New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-06
CONGRESS IN SESSION.
FACE TO FACE WITH NEW AND
GRAVE RESPONSIBILITIES.
LEGISLATORS APPROACH THEIR TASh
IN A SERIOUS FRAME OF MIND
FORMER PARTY ISSUES ONER-
SHhDOWED BY WAR
PROBLEMS.
trY TELEGRAPH 10 THE TnIBuSE.I

TELEGRAPH THE 1Elb'Nh'j
Washington Dec. 5-The third and last ses
sion Of the LVth Congress- congress WIN"
seens sure 10 hold a memorable place In the
legislative history of the United States-pee"n
at noon to day The stroke of the hour founu
both branches assembled in numbers exceptlonal
for the opening Of the short session. and notice
ablv IN resume the labors. varied, arduous ana
irnnortant which have raised the activities or
this Congress far above the level or routine
legislative life To a record which already IN
cludes the passage Of two great tarln ana
revenue bills, the annexation by JOINT resoiu-
ton Of the Hawaiian Republic and the deClaia
ton and financing Of the war against SPAIN ~
might seem futile for the two bodies 10 'ry u
accomplish at this eleventh hour additiohai reg
ielation eouallv distinctive and conspicuous But
IL the temper OF the two branches does not
change II would not be surprising 70 see 'he
claim Of this Congress to future credit ana pres
,jre strengthened by the enactment Of other
measures Of the first Importance Tor on the
programme Of the leaders for this winters bust
ling session are not only the expansion OF the
Regular Army TO a strength proportionate 10
! present Natoral needs, the erection OF govern
ment for Hawaii and the passage OF NC
aragua Canal bill. but also the ratihcation OF
the Spanish peace treaty with the new and
| nonoentous chapter II will open in the history
| NJ this cbuntrys relations with the rest OF the
| world.
SERIOUS MOOD OF THE MEMBERS.
II one thing struck the observer more thah
another at the Capitol to-day It was, indeed the
seriousness OF the mood in which the members
Of the two branches came together to resume
their work Since they dispersed hve moh'hs
| ago in the midst Of the first fervor and ex-
| ,t.~. 80, ,bo, anfir
lens has pressed to the front. The reorganNa-
ton Of the Army and the Army staff the en-
largement Of the Navy, the acquisition and gov
ernment Of distant territory, acquired through
war or treaty: the building Of an isthmian canal
! and the development OF steam and cable lines
| Of communication with the Nations new posses
! sions in the Pacfc-a.l these questions nave
| assumed an Importance wholly ooscurlng lor
the time the old party issues OF tariff and Sill
ver. The campaign Of 1895 has shown the dull
st that the mind Of the American voter Is turn
| nC from the old to the new problems ana
| will pardon no shrinking from the issues whlch
war has brought in It's train.
The Vests splendid Endorsement OF the Presi-
! dents progressive policy has left no doubt OF l'S
nonuIar acceptability and both friends and OPP
ponents Of that policy have returned to Wash
lngton sobered by the realization that the Ma
I
rnon-sense not quibbling, fantastcal. laisser-
faire treatment of the new responsibilities ana
opportunities imposed by victory on the United
states No Congress. perhaps. for years has
come back TO the seat OF Government after a
five months recess to find its field OF action
so completely and puzzlingly shifted from do
nestle 70 foreign or uuasi-fOreign problems, and
the sense Of this sudden change Of view was re-
Aected In the air Of mingled intensity and seri-
business much commented Oh In each house
this afternoon
GATHERING OF THE SENATOR'S
AS is usual on the opening day Of the short
session the reading Of the Presidents Message
was the single incident Of importance, and after
hearing It both branches adjourned. In the
Senate little occurred in the long walt for the
arrival OF the Message to reward the patience Of
this onlookers In the galleries. Conspicuous
among the visitors were the members Of the
Joint High Commission which is engaged In set
Ting questions in dispute between the United
States and Canada. At first the Commissioners
occupied seats upstairs. but after the recess was
declared most OF them went down on the floor
of the chamber and were introduced generally
70 the members Of the upper house. OF the
elghty-nine Senators whose names were called
a. the beginning OF the session. sixty-seven were
found TO be in their places and one Senator
elect. Mr. Simon. OF Oregon, appeared to take
the oath of office His admission raised the
membership Of the body 10 the full nt-ninety
for the first time in the life Of the present Con-
gress Mr. Simon Will only little more
than four years as the seat he takes has been
vacant since March T. 1897 The Senator
is Hebrew and takes pride In the fact that
he is the first Of his race 10 be elected 10 the
Senate from Western Northern State.
HAVOC WROUGHT BY THE ELECTIONS.
Among the Senators who before the gavel fell
and I'm the long recess were busy exchanging
greetings were many whose faces will be missed
by their colleagues after March next. Novem
hers elections bore heavily on the membership
on the Democratic side, less than nine OF
that party losing their seats through Republ-
can victories Mr.. German. the retiring leader
OF the oppostion attracted naturally the most
personal sympathy. though his defeat was ac
complished In 1897 not in 1895. His desk was
covered with roses and he showed himself as self
contained and scrupulousy affable as ever Mr..
Smith OF New-Jersey was almost hidden-wholly
hidden would OF course he out Of the question
behind a basket OF American Beauties fully
three feet high. He received many condolences
on his recent defeat. and seemed to take them
in the nghtest spirit. OF the other victims OF
last Novembers disaster Messrs. Roach. OF
North Dakota, and Allen. OF Nebraska. were
freely in evidence on the floor. and Mr. Faux
ner of West Virginia, now member Of the
Joint High Commission. was In his seat for a
few minutes. Mr.. Gray. Of Delaware. is serving
on the Paris Peace Commission abroad and
Messrs White. Of California, Turpie OF Indiana
Murphy. OF Nev-York. and Mitchell. OF Wiscon-
e,, vere nowhere 10 be seen
The actual work Of the session was brief and
formal The usual resolutions were offered
one 10 inform the House that the Senate was
ready TO transact business: one to fix the daily
hour Of meeting at noon; to inform the
prasidnrt through a iolnt committee that the