Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-12-06
BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE
FIFTY-FIFrH CONGRESS.
OPENING FULL OF INTEREST
ALL WASHINGTON TURNED ITS At
TENTION TO THE CAPITOL.
No Business Transacted in Either
House Beyond the Reading of
the Message and the IntrO-
duction of Bills and
Resolutions.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-Congress reas-
sembled to-day under circumstances of un-
usual public 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
consideration of the questions developed
by the eventful months just passed. The
| spirit of the occasion was not, however,
| one of immediate expectancy, for the few
| months left TO the existence of the Fifty
| fifth congress gave promise of little more
| than a beginning of the momentous policies
| and problems growing out of the war.
AS usual, all Washington turned its at
| tention to the capitol for that gala event
| which marks the opening day of session.
| The weather imposed no barriers, for the
| hurricane Of yesterday had given way to
clearing skies and bamy air. Long before
| the noon hour, when the senate and house
| began their work the corridors were filled
| with surginS crowds centering in the ro-
| tunda and Statuary hall, and pushing
| toward the private galleries. No evidences
| remained of the explosion and fire which
recently ravaged the building.
| BY II o'clock the leaders began to make
their appearance and the public galleries
filled rapidly.
| In the House.
The opening session of the house was
spectacular occasion, animated and bril-
| liant. There We're more than the usual
| number of distinguished personageS in the
| thronged galleries, including many repre-
sentatives of foreign governments, high Of
fcials and ladies and gentlemen conspicu-
! Gus in social and political life. The greet
| ings of the members were most cordial and
| there was no outcroppinS OF partisan ram
cor to mar the occasion. One Of the most
| striking incidents was the cordial meeting
| between the floor leaders Of the respect
i've sides, Messrs. Dingley and Bailey. In
view Of the gossip about the possibility of
Mr.. Bailey being deposed as the minority
leader, it is significant that the speaker
| named Mr. Bailey as the minority member
of the committee to wait upon, the presi-
dent, an honor always bestowed upon the
| recognized leader of the minority.
| Speaker Reed received a warm welcome
from both sides of the house when he as
| cended the roStrum to call the house to or
der, but perhaps the greatest personal ova-
ton to any member was that given Ma jor
General Wheeler: of Alabama. who has
head of the cavalry division of General
aEm Mr. McMn of
and Mr.. Sayers. of Texas, who have been
elected governors of their respective states
since congress adjourned. were also over
whelmed with congratulations.
The floral tributes to-day were unusually
numerous and made the hall a veritable
bower of beautiful flowers.
The proceedings themselves were duh, all
interest centering in the reading of the
presidents message. For over two hours
SPECTATORS ct @ never ss fiagsed With rapt at att
tention they followed the presidents recital
suggestion or Recommendation he had to
offer.
No expressions of approval or disapproval
interrupted the reading AS soon as the
reading was concluded. on motion Of Mr..
Dingley, the message was ordered printed,
and then. at $50 p. m, the house ad-
journed.
| When the senate convened the chamber
presented a notable and beautiful appear
ance. BY IL o'clock the public and pri-
vate galleries were filled almost to their
capacity with a distinguished assemblage,
including many ladies in brilliant attire.
On the floor of the senate the display of
flowers was unusually beautiful even for
the opening day of a session of congress.
The odor of the flowers filled the cham
ber.
The memorable scenes enacted in the
chamber during the last session and the
momentouS events that have occurred since
congress last adjourned, created a feeling
of intense expectancy on the part of both
the spectators and the members of the SEN
ate. This was made manifest by the long
lines of people in the corridors anxious to
gain admission to the galleries. and by the
! early arrival of the senators on the floor.
| Through the courtesy of the vice preSl-
dent. the members of the joint high COM
mission were admitted to the floor of the
senate, and were the recipients of much at
tention.
Several Diplomats Present.
Just before the senate was called to or
der several we'll known members of the
diplomatic corps appeared in the diplomatic
gallery.
Among them were Sir Julian Pauncefote
ambassador of Great Britain to the United
States and dean of the corps, with a par
~ from the British embassy: Mr.. Wu Ting
Fang, the Chinese minister, and party, and
Mr.. Ye Pun Chin, the Korean minister.
| opening scenes Of the session and attentive
listeners t. the reading of the, presidents 5
message.
| During a recess of three-quarters of an
hour. while the senate was awaiting the
presentation of the message from the
president, the members of the joint high
| commission held an Informal levee greet
ing personally nearly all of the members
of the American senate.
| The reading of the president q message,
| which occupied two hours and eighteen
minutes. was received with very careful at
tention for an hour. but after that the
senators drifted to the cloakrooms or to
| the committee rooms, where they could
peruse the message at their leisure in the
printed copies with which they had been
| furnished.
At S:45, on motion of Mr.. Platt, of Con-
nectcut, the senate adjourned.