy caused by
the resignation of Mr.. Sullivan, who
was elected to the senate, and Mr..
Grow, Pennsylvania, William H. Gra-
ham, elected to fill the vacancy caused
by the resignation of Mr.. Stone, elect
ed governor of Pennsylvania. With
uplifted hands they took the oath.
Mr.. Dingley, the floor leader, offer
ed the customary resolution for the ap-
pointment of a committee of three to
join a 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. 1t was unanimously adopted,
and the speaked appointed Mr.. Dingley,
Mr.. Cannon, and Mr.. Bailey.
"A resolution was adopted i%nstructing
the clerk o the senate that the house
was ready to proceed to business. The
house then took a recess until 100 to
await the arrival of the presidents mes
When the house r~econvened after the
recess the committee appointed to wait
upon the president appeared and re-
ported hat they had discharged their
mission and that the president had said
that he would communicate with con-
gress Immediately in writing Mr..
Dingley had hardly made his report be-
fore Major Pruden, the presidents ex-
ecutive clerk, appeared and announced
the message of the president.
The seal of the envelop in which the
message was contained was broken by
the speaker himself and it was immedi-
ately laid before the house. The mem
bers on the floor and the spectators in
the galleries settled themselves and
gave the reading earnest attention.
The presidents review of the causes
leading up to the war, the manne in
which the preparations for hostilities
were made and the succession of vic
tories and land and sea were listened to
with rapt attention. The other provis-
ions of the message Were followed with
almost as must attention. There was
no expression of approval or disapprov-
al throughout the reading. AS soon as
the reading was concluded on motion
of Mr.. Dingley the message was order
ed printed, and then, at $3.50 p. m, the
house adjourned.