The semi-weekly messenger., 1900-12-07


congress adjourned and the second
session began today with many mo-
mentOus questions awaiting the atten-
tion of the national law makers. Early
in the day the tide of travel turned
down Pennsylvania avenue toward the
capitol and by IL o'clock the galleries
were overfowing.
There were a number of early con-
ferences among the senators and repre-
sentatives as to the weeks programme.
Speaker Henderson arrived at 11:15
o'clock and was soon surrounded by
members Most of the army of spec
tators fiocked to the house side.
THE SENATE.
In the senate today the work of the
short session of the Fifty-sixth con-
gress was successfully launched. The
ordinary purpose of the senate to an
nOunce the death of Senators Gear, OF
Iowa, and Davis, of Minnesota, imme-
diately after assembling and then to
adjourn and to receive the message Of
the president tomorrow was put aside
in order to gain one day in a session
when that much time may be of i'm
menSe Importance.
Aside from the reading of the mes
sage and the administration of the oath
of office to William 2. Dillingham;, the
new senator from Vermont, who sue
ceeds the late Justin S. Morrill,, no i'm
pOrtant business, was transacted. The
other new member of the body, former
Representative Jonathan p. Dolliver,
who succeeds the late Senator Gear, OF
Iowa, was present. He will be sworn
in tomorrow.
The scene in the senate chamber was
unusually brilliant. From the ceiling
the chamber was bathed in a subdued,
but lovely, light and the air was heavy
with the fragrance of magnificent floral
pieces.
After President Pro Tenn Frye
brought down his gavel at II o'clock de-
claring the session opened, the venera-
bic blind chaplain, Rev. Mr.. Milburn
invoked divine blessing, paying tribute
to the memory of the Senators Gear
and Davis.
Senator Proctor, of Vermont, present
ed Mr.. Dillingham's credentials and the
latter was administered the oath by
President Pro Tenn Frye.
The house was then notified that the
senate was ready to proceed to business
and Senators HOar and COckeren were
appointed to join representatives OF the
house in formally informing the presi-
dent that congress was in session, and
the usual resolution fixing II o'clock
noon each day as the hour of meeting
was adopted, and a recess of forty min
utes taken to await the return of the
committee sent to wait upon the presi-
dent.
On re-cOnvening a communication
from the house gave notice it was ready
for business.
Senator HOar, for the committee then
pressed his pleasure that congress
once more was in session and that he
would communicate with it forthwith.
Instantly Major Pruden, assistant
secretary to the president, was recog-
nized and presented the message of the
president. Secretary Bennett, of the
senate began at once the reading of
the document, the reading being care
fully followed and occupying one hour
and f1fty-fOur minutes.
Senator Allison. of Iowa, then an
nOunced Senator Gears death and Of
fered the usual resolution of sorrow.
Senator Nelson, of Minnesota, who
had but just returned from the funeral
of his colleague, Senator Cushman K.
Davis, announced formally the death
of Senator Davis.
The senate then at 3:45 o'clock upon
motion of Senator Allison, as an addf-
tiOnal mark of respect for the memory
of Senators Gear and Davis, adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..
Corded by overcrowded galleries,
bathed in light from the stained glass
windows overhead, the hall of repre-
SentatiVeS presented a brilliant spec
tacle when Speaker Henderson called
the second session of the Fifty-SiXth
congress to order at noon today. The
desks of half the members were decor
ated with flowers. The wealth and
beauty of the capital, gowned in smart
winter frocks. were in the galleries.
The floral pieces were of infinite varie-
ty. The greater proportion were on the
republican side.
AS the hands of the clock opposite
the speakers desk pointed to noon the
speaker ascended the roStrum and call
ed the house to order. Then the blind
chaplain lifted up his voice in prayer.
The chaplain referred feelingly to the
deaths of the late Representatives
Daily of New Jersey, and Hoffecker,
of Delaware, which occurred during the
recess.
After the prayer the clerk called the
roll. The confusion became so great
that the clerk could not hear the re-
SponSeS and the speaker was obliged
several times to call for order. The
usual notification was received from
the senate that it was ready for busf-
on the president.
The speaker announced that 275 men,
bers had responded to their names, a
quorum and the house was ready for
business.
Mr.. Bailey, of Texas, questioned the
form of the resignation of Representa-
tive Dolliver. whose successor, Mr.. J.
P Connor, was presented. He said he
doubted the right of a member to re-
sign at a future fixed date. He said
he would not raise the point formally,
but merely call attention to it so that
in future it could not be used as a prec-
edent. Mr.. Delivers resignation, he
said, had been rendered to take effect
December 1, so that Mr.. Connor had
been elected to fill a vacancy which did
not exist at the time of the election.
The spaker appointed Messrs. Payne
republican, of New York, Grosvencr,
republican. of Ohio, and Richardson
democrat. of Tennessee, to join the COM
mittee of the senate to wait on the
president. The clerk of the house also
was directed to give similar notice to