The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-12-14
A BRILLIANT SCENE
Flowers and Fair Women Ad-
ded Luster to the Occa-
sion-Opening Ses-
sion Very Brief.

A Washington special says With
the senate in session thirteen miAutas
and the house fifty-three minutes, the
last session Of the fifty-eighth con.
gress was assembled Monday at noon.
Tho time Of both bodies was devoted
entirely to the usual formalities of
opening day. There were the greet
ings between members the great floral
display, and the hundreds OF visitors,
with beautifully gowned women pre-.
dominating, corridors, committee
rooms were thronged. The hustle ex-
tended even to the floors of the cham
bers.
The gavels of Senator Frye, presi-
dent pro TEN. OF the senate, and Speak.
er Cannon, Of the house. fell exactly
at IL o'clock. The opening prayers
were made by the chaplains, Rev. Ed.
ward Everett Hale, ID. d., in the sen.
ate and Rev. II. N. Coudon, in the
house. In both house and senate com.
mittees were appointed to wait on tho
president to inform him that congress
was ready to receive any communica.
tion he had to send. Resolutions Of
respect to the memory of the la,o
Senator Hoar, Of Massachusetts, and
Senator Quay, Of Pennsylvania were
adopted by both houses, and the OBJ
jections taken were in further tribute
to their memory.
The only business outside OF the u.s.
ual first-day routine was the adoption
OF resolution in the house extending
until January 5, 1905, the time within
which the merchant marine commits
sion may make it's report.
The opening was under the usual
interesting conditions and amid those
scenes that for years have made the
re-assembling Of congress among the
notable events of the country
Hundreds OF sightsoers thronged the
corrldors and crowded into the CALLER
les to witness the formal PROCEEDINGS.
From one end of the capitol building
TO the other busy tread of statesmen
and the hutter of femininity distin.
guished the occasion from any other
In the official or social calendar Of the
year.
'> From the lethayTA which has cher
acterlzed Wask:>,sr since early in
the spring. t"aiaa awakened to
new era alr-- I'd with aDDaren.
Joy the day which opens both the Of,
fetal and social seasons.
Many newly-elected members we're
at the capital, although they will not
enter Office untih after March 4th.
particularly sad feature Of the re.
assembling was the absence of kindly
faces grown old in the service of the
country.
The galleries, rather than the floor,
proved the center of attraction, for
rows upon rows Of handsomely gown.
ed women looked down upon the
statesmen who grouped about the
chamber or strolled in and out of the
cloak rooms to exchange greetings
with old friends Or to recognize new
ones.
Many members of both bodies were
hooded with "reminiscences in the form
OF floral pieces and the chambers pre-.
sented an appearance which they neY.
er know on any other occasion Bas.
kets and clusters OF bright roses,
chrysanthemums and other fall flow.
ers covered the desks. Though rain
and sleet fell during the entire morn.
Ing, these discomforts were INSULT
Client to mar the success OF the event.
For an hour or more preceding the
calling OF the house to order by
Speaker Cannon, the members slowly
filed into the chamber and exchanged