The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-05
CONGRESS- MEETS
Last Session of the Fifty eighth
Called Together at Noon.
Hundreds Of Sightseers ThrOng
the Capitol Corridors.
WASHINGTON AWAkES.
Streets Crowded With People
Intent on Seeing Ceremony.
Many sNeWly Elected Members
Present at the Opening.
SESSION WAS SHORT.
The Senate Adjourned In 13
Minutes After Assembling.
Senator Burton of Kansas Did
Not Appear on the Floor.
Streets Crowded With People
Intent on Seeing Ceremony.
Many Newly Elected Members
Present at the Opening.
SESSION WAS SHORT.
The Senate Adjourned i'm 13
Minutes After Assembling.
Senator Burton of Kansas Did
Not Appear ON the Floor.

Washington, Dec. 5.-The last session
of the Fifty-eighth congress was called
together at noon today, The opening
was under the interesting conditions
and amid those scenes that have for
years made the reassembling of con-
gress among the notable events of the
country.
Hundreds of sightseers today throng-
ed the corridors and crowded into the
galleries to witness the formal proceed
ings. From one end of the Capitol
building to the other the busy tread of
statesmen and the futter of femininity
distinguished the occasion from any
other of the official OF social calendar
of the year. From the lethargy which
has characterized Washington since
early in the spring the city awakened
TO a new era and heralded with appar-
ent joy the day which opens both the
official and social seasons.
The streets were crowded with peo-
pie intent ON witnessing the ceremonies.
Carriages focked about the hotels ready
to carry guests to the capitol and two
hours before noon a steady stream of
vehicles bearing gay parties made its
way to the east front of the building
Many newly elected members were
at the capitol, although they will not
enter office until after March 4. A
particularly sad feature of the re-
faces grown old in the service of the
country. Rarely in the memory of the
old guard has the opening day been
made such a gala occasion. The gal
leries, rather than the floor, proved
the center of attraction for rows upon
rows of handsomely gowned women
looked down upon the statesmen who
grouped about the chambers or
strolled in and out of the cloak rooms
to exchange greetings with old friends
and receive those of new ones.
Members of both bodies were flood
ed with remembrances in the form Of
floral pieces and the chambers pre-
Sented an appearance which they new
er knew 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 insufficient
to mar the success of the event. Those
congress gain but a false idea of the
functions of the greatest of all law
making institutions.
In the senate, after the usual formali-
ties, the session was adjourned out
of respect for the late Senators Hoar,
of Massachusetts, and Quay, of Penn
sylvania. In the house pending the an
nual message from the president, Moth
ing beyond the merest routine was
accomplished. This will be the short
session of the Fffty-eighth congress and
a notably interesting one, for with the
Inauguration of President Roosevelt,
the session will go out in a blaze of
glory. Only once in four years does
congress have an opportunity to wind
up its affairs under the historic condi-
tiOns which will prevail next March.