Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1904-12-08
CONGRESS CONVENES
Usual Crowds Witness the Opening
Proceedings.
Many Floral Gifts Noticeable on Desks Of
Senators and Representatives-N
but the Merest Routine Accom-
piished By Either House.

Washington, Dec. 5.-The last ses-
sion of the Fifty-Eighth congress was
called together at noon. The opening
was under the interesting conditions
and amid those scenes that have for
years made the re-assembling Of con-
gress among the notable events OF the
country.
Hundreds OF sigift-seers thronged the
corridors and crowded into the gal
leries 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 femi-
ninity distinguished the occasion from
any other in the official or social cal
endar Of the year.
From the lethargy which has char
acterized Washington since early In
the spring the city awakened to new
era and heralded with apparent Joy
the day which opens both the official
and social seasons.
The streets were crowded with peo-
pie intent on witnessing the ceremon-
les. Carriages flocked about the hotels
ready to carry guests to the capitol
and two hours before noon 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-as-
sembling was the absence Of kindly
faces grown old in the service Of the
country.
Rarely in the memory CT the old
guard has the opening day been made
such gala occasion. The galleries.
rather than the floor, proved the CEN
ter Of attraction for rows upon rows
of handsomely gowned women looked
down upton 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 flooded
with remembrances in the form OF
fora! pieces and the chambers pre-
rented an appearance which they never
know GA any other occasion. Baskets
and clusters of bright roses. chrysan-
them,ms and other fall flowers COW
cred the desks. Though rain and sleet
fell during the entire morning these
discomforts were insufficient to mar
the success of the event.
Those who attend the first day Of
session of congress gain but false
idea of the functions of the greatest
of all law-making institutions. In
the senate, after the usual formalities,
the session was adjourned out Of re-
spect for the late Senator Hoar OF
Massachusetts, and Quay Of Pennsyl-
vania In the house pending the an
nual message from the president moth
ing beyond the merest routine was ac-
complished.
This will be the short session OF
the Fifty-Eighth congress and a nota-
bly, interesting one. for, with the in
auguration of President Roosevelt, the
session will 60 out in blaze Of glory.
Cochran Introduces Two Bills.
Washington, Dec. 5.-Representative
Cochran, IN. W introduced bill
Monday providing that when any sums
exceeding $50 shall be contributed to
the funds of any political party or any
moneys expended by or on behalf OF
any candidate for representative In
congress or for presidential electors,
before an election at which representa-
tives or presidential electors are to be
chosen, a statement shall be filed with
in three days from such contributions
or expanding such moneys, in the Office
Of the clerk of the district court OF
the United States for the district in
which the person or firm or corpora
ton making such contribution or ex-
penditure shall reside, specifying the
amount, the name and residences Of |
donors, and of the person or officer re-
ceiving 1t.
Provision is made further for pub
fishing the statement and making the
failure to file statement a felony |
punishable by Imprisonment not to
exceed three years. He also intro
duced bill providing for the appoint
ment of a special committee to inquire
into and ascertain the amounts of
money expended by both parties at all
elections for presidential electors from
1892 to 1904 inclusive.