, 1900-12-04
CONGRESS OPENS
SHORT SESSION OF THE FIFTY.
SEVENTH WAS BEGUN AT
NOON YESTERDAY.
The Galleries Were Crowded and the
Customary Scenes Of Interest Took
PIace-President's Message Read
and Listened to With Close Atten-
tion-Synopsis Of His Recommen-
dations.

Washington. Dec. 3.-The Fifty-srv.
enth congress of the United States be
gan its short session today at noon.
The formalities. pomp and impress,
siveness usually attending the opening
day were emphasized in an unpreCe,
denied manner.
The great theater of interest was the
senate chamber. Thither focked the
throngs which had filled the corridors
and anti-rooms during the early hours.
The galleries were packed to the very
doors. The diplomatic gallery was filled
with foreign ambassadors and their
wives. ministers and their families,
while the younger diplomats-the
Beau Brummels. accompanied by a
bevy of society bellies, lent ~vivacity to
the "coterie of the corps"
over in the reserved ladies gallery.
the wives and daughters of the noted
senators gazed down with admiration
and pride at the scene beneath them.
The desk of every senator in the cham.
Der was strewn with fragrant flowers
the gifts of friends. constituents and
office seekers.
On the desk formerly occupied by the
now dead statesman and leader of men.
Cushman X. Davis of Minnesota. a
broad band Of crepe was caught. and
dropped to the very floor. Old sena-
tors, colleagues of the famous leader.
paused thoughtfully and solemnly as
they passed the n desk unlocked of
flower, disrobed of all adornment. in so
brilliant a scene Of solemn festivities.
The heavy crepe drapery seemed a
mute reminder of their own loss. and
not one of the hearty old legislators
passed it unnoticed or without open
comment.
Senator Frye, acting as president pro
tempore of the senate. occupied the
vice presidents chair.
Senator Edward o. Wolcott appear
ed, not as a conquered monarch. nor
sSl III IA It VI hlSl D HlloHt ap
parel. such as he donned at the state
convention, but in all the grandeur of
his English cut regalia. The senator
went over to New York last week, and
his London tailor over there has fit
ted him out in a style which would
amaze anybody on earth except the
young attache of the British embassy,
who boasts of twenty trunks full"
Chairman Jones was probably the
most sought after man on the floor.
The leader of the democratic party was
the center of attraction until the sem
ate was called to order.
There was a steady hum of voices,
which was not stilled by any means
when the assistant doorkeeper, Mr..
Kennedy, announced in penetrating
tones at 11:45 o'clock hat all who
were not entitled to a seat in the SEN
ate chamber should retire.
Exactly when the two golden hands
of the big clock opposite the speakers
desk were both upon the figure IL the
clerk of the senate elbowed his way to
the desk and raped loudly for order.
The silence that followed was restful
after the loud hum Of voices.
Immediately Rev. William H. Mil
burn, the old blind chaplain. was invit-
ed to give the opening prayer. All the
statesmen stood with their heads bow
ed r~everently. The feeble old minister
was led to the platform by his young
daughter-the only woman who has
ever been allowed to enter the floor of
1.-THE senate during session. In weak and
trembling voice the aged chaplain call
ed down the blessing of the ruler of
man upon this great and trusted body
which makes the laws Of Jul land.
AS soon as the prayer was conclud-
ed. the calling of the roll was in order
to determine that a quorum of MEM
bers was present.
The senate then took a recess to
The senate chamber itself was gor
geous with its gold standard carpet,
which the democrats tread gingerly.
but which harmonized with the tinted
walls.
The buz of conversation during the
hour which preceded the hour Of loon
rivaled a Washington tea in full blast.
Veteran senators greeted familiar col
leagues, and new senators were intro
duced into the official family. Senator
Hanna limped in on his cane and stood
in striking contrast to Senator Jones
OF Arkansas. By some breach Of the
law Of eternal fitness Of things these
two men are seated almost side by side.
Senator Frye Of Maine called the
senate to order-the pages stood at pa
rade rest, the private secretaries rang
ed themselves around the walls in or
der. and the wise and worldly states
men quieted like so many boys under a
schoolmaster.