The Washington times., 1901-12-04
SENATORS DEEPLY INTERESTED.
Reading OF the Presidents Message
Closely Followed.

President Roosevelt s message was pre-
scented and read in the Senate yesterday to
the largest and most attentive gathering
OF auditors ever present during the recital
of the contents Of document from 4
Chief Executive. The deepest interest
was shown in the various subjects treat
ed and the long statement was followed,
word for word by the members of the
upper body, who were supplied with copies
as soCn as the seal had been broken
on the original package delivered by Ma
for Pruden. just after the reading of the
Journal OF the previous day proceedings.
Both Democrats and Republicans Join
Cd in the statement that the message was
the strongest and best sent to Congress
IN T1any years. Even the old followers
OF the trusts claimed to be unable to find
.ault with the document. Spectators and
statesmen alike sat spellbodnd for more
than two hours as the powerful words
rang out through the Senate. The warn
jngy and suggestions %ere more than
mere words. They seemed clothed with
the energy o: the hand which had penned
them and the brain which had given them
birth.
Senate Chamber Crowded.
Despite the inclement weather there WAS
a large gathering present in the chamber
when the readn" clerk took up the nncE-
sage, which covered forty-six pages and
required changes Of expression. The old
d-oning monotone Of other Gays could not
very we'll be applied to this message.
There was too much Of life and action in
it. There were a surprisingly large num-
Der Of women present. while the public
galleries we're packed with men.
in opering The labors OF the day the
Il U--s.. -
dent for whose first official utterance the
Senate was waiting ami prayed that he
might be preserved from accident. vio-
lence. and disease.
Senators Hale and Morgan, the com
mittee appointed to call upon the Presi-
dent and acquaint him with the fact that
Congress awaited any communication he
might desire to make. reported and stat
ed that Mr. Roosevelt would communicate
at once. Major Prudeu, who has carried
many message from Presidents, appeared
at the main door Of the chamber and was
recognized. He presented the message as
"a message to the Congress" thus, for
the first time, emitting the words in
writing" The message was brought to
the desk. and, after the great seal of the
United States had been broken by the
Reading Clerk. the presentation OF the
document began.
Probably no Senator'S took more interest
in the message than Messrs. Platt of New
York. Lodge of Massachusetts,. and Morgan
OF Alabama. Mr.. Platt devoured every
word of the document long before the
clerk had concluded and seemed TO enjoy
the strong terms in which the Presidents
message was couched.
Senator Lodge, lying back in his chair,
underscored passages with a pen and
pointed them out to Senator Hanna, who
sat behind him. The latter seemed TO
have learned the message by heart be-
forekand, 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 a
powerful. passage was read. when the old
statesman would turn back to the item
in question and read it for his own sat
isfaction.
sixty-sevcn Senators Present.
Forty Republican Senators sat through
the reading of the message. while twen-
ty-seyen 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-
meut Senator Cullom OF Illinois ripped
the cover from his copy, separated the
leaves, and read them one at a time.
The reading was concluded at 2:25
o'clock, and Senator Foraker Immediately
offered a resolution appointing at least
three prominent members of the Senate
as committee 20 consider and report by
what token of respect and affection it
may be proper for Congress 10 express
the deep sensibility of the nation to the
death OF the late President Mckinley.
Senator Frye will announce the commit
tee later.
The resolution was adopted, and the
Senate, at 2:20 o'clock. adjourned until
noon today.