The herald., 1898-12-06
IN THE HOUSE
A Great Crowd Gathered for the
Ceremony

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-Exactly at
noon Speaker Reeds gavel came down with
sharp crack; the great ebony mace, en-.
twined with silver and surnounted with
a silver eagle, was lifted into place on its
marble pedestal, spreading folds of Ameri
can flags were broken to the breeze about
the brilliant stained glass ceiling, and the
house of representatives entered upon the
closing session of the memorable war Con-
gress. The scene within the great hall was
animated, brilliant and picturesque.
The sea of desks within the brass rails
were cut off from the lobbies, and spreading
in semi-ciIcular lines from the Speaker
rostrum like waves from a center, was a
vcritable flower garden. y majority of
members was in its place, while the en-
circling galleries were banked to the doors
with people. The assembling of session
of Congress is always a great magnet for
the multitude, but today the attraction was
| fraught with the added interest of all the
memories which clung about the war Con-
gress, the triunphs and reverses OF the re-
cent political battle at the polls and the
eagerness to hear the Presidents message
with its view of the events which have
! crowded the stage during this memorable
year, and its recommendations OF policies
tor the future. The public seemed to feel
that this was to be an epoch-maiing ses-
sion, and for hours before noon a steady
stream of people debouched from the corri.
doris into the galleries.
Even the private galleries were crowded
l. L IL l. e. :.
they contained many distinguished in so,
cial and high official life. The dainty Gre
ations of the milliners art and brilliantly
superb gowns gave color to the picture. The
members began arriving shortly before ii
o'clock, and the halls began to buzz as they
exchanged greetings, congratulations or
condolences. For those who had gone down
at the November elections there We're ex-
pressions of sympathy; for those who had
been victorious, words of congratulation.
Some OF the members had regular levces as
they appeared. This was markedly true of
Mr.. w. a. Stone OF Pennsylvania, Mr..
Sayers of Texas and McNIllin of Tenn
essce, each of whom was chosen Governor
OF his respective State at the recent elec-
tion. Here and there throughout the
throng was an officer in full uniform, an
unWonted figure on the floor and vivid re-
hinder of the war.
There was more than the usual number
of distinguished personages in the thronged
galleries, 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 mar
the occasion. One of the most striking in
cidents was the cordial meeting between
the floor leaders of the respective sides,
Nessrs Dngley and Bailey. In view of
the gossip about the possibility of Mr.. Bal
| ley's being deposed as the minority leader,
1t is significant that the speaker named Mr..
Bailey as the minority member OF the COM
mittee to wait on the president, 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
order, but perhaps the greatest personal
ovation to any member was that given to
Major General Wheeler of Alabama. who
has not been seen by many of his old col
leagues since he went to the front at the
head of the cavalry division of Shafters
army.
Mr.. w. A. Stone of PENNSYLVANIA, Mr..
McMillin of Tennessee and Mr.. Savers of
Texas, who have been elected governors Of