The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-03
In the sennte.

1DGE9 was ECE- sinai tGLlCA-t-slLLlG
when Senator Frye called the Senate to
order at noon today. but as the reading
Of the message began tardy members en-
tered from every dcor and the floor was
soon crowded.
The galleries were fairly well filed,
surprisingly large number Of ladies being
present The public galleries we're the
most patronized, however, and we're &C.
Cupied entirely by men.
The dull skies outside made the cham
ber almost dark-so dark that the Sena-
tors on the floor looked like mere shad-
ows. As the message was opened, how
ever. the electric bulbs in the glass roof
were lighted and a great glow OF yellow
coIoring flooded the chamber
Bunches OF flowers upon the desks Of
Senators Teller Of Colorado, CIapp of Min
nesota, and Mitchell Of Oregon gave the
only touch Of unusual color TO the scene
The prayer Of the blind chaplain asked
divine guidance of the President for whose
first official utterance as Chief Executive
the Senate was waiting. He asked that
life. comfort. and guidance Of the Divine
Spirit be bestowed upon him. and that he
De GGIeE'lSt from s-SN4AlELLA- NAJ4tAASC- G-S
case, and danger Of all character
The gIessa=e Received.
The committee appointed to wait upon
the President to inform him OF the organi-
cation OF Congress and Of its readiness to
receive any message he might have tO pre-
sent reported that it had fulfilled its mis-
sion, and that the President had an
nouneed that he would be pleased to COM
municate with the Senate.
Major O. L Pruden the Assistant
Secretary who has presented the mes
sages Of many Presidents, then appeared
at the main door of the Senate chamber
and was recognized.
"a message from the President of the
United States to the Congress-" was his
announcement. For the first time in his
tory the words in writing" were omitted,
The message was brought to the desk.
The great seal Of the United States was
broken by the clerk, and the reading Of the
first message Of President Theodore
Roosevelt was begun.
Conspicuous Figures in Senate.
Probably no Senator's took more interest
IN the message than Messrs- Platt of New
York. Lodge OF Massachusetts,, and Morgan
of Alabama. Mr. PIatt devoured every
word of the document long before the
clerk had concluded and seemed to enjoy
the strong terms IN which the President
message was couched-
Senator Lodge, lying back in his chair
UNDERSIGNED passages with a pen and
pointed them out 20 Senator Hanna, who
sat behind him. The latter seemed Il
have learned the message by heart be-
forehand as he did not refer to his copy
but punctuated paragraphs with solemn
mods Of his massive head and chin. Sen
ator Morgan listened to the clerk until {
powerful passage was read, when the ole
statesman would turn back to the item
in question and read it for his own sat
isfaction.
sixty-seyen Senator's Present.
Forty Republican Senators sat through
the reading of the message, while TWEEN
ty-seven Democratic Senators remained
in the chamber. Senator Jones of Arkan.
sas shared his copy with Senator Black
burn OF Kentucky, and the two rubbed
heads as they pored over page after page
IN order to have easy access to the docu
ment Senator CulIom of Illinois rippet
the cover from his copy, separated tn:
leaves, and read them one at q time