The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1900-12-07
CONGRESS IN SESSION
Crowds Witness the Opening.
Many Floral Tributes.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE READ.
Both Houses Adjourn Ont of Respect
to Memory of Deceased Members.
Republican Caucus Gives Ship
Subsidy Bill Precedence.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The two
houses met at noon yesterday and opened
the second and last session of the Fifty
sixth congress of the United States. The
weather was propitious, and the usua
crowds focked to the capitol to witness
the event
There were IS senators on the printed
roll, the full number being co. The five
vacancies We're those caused by the fail
ure by the legislatures of Pennsylvania,
Delaware and Utah to elect a senator
from each of these states, by the resigna-
tlon late in the last session of Senator
Clark of Montana and by the death last
week of Senator Davis of Minnesota.
There had been a prior death since the
close of the last session, that of Senator
Gear of Iowa, but the vacancy thus oc-
casioned was filled by the governors ap-
pointment of Jonathan p. Doliver,
whose name appeared on the printed list
of senator's.
As the hour of noon approached the
chamber looked as if all the florists
stores in the city had been sacked to fur
nish flowers for senators. They were
banked on desks so that it was impossi-
BILE to see any one seated behind them.
to announce the deaths of Senators Gear
of Iowa and Davis of Minnesota imme-
diately after assembling and then to adj
journ and to receive the message of the
president today, but as this had been
announced by the leaders of both branch
es of congress to be a quiet business
session" it was determined to receive
the message and thus gain one day in d
session when that much time may be of
immense importance.
Aside from the reading of the message
and the administration of the oath of of
flee to William B. Dillingham;, the new
senator from Vermont, who succeeds the
late Justin S. Morrill,, no business was
transacted. The other new member of
the body, former Representative Jona-
than L. Dolliver, who succeeds the late
Senator Gear of Iowa, was present, but
his credentials were not presented, and
he was not sworn in. These formalities
will be complied with today, now that
the senate has been informed officially
of the death of Senator Gear.
The opening of the session in the house
was brilliant, but not exciting. There
were the usual throngs in the galleries
and the usual display of floral pieces on
the floor, but the proceedings were pure
ly formal, consisting of the rapping to
order by the speaker prayer by the chap
lain, the roll call of members, the APP
pointment of the formal committees to
notify the president and the senate that
the house was ready to do business and
the reception and reading of the presi-
dents message. Despite the fact that
great presidential campaign had con-
cluded within a month the best of feel
ing seemed to prevail between victors
and vanquished. The reading of the
message, which naturally was the fea-
ture of the day, occupied over two hours.
1t was listened to with respectful inter
est by both sides.
The following members elect took the
oath of allegiance Albert d. Shaw, who
succeeds the late Representative Chick
ering of New York; Allen f. McDermott,
who succeeds the late Representative
DAILY of New Jersey; L. H. Ball, who
succeeds the late Representative Hof.
fecker of Delaware; Edward De V. Nor
rell, who succeeds the late Representa-
tive Harmer of Pennsylvania; William
Richardson, who succeeds General Joe
Wheeler of Alabama; w. H. Jackson,
who succeeds Governor Smith of Mary |
land, and Samuel d. Woods, who sue
ceeds Representative De Vries of Cali |
fornia.
The deaths of the late Representatives |
DAILY of New Jersey and HoffeCker of |
Delaware and Senators Davis of Mime |
sofa and Gear of Iowa were announced, |
and as further mark of respect to their
memories the house adjourned until to-
day.
The Republican senatorial committee
on order of business decided that the ship
subsidy bill should displace the Spooner
Philippine bill as the unfinished business.
1t also considered ut the same time the
disposition of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
and decided that that question should re-
ceive alternate attention with the ship
ping bill. The arrangement provides that
the shipping bill shall have preference,
but that when no one is prepared to
make a speech on it the senate shall go
into executive session for the cOnsidera-
ton of the treaty. In accordance with
this, Senator Frye at the first opportu-
nifty today will move to take up the bill,
and if this motion prevails, as there is
little doubt it will, the effect will be to
displace the Spooner bill, which there is
no disposition at this time to press.
A caucus of the Democratic members
of the house of representatives was held
IN the nan OF the mouse at the close of
the session to consider the course to be
taken on army legislation. Representa-
tive Hay of Virginia, a member of the
military committee, explained the status
of the army bill proposed by Secretary
Root and urged the desirability of not
legislating until the course of the gov
eminent as to the Philippines had been
more definitely determined. He proposed
the following resolution:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
caucus that the law now in existence as
TO the army be continued for two years
from July 1, 1900" This led to extend
ed discussion. Mr.. Hay finally withdrew
his resolution, and the other propositions
were not pressed, the caucus adjourning
without action.
Fire In Youngstown, o.