The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-01-06
SENATE.


Washington, January 4.-The first
session of the senate after the holiday
recess occupied only fourteen minutes.
although in that brief time W open
sessions and an ~xecutive session were
held.
Before the presiding officers gavel
fell on today's session, the senatorial
members of the peace commission APP
peared on the floor and were given a
hearty greeting by their colleagues.
In the absence Of the vice-president,
Senator Frye. of Maine, the president
pro tenn, called the senate to order. The
chaplain in his invocation made a
touching reference to the death of SEN
| ator Morrill,.
Scarcely had the clerk begun TO read
the journal of the last session OF the
senate, when Senator Davis moved
that the further reading be dispensed
with. The motion prevailed.
Senator Frye, who was in the chair,
Immediately recognized Major Pruden,
assistant secretary to the president,
who presented a message from the
| president of the United States. The
message contained the treaty of Paris.
On motion Of Senator Davis, the SEN
ate went into executive session, in or
der that the treaty might be referred
to the committee on foreign relations.
In a few minutes the senate recon
vened in open session and Senator AL
lison announced the death of Senator
Morrill,. In the course of his brief re-
marks, Senator. Allison said that Sen
ator Morrill, had come to the senate at
the opening of the session in December
and a taken part in the proceedings
until the day of the holiday recess. Al
though he was enfeebled in body, said
Senator Allison, his brain was active,
and his mental vision undimmed. The
fact that his activity was undiminiShed
led his colleagues to believe that he was
to remain with them yet a long time,
but an inscrutable Providence ordained
otherwise and he was called away sud
denly. Senator Allison alluded briefly
to the funeral arrangements which had
been carried out and then presented
the usual resolution expressive of the
sorrow of the senate. The resolution
was adopted.
Senator Allison presented another
resolution providing as a further mark
of respect hat the senate adjourn
This, too, was adopted, and the SEN
ate AZ 1915 o'clock p. m, adjourned
until tomorrow.
IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
When the senate went into executive
session today, the peace treaty, which
had just been received from the pres
ident, was laid before the senate by
senator Frye, who occupied the chain
in the absence of the vice-president
The treaty was not read, but the pres
ident'S message accompanying it was
This was a simple letter of transmittal
without any word of recommendation
or suggestion n was only a few lines
in length. On motion of Senator Da-
Wis, the treaty was referred to the com
mittee on foreign relations and ordered
printed for the use of the senate.
Senate Davis entered a motion to-
day to make the treaty and the pro
ceedings of the commission public, but
upon the suggestion of Senator ALI.
son., he withdrew that motion for the
purpose Of allowing the committee tC
act upon it. A meeting of the COM
mittee on foreign relations has beer
called for Friday and it is probable
hat the committee will then bring in
a resolution for the publication of both
the treaty me the proceedings.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The house spent the today consider
ing the bill to define and punish crimes
in Alaska and provide a code of Grim
inal procedure for the territory. The
bill was prepared by the commission
appointed to codify the laws of the
United States and is a voluminous
measure of 232 pages. Sixty-seven
pages were completed today and the
bill vas made a continuing order I'M
til disposed of. not, however, to inter
fere with appropriation bills or other
special orders. The only section of the
bill which promises to cause a contest
is that providing for the sale of liquor
in Alaska. Upon this question consid-
cradle difference of opinion developed.
The house adjourned out of respect
to the memory of the late Senate Nor