The sun., 1902-12-02
The CONGRESS IN SESSION.
DESKS OF MEMBERS ADORNED
WITH PIONEERS.
On senator Thomas &. Platt's Desk Was q
Euil.Itigged Bark with white SILK sails
No Flowers for senator Depew
senator NcNiiian's Death Announced

WAsHINGroN. Dec. The second ses-
sion - the Fifty-seventh Congress convened
| at IL o'clock to-day. The Senate gal
erics were iilloI an hour before noon
| The crowd waited patiently for the OPEN
| ing hour, meantime enjoying the floral
display.
Pages began at 1890 o'clock to place the
bouquets and set pieces on the little school,
boy-like desks where old Senators sit in
a crescent facing the presiding officer
Hardly desk was barren of rich floral
adornment. Chrysanthemums, roses and
highly colored ribbons lent a holiday color
to the sombre mahogany.
BY far the most striking piece was that
which graced the desk of the Hon. Thomas
rugged bark with white silk sails, the hull
composed of white immorteles and the
deck of violets. The card attached read
Prom New" Modest posies and rib-
bon-tied bouquets paled beside this
magnificent ship, and some Of the Senators
may have been little envious.
That ship ought to have been on my
desk, said Senator Frye, remembering the
hard work lie had done on the ship sub
sidy bill.
there was much mystery in and about the
Senate az 10 the meaning of the words
FROM New on the floral piece. II was
thought likely that the donor was Col
Harry New of Indiana. lie occupied a
seat in the gallery when the Senate met
Ii was learned, however. that the horai
ship Vas the gift OF some ladies' Of New
York. WHO iuadNer emily wrote ON the card
"trom New" inst. al ot From \ W York"
senator Depew strollcd IN late. and gazed
in rapture upon the ship. A beauty, he
exclaimed Then, going to his own desk.
he saw that not single ro,e adorned II.
Il am honored by being the only one who
didn't get flowers he said
The desk formerly occupied by the late
Senator Mcmillan, and now bearing the name
of Foster of Washington, was covered
by beautiful bouquet of white roses tied
by a broad white satin ribbon, and resting
upon spreading funereal palms. This was
the memorial OF the Senate. The desk was
undIaped.
No flowers. except the usual vase OF
roses, reposed on the presiding officers
desk. Senator Frye is opposed to the
floral habit on opening days, and when he
heard that "a big bunch of roses was OF
its way To his desk he directed page TO
take IL away.
At exactly IL o'clock the President pro
TEN. called the Senate TO order Prayer
was offered by the Rev +. J. Prettvman
OF Mount Vernon Methodist Church South
a brief and impressive invocation. The
roll call disclosed that sixty-eight Senators
were present.
A resolution offered by Senator Hale was
adopted, notifying the House that the
Senate was III session and ready for busi-
ness
senator Platt of Connecticut offered
a resolution providing for the appoint
ment of a committee To wal, upon the Presi-
dent. Senators Platt and Jones dem.
Ark were appointed.
A resolution offered by Senator Cullom
was adopted fixing the daily hour of meeting
M noon
Senator Burrows Of Michigan was
recogr i2ed. He arose TO annol n p the death
Of his colleague. James Mcmillan. His
voice broke as he made the announcement;
but. recovering. he spoke briefly bu, eo-
gVently Of McMillans death az Manchester
theSea. He offered the usual resou.
ton Of adjournment in respect to the
memory of the dead Senator. and at 1918
O'Clock the Senate adjourned