Evening star., 1899-01-04
Presidents Message Read in Execu-
tive Session.
SIMPLE LETTER OF TRANSMIrTAL
Matter Referred to Foreign ReIa-
tons Committee.
HOUSE CONSIDERS ALASKA

The first session of the Senate after the
utes, although in that brief time two open
sessions and an executive session were
held.
The galleries were we'll filled with specta-
tors before the Senate convened. the gen.
eral expectation being that the peace
treaty would be presented. Arrangements
had been made for speedy adjournment
today out of respect to the memory of the
late Senator Morrill, In such circum-
stances it is customary for the Senate to
transact no business, but to adjourn as
soon as the journal Is read and the formal
resolutions of sorrow are adopted
Before the presiding officers gavel fell on
todays session the senatorial members of
the peace commission appeared on the floor
and were given a hearty greeting by their
colleagues.
In the absence of the Vice President Mr.
Frye (Me), the president pro tenn, called
the Senate to order. 1t was a touching ref
erence which the chaplain made to the
death of Senator Morrill, in his invocation.
we come together" he prayed, under a
sense of bereavement by the absence of the
senior senator of Vermont whose wise
counsel and loving presence shall no more
enrich the proceedings in this chamber.
We bless Thee. o Lord for his noble life
for his example to all men, and we pray
that his spirit may ever abide within these
walls
Scarcely had the clerk begun to read the
journal of the last session of the Senate
when Mr.. Davis moved that the further
reading be dispensed with. The motion
prevailed
The Treaty of Peace.
Mr. Frye, who was in the chair immedi-
ately recognized Major Pruden. assistant
secretary to the President who presented
message from the President of the United
States The message contained the treaty
of Paris.
On motion of Mr.. Davis the Senate then
went into executive session, in order that
the treaty might be referred to the COM
mittee on foreign relations
When the Senate went into executive ses-
sion the treaty was laid before the Senate
by Senator Frye. The treaty was not read
but the Presidents message accompanying
1t was. This was a simple letter of trans
initial, without any word of recommends
tlon or suggestion, and was only a few
lines in length. On motion of Senator
DAVIS the treaty was referred to the COM
mittee on foreign relations and ordered
printed Tor the use of the Senate. No or
der was made looking to making the treaty
public, but it is understood that this will
be done after the treaty is passed upon by
the committee.
senator Davis entered a motion to make
the treaty and the proceedings Of the com
mission public, but upon the suggestion of
senator Allison he withdrew that motion
Tor ire purpose of allowing the committee
10 act upon 1t. A meeting of the commit
Tee on foreign relations has been called for
Friday, and it Is probable that the commit
tee VIII then bring in a resolution for the
publication of both the treaty and the pro-
Ceedings.
Adjourned AS Tribute.
In few minutes the Senate reconvened in
open session and Mr.. Allison announced
the death of Senator Morrill,. In the course
OF his brief remarks Mr.. Allison said that
Mr.. Morrill, had come to the Senate at the
opening Of the session in December and had
taken part in the proceedings until the day
OF the holiday recess. Although he was en-
feebled in body, said Mr.. Allison his brain
was active and his mental vision undim-
med. The fact that his activity was IN
diminished led his colleagues to believe that
ne was to remain with them yet a long
time but an fnscrutable Providence or
GAINED other wise, and he was called aWay
suddenly. Mr.. Allison alluded briefly to the
funeral arrangements which had been car
rled out and then presented the usual reso-
luton expressive of the sorrow of the Sem
ate. The resolution was adopted.
Then Mr.. Allison presented another resp
luton providing a further mark of re-
spect that the Senate adjourn. This too,
was adopted, and the Senate, at 1915, ad-
1ourned until tomorrow.