The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-03
Credentials Of General AIgGr
Presented and He is Cor
daily Received
GALLERIES FILLED WITH
FRIENDS AND ADMIRERS
Senators Listen Attentlvely to the
Presidents Message and Frequent
ly Confer on Special Points
Brought to Their Attention.

| washington, December 2.--Interest in
| the session of the senate today was
heightened by the fact that the Presi-
dents message to congress would be
read, and also that General Russell A
Alger of Michigan, former secretary OF
war under President Mckinley, would be
| sworn In to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of Senator Mcmillan. His desk and
chair was hidden beneath a mass Of
flowers and as he took his seat he was
surrounded by number of his colleagues
who extended hearty congratulations. In
the gallery were number of General
Alger's personal friends and members OF
his family.
One hour and fifteen minutes were con-
sumed in reading the Presidents mes
sage. Almost the entire republican rep
resentation was in their seats, but not
more than half the seats on the demo-
cratic side were occupied. The closest
attention was paid to the message, as 1t
was being read, and frequently senators
would confer regarding some special por-
tion of 1t, which had attracted their par
ticular notice.
A number of bills and resolutions were
introduced following brief executive
session. The resignation of the Rev. w.
H Milburn, the blind chaplain of the
senate, was received with genuine re-
gret. He had become a familiar figure
in the body and was personally acquaint-
ed with every senator. No action was
taken on the resignation.
At 1:50 the senate adjourned until to-
morrow out of respect to the memory
of the late Charles H. Russell. represent
| tative from Connecticut.
Adopts Credentials Presented.
Immediately after the reading of the
! journal Mr.. Burrows presented the cre-
| dentials OF Mr.. Alger and asked that the
! oath of office be administered to him.
| The new senator was then escorted to the
desk of the president pro TEN. Mr.. Frye,
by Mr. Burrows, where the oath was ad-
ministered.
Mr.. Alger's seat Is on the extreme
right of the democratic senators and was
completely hid from view by huge floral
pieces 1t was necessary to remove them
before he could sit down.
Messrs. Platt of Connecticut and Jones
of Arkansas, the committee appointed
by the senate to join a similar commit
tee from the house to notify the Presi-
dent that congress had assembled, re-
ported that they had performed this
duty Whereupon Mr.. Barnes assistant
secretary to the President delivered the
Presidents 8 message to congress. Printeo
| copies had been furnished each SENATOR
! and they closely followed the reading OF
| the document But few democrats were
in their seats when the reading OF the
message began.
Senior Qnesada, the Cuban minister,
again occupied a seat In the diplomatic
gallery, and evidenced much interest in
the message.
VIII Be Printed.
Upon the conclusion of the reading or
the message, which occupied an hour
and fifteen minutes, 1t was ordered to lie
I on the table and be printed. A concur
rent resolution offered by Mr.. Morgan,
Alabama providing for the printing OF
compilation of the bills and debates In
congress relating to trusts, was referred
to the committee on printing.
The senate then, at 1:27 p. M, on mo-
ton of Mr.. Lodge, went into executive
session.
The doors were opened at 1875. Mr..
Frye laid before the senate number
of annual reports of government officials
and then had read the resignation OF the
Rev. w. H. Milburn, the blind chap
lain of the senate
After the regular transaction Of some
routine business, Mr.. Platt Connecti-
! cut presented resolution expressing
! sorrow of the senate over the death uf
| Representative Charles II. Russell OF
| Connecticut, which was adopted and
! as a further mark of further respect the
senate, at 1:5O p. M, adjourned till to-
| morrow.