The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-06
CROWDS GREET CONGRESS.
oDoRS OF BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS
FILLED SENATE CHAMBER.

prc.ident's Message Read in Two
uo,,rs and Eighteen Minutes.
MEMBERS of Diplomatic Corps
Sbnke Hands-NO Partisan RancOr
in the HOuse-DingIey and Bailey
Met Most COrdiaIIN-Mr. Bailey
UonOred by the Speaker.
Washington, Dec. 5.-Congress reassem-
,Je5 Today under circumstances of un-
usual public interest.
The same Congress, six months ago, de-
clared war against Spain, and now with
tbe war fought and won, it came together
aoaln for the first legislative considera-
tior Of the questions developed by the
eyentful months just past
The spirit of the occasion was not, how
ever one of immediate expectancy, for
tsq few months left of the existence of
,be Fifty-ffth Congress gave promise of
lHtre more than a beginning on the mo-
mentous 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 ses-
sion. The weather imposed no barriers,
for the hurricane of yesterday had given
way 10 clearing skies and balmy air Long
bsrore the noon hour, when the Senate
and House began their work, the corri-
.jors were filed with surging crowds, CEN
,ering in the rotunda and statuary hall
and pushing towards the private gale
ries. No evidences remained of the explo-
Sion and fire which recently ravaged the
building.
When the Senate convened the cham
her presented a noble and beautiful ap-
pearance. BY II O'Clock the public and
nriyate galleries were filled almost to their
capacity with distinguished assemblage,
including many ladies' in brilliant attire.
on The floor the display of flowers was
unusually beautiful. even for the opening
day of a session of Congress. The odor Of
ihe flowers filed the chamber.
Through the courtesy of the Vice Presi-
dent. the members OF the joint high com
mission were admitted to the floor of the
Senate and were the recipients of much
attention.
Just before the session was called to
order several well-known members of the
diplomatic corps appeared in the diplo-
matte gallery. Among them were Sir Ju-
Ian Pauncefote ambassador of Great Bri-
tain to the United States and dean Of
the corps, with party from the British
embassy; wu Ting Fang, the Chinese min
ister and party and Ye PUN Chin, the Ko-
rean minister, was also present.
All were interested spectators of the
oponing scenes of the session and atten-
tive listeners to the reading of the Presi-
dents message. During a recess of three
quarters of an hour, while the Senate was
awaiting the presentation of the message
lrom the President, the members of the
Joint high commission he'd an informal
leyee, greeting personally nearly all of the
members of the American Senate.
The reading of the Presidents message,
N1lcn occupied two hours and eighteen
minutes, was received with very careful
Hten ,on for an hour. but after that the
senator's drifted to the cloak rooms or to
The committee rooms, where they could
paruse the message at their leisure in the
printed copies which had been furnished
them
When the clerk had concluded the read
lhs, Nh. Mason of Illinois presented a tel
'sram from Mr.. Pritchard of North Caro-
ma announcing that Illness prevented his
attendance at the opening of the session.
AT 3:46 the Senate adjourned.
In the House the greetings of the MEM
nerS were most cordial, and there was no
outcroppng of partisan rancor to mar the
occasion
one of the most striking incidents was
me cordial meeting between the floor lead
'iS oil the respective sides, Messrs. Ding
iey and Bailey. In view of the gossip
@oout the possibility of Mr.. Bailey being
Vtposed as the minority leader, il is sig
"Heant that the speaker named Mr.. Bailey
'S the minority member of the commit
'5e 10 wait upon the President an honor
""ays bestowed upon the recognized lead
N OF the minority.
speaker Reed received warm welcome
rom both sides of the House when he
's,ehded the rostrum to call the House to
O'ueI' but perhaps the greatest personal
VtatIon TO any member was that given
NdJ' ten. Wheeler of Alabama, who has
not been seen by many of his Old col
,edsues since he went to the front at the
ntdu OF the cavalry division of Gen. Shaf-
'ers army
lhe Moral tributes to-day were unus-
"a'y numerous and made the hall veri-
',o,e bower of beautiful flowers.
me proceedings themselves were duh,
|l m interest centering in the reading of the
iesldents message. For over two hours
.3e clerk droned through the long docu-
Heht' but the interest of members ana
SPECTATORS never tagged. No expression
approval or disapproval interrupted the
reading
At $3.50 the House adjourned until to-
morrow.