The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-06
DESKS PILED5HlGH
WITH RARE FLOWERS.
Men Of Both Parties Mingle and
Discuss Issues Of Last Elec-
tion-The Merchant Marine
Commission Given IN
til January 5th to
Report.
cBy ISOLATED Press.)

1ptAS1II N CTT0N, D. c.. December o.
with tho Senate in sesslon thirteen min
utes and the House Gfty-three minutes,
tho last session OF the F'ifty-eighth Con-s
gross was assembled today The time
Of both bodies was devoted entirely to tho
usual rorlnauties attended by scenes fa-
miiiar, but always Interesting. There
were tho greetings between members. tho
great floral display and the hundreds of
visitors, With beautifully gowned women
predoninating. Corridors, committee
rooms and cloak rooms were throngcd.
rho hustle extended even to tho floors
OF the chambers. although no weignty
executive, problems awaited solution.
The gavels OF Senator Frye. President
riro ten. of the Senate, and Speaker Can
non. ofSthe House, fell Il exactly at, az
20 clock. The opening praye We're made.
l,y the chaplains, Rev. -dward Everett
Hale. j.. T.. III the Senate and ltey. IL. a !.
Coudcn. III the louise. ii NJ; 8
ain both tlle8 Senate and the II Iouse COM
mittees were appointed to walt on lie
President and inform him that Congress
was ready to receive any communication.
hp had to send. u Resolutions Of respect
to th,s memory Of the late Senators Hoar,
of Massachusetts and Quay. OF Penn;
.sylvaili;i, were adopted by both houses,
and tho ad jollrnments were further tli-
Iii ties to their memory. The only business
outside OF the usual nrst-day3 routine was
the adoption Of a resolution in tile House
extending until January O.. 19O5, the time
In wllicls the Merchant Marine Commits
sion may make ITS report # sil w IA
The Senate.
tBys Associated Press
& E#lyASHINGrQN, i l). ca December b.-----
The Senate convened promptly ut noon
to-day ~ 'rhe first senator In his seat
was Mr. Plat, Of New ork. Long be-
foro Il o. clock tic galleries were filled,
but the buzz OF conversations ceased
abruptly when President Pro Ten. I'ryc's
gavel fell Rev. Edward u Everett Hale,
u. i. !. chaplain of tho Senate, offered
prayer. Two seats had been vacated by
death. those of Senators IIoar, of Nrassa-
sc,usetts. and Quay, OF Pennsylvania.
Their successors, nntors-elect Crane, Of
NIassachrse It's, and Knox, OF Pennsylva-
5 MA attended the session. II
rhe flora! decorations were equal to
those or any session. the history Of the
Senate. Many desks were overflowing
with the offerings and the Senate force
was occupied from IL until 12 o'clock In
arranging them SO senators cou.lsS take
their. seats. Tic largest single tribute
wis paced : OllELHe sucSK OL oeHdlOFsfIlll
man. Of South Carolina. l t was n huge
basket OF American Beauty roses and
8chrysanthemums. The large collection Of
flowers was that to Senator Dryden Of
New Jersey. Il }8Ss
When Senator Fairbanks tho Nice-Pres-
ident-elect, entered the chamber. lie was
greeted warmly by many of his COLI
leagues The visitors npplauded his en-
trance with cheers and llandclapping.
Senator Allison made the usual formal
motion that n committee be named to
inform the President that the Senate wns
ready to receive any message he had 10
communicate. President Pro TEN. Frye
appointed Messrs. AllisonS and Coclsrell
for this duty.
Tho death OF tho late Senator Quay was
announced by Mr. l'enlpse, aud Mr.
Lodge, OF Massachusetts, announced the
death OF his late colleague, Mr. Hour
Tho Senate then adjourned
The House.
5i tRy Associated Press) &
WASlllNGTON, Dec. 5.-The House
Of Representatives convened to-day at
noon. The gallery doors We're thrown
open ut llalf-pust ten o'clock ana IN a
Very short time every seat was taken.
The diplomatic crops was well repre-
sented in the section set apart for their
especial use. The spectators evinced the
greatest interest In the happenings on
the floor below. and kept up an incessant
conversations. Now and then as some
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