Hutchinson gazette., 1898-12-08
CONGRESS CONVENES
Our National Lawmakers Once
Moro at Work
THE PRESIDENTS ANNUAL MESSAGE.
The Reading OF the Important Docu-
ment LISTENED 10 with Unnbntcd
Interest -- The Message
Summarized.

a Washington, December 7.-Con-
Igress reassembled Monday under cir
cunslances Of unusual public inter-
est The same congress, six months
ago, declared war against Spain, and
now, with the war fought aud won,
~ came together again for the first
Legislative consideration OF the ques.
tlons developed by the eventful
months just passed, The spirit OF the
occasion was not, however, one OF inn
mediate expectancy for the few
months left to the existence OF the
FIFly-irlh congress gave promise OF
lIttlc more than n beginning OF the
, momentous policies and problems
growing out Of the war.
AS usual, all washington turned
its attention to the capitol for that
gala event whlch marks the opening
day Of u session. Hhe weather i'm
posed no barriers, for the hurricane
OF Sunday had given way to clear
ing skies and balmy air, Long be.
fore the noon hour, when the senate
and house began their work, the COR
ridors were filed with surging
crowds, centerlng in the rotunda and
statuary hail. and pushing toward
the private galleries, No evidences
remained of The explosion and fire
which recently ravaged the building.
BY IL o'clock the leaders began TO
make their appearance and the pub
Lie galleries filed rapidly,
The opening session Of the house
was a spectacular occasion, animated
and brilliant. There were more than
the usual number of distinguished
personages in the thronged galleries,
Including many representatives OF
foreign governments, high officials
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 incidents was the
cordial meeting between the floor
leaders Of the respective sides,
Messrs, Dlngley aud Bailey In view
of the gossip about the possibility OF
Mr., Bailey being deposed as the mi
nority leader, il Is significant that
the speaker named Mr.. Bailey as the
minority member of the committee
70 walt upon the president an honor
always bestowed upon the recognized
leader Of the minority.
Speaker Reed received u warm well
come from both sides of the house
when he assembled the rostrum to call
the house to ORDER but perhaps the
greatest personal ovation to any
member was that given Major Gen
erll 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
General Skaters army Mr., w, A.,
Stone, Of Pennsylvania; Mr.. McMll-
lin, OF Tennessee, and Mr., Sayers, OF
Texas. who have been elected govern
ors Of their respective states since
congress adjourned, were also over
whelmel with congratulations.
The floral tributes Monday were
unusually numerous and made the
hall veritnble bower Of beautiful
flowers,
The proceedings themselves were
dull. all interest ccuterlng in the
reading Of the presidents message,
For over two hours the clerk droned
through the long document, but the
interest Of members and spectators
never tagged. With rapt attention
they followed the presidents recital
of the war and listened eagerly to
every suggestion or recommendation
he had to offer,
No expressions Of approval or dis
approval interrupted the reading, As
soon as The reading was concluded,
on motion of Mr., Dingley, the mes
sage was ordered printed, and then,
at $3.50 p, M, the house adjourned.
When the senate convened the
chamber presented notable and
beautiful appearance. BY II o'clock
the public and private galleries were
filed almost to their capacity with q
distinguished assemblage, including
many ladies in brilliant attire.
On the floor OF the senate the dis !
play of flowers was unusually beau
tiful, even for the opening day of
flowers flied the chamber.
The memorable scenes enacted in
the chamber during the last session,
and the momentous events that have
occurred since congress last adjourn.
ed, created u feeling Of intense expec'
fancy on the part Of both the spec 7
tators and the members OF the sem
ate. This was made manifest by the
long line of people in the corridors
anxious TO gain admission to the gall
leries, and by the early arrival OF the
senators on the floor
Through The courtesy OF the vice
president, the members Of the joint
high commission were admitted to
the floor OF the senate, and were the
recipients OF much attention.
just before the senate was called
10 order 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 party from the
British embassy; Mr.. Wu Ting Fang,
the Chinese. minister, and party. and
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