The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-12-07
CONGRESS CONVENES.
Proceeding of the First Days Meet
ing of Closing Session.
Senate Meets In the Shadow of the Death
of Two Members-Presldent's Message
Read In Both Bodies-UnimpOr-
tanu Preiiminaries.


tanu Preiiminaries.
Washington, Dec. 4.-When the SEN
ate convened yesterday for the short
session of the Fifty-sixth congress
it was within the shadow of the death
of two of it's most distinguished mem
bers. The fall of Senator Frye's gaveI
caused a hush to fall over the cham
Der at IL o'clock, and then Mr.. Mil
burn, the venerable blind chaplain, in
a beautiful prayer, paid touching
tribute to the deaths of Senators
Davis and Gear.
The call of the roll disclosed the
presence of 81 senator's and the SEN
ate then proceeded to routine bust
ness.
William B. Dillingham; was sworn
in to fill the uneXpired term of the
late Justin S. Morrill,.
The senate, on motion of Senator
Hale, then took a recess of 40 min
utes and on reas1embling 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. Pruden,
one of the secretaries of the president,
was recognized and presented the
awaited message of the president. 1t
took Mr.. Bennett, the secretary of
the senate, one hour and so minutes
to read it.
Senator Allison then announced the
death in July last of his colleague,
Senator John Henry Gear, and Of
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 1.-The nation has lost
one of it's wisest public servants and
the state of Minnesota one of it's 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
journed.
The Proceedings In the House.
Washington, Dec. 4.-The opening
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
rapping 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-
tial campaign had concluded within
month the best of feeling seemed to
prevail between victors and van
pushed. The reading of the message,
which naturally was the feature Of
the day, occupied over two hours. It
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 a prayer. In his
invocation the chaplain referred feel
W Tic Qcd Ills VI Cuc ldCC 6Cpr0t
sentatives DAILY, of New Jersey, and
Hoffecker, of Delaware, which oc-
CURED during the recess.
Messrs. Payne (rep., N. ", 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
munication 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,
at one o'clock, took recess until two
o'clock, when the presidents message
was laid before the house. It's reading
was listened to attentively.
The deaths of the late Representa-
tive Hoffecker, of Delaware; the late
Representative DAILY, of New Jersey;
the late Senator Gear, of Iowa, and
the late Senator Davis, of Minnesota
were then announced and after the
adoption of resolutions of regret the
house as a further mark of respect
to the memory of the deceased states
men at 1920 p. m. adjourned.