Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-12-06
CONGRESS C0NVENES
The Presidents Message Read il
Both Houses Yesterday.
DEATHS OF MEMBERS ANNOUNCED.
Bath Chambers Then Adjourn Out Of Re.
speot-TwO Hundred and seventy-Five
Members Present In the House
New Members Sworn In.

Washington, Dec. 4.-When the SCI
ste convened yesterday for the shol
session of the Fifty-sixth congres
II was within the shadow of th at
Of two of its most distinguish. en-
bcrs. The fall OF Senator FryeS , I've
caused q hush to fall over the cham
Der at IL o'clock, and then Mr.. Mil
burn, the venerable blind chaplain, ii
. beautiful prayer, paid touching
tribute to the deaths of Senator
Davis and Gear.
The call of the roll disclosed tn
presence of 81 senator's and the sen
ete then proceeded to routine bust
ness.
William B. Dillingham; was sworl
In to fill the unexpired term of thu
late Justin S. Morrill,
A resolution by Senator Hoar, Of
Massachusetts, that committee Of
two senator's be appointed to join o
similar committee Of the house to in.
form the president that the congress
was in session and ready to receive
any communication he might have ia
make was adopted. The chair ap'
pointed Senators Hoar and Cockrell.
The senate, on motion of Senator
Hale, then took recess Of 40 min
utes and on reassembling Senator
Hoar announced that the president
had expressed his pleasure that con-
gress once more was in session and
that he would communicate with IT
forthwith. Instantly Maj. rruden,
one Of the secretaries of the president,
was recognized and presented the
awaited message Of the president. II
took Mr.. Bennett, the secretary OF
the senate, one hour and SO minutes
to read 1t.
Senator Allison then announced the
death in July last Of his colleague,
Senator John Henry Gear, and e.
fered the usual resolution Of sorrow,
which was adopted.
Senator Nelson, of Minnesota, who
had returned only two hours before
from st. Paul, announced formally
the death Of Senator Davis, saying
that in his death "the nation has lost
one of its wisest public servants and
the state of Minnesota one of its dis
tinguishd SONS
The senate then at 3:45, on motion
Of Senator Allison, as an additional
mark of respect for the memories of
Senator Gear and Senator Davis, adj
jonrned.
The Proceedings In the House
Washington, Dec. 4.-The opening
of the session in the house yesterday
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
purely formal, consisting of the
rnpping to order by the speaker,
prayer by the chaplain, the roll call
Of members, the appointment of the
formal committees to wait on the
president and the reception and read
ing of the presidents message. De-
spite the fact that great presiden-
tinl campaign had concluded within a
month the best of feeling seemed to
prevail between vlctors ana van
quished. The reading of the message,
which naturally was the feature of
the day, occupied over two hours. 1t
was listened to with respectful inter
est by both sides.
When Speaker Henderson called the
house to order at noon the desks of
half the members were freighted
with flowers from admiring friends
OF constituents. Then the blind
chaplain delivered prayer. In his
invocation the chaplain referred feel
ing to the deaths of the late Repre-
sentatives DAILY, of New Jersey, and
Hoffecker, of Delaware, which oc-
Cured during the recess.
The speaker then directed the clerk
to call the roll. AS soon as the clerk
began the conversation on the floor
and In the galleries was resumed. The
confusion became so great that the
clerk could not hear the responses
and the speaker was obliged several
times to call for order.
The speaker announced that 275
members had responded to their
names, Il. quorum, and the house was
ready for business. New members
then took the oath of allegiance.
Messrs. Payne (rep., N. W, Gros-
venor (rep., o. and Richardson (dem.,
Tenn were appointed to join the
committee Of the senate to notify
the president that congress was in
session and ready to receive any COM
municaton from him. The clerk also
was directed by resolution to notify
the senate that the house was ready
to do business After the adoption
OF these formal resolutions the house,
ut one o'clock, took recess until two
o'clock. when the presidents message
was laid before the house. Its reading
was listened to attentively.
The deaths of the late Representa-
tive Hoffecker, of Delaware; the late
ReDrespntatiye Daly. of Nav -Jereay.