The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-08
Transition in the Senate is So Quiet That t Is Hardly
 Noticeable
THE MESSAGE IS READ AND
 TIE CUBAN BILL DISCUSSED
MT. cuIIom Makes a Speech Advocat- ing the Passage of the Measure In the Interest of Ameri-
 can Trade.

can lfduS.
 Washington, December 1.-The senate today closed the extraordinary session and entered on the duties of the regular session, but the transition was so natural as to be scarcely noticeable. The unus- ual features were the close of the so- called session by announcement from the chair, and the offering of two prayers in the senate within half hour of each other. The business transacted consist ed of the reading of the Presidents mes- sage and the beginning of the discussion of the Cuban reciprocity bill. MT. Gull lom who has charge of the Cuban bill, made a speech advocating it's passage in the interests of American trade.
 The first regular session of the Fifty eighth congress began at noon today. The fact that there had been an extra session had the effect of robbing the first day of the regular session of many of the features which usually characterize the first day, but there was still some of the usual indications, the principal one being
  ries were by no means crowded, but there was a larger attendance than usual and there was an air of expectancy which is noticeable only on unusual occasions.
 Thanks for Senator Frye.
 After the doors were opened Senator Platt of Connecticut presided over the senate during the favorable ordering of a resolution of thanks to Senator Frye for the courteous manner in which he has presided over the senate. The res olution was offered by MT. German
 Mr Kean made a favorable report from the committee on contingent ex- penses on the resolution of MT. Penrose, requesting the transmission to the sen ate by the postmaster general of all the papers relating to the postoffice investi- gation
 Mr. German objected to the present consideration of the resolution and 1t went to the calender.
 A favorable report was made by MT. Burton on the committee of forest reserves and the protection of game on a bill ere ating the national Appalachian forest reserve"
 MT. Frye then took the chair at F o'clock and announced that "the hour provided by law for the meeting of the first regular session of the fifty-eighth congress having arrived, l declare the extraordinary session adjourned without day"
 Prayer was offered by the Rev E. J. Prettyman The roll was called and sixty-seven senators having responded. MT. Frye announced that a quorum was present.
 Resolutions Offered.
 Resolutions were offered and agreed to as follows:
 By MT. Platt of Connecticut, fixing the daily meeting hour at 12 o'clock; by Mr. Power for a committee to inform the President that a quorum of the senate was present; by Mr. fIale that a com mittee of two senators be appointed to join a like committee from the house to notify the President that a quorum of the senate had assembled. Messrs. Hale and Cockrel were appointed by MT. Frye as this committee.
 As bill and petitions were being pre- sented MT. Hoar said 1t was not custom ary for the senate to transact business pending the notification of the President and on his motion a recess was taken at 1210 o'clock for one hour
 At 1:10 the senate again being called to order a further recess was taken until 1:40.
 Irpon the converting of the senate MT. Hale reported for the committee that the President had been advised and would shortly communicate a message.
 Presidents Message Read.
 Mir. Barnes, assistant secretary to tho President, then presented the message which was read at once.
 The reading of the Presidents message was concluded at 3:26 D. m.
 The senate took up the resolution call ing on the postmaster general to send to the senate commission on postoffice and post roads the papers bearing on the re- cent investigation into irregularities in the postoffiee department
 Mir. German suggested a number of amendments. the effect of which was to make it mandatory for the committee to make an investigation into postoffice af- fairs and to compel the committee to make a report to the senate by May 1, next
 Mir Penrose as author of the resou- tion and chairman of the committee, in- dicated q willingness to accept the amend ments but MT. platt of Connecticut ob- jected.
 MT. PIatt said that as originally intra- duced, the resolution left it optional with the committee to extend it's investigation if it thought necessary, after seeing Gen. eral Bristow's report. That, he thought, was just what should be done. To order a senatorial investigation now would be to make e start which he did not com slider wise.
 CuIlom on Reciprocity.
 After some informal discussion, the res Ia.f fs..