The Washington times., 1905-11-30

ARRANGEMENTS for the opening Of the
first session Of the ffty-ninth Congress
next Monday are practically complete
at both ends of the Capitol More than
half OF the members OF House and
Senate are already assembled in Wash
ington. and those who are yet absent
win put in an appearance as soon as
they can get away from their family
Thanksgiving dinners.
A number of important and interesting
changes have been made at the Capitol,
Ia anticipation OF the reassembling Of
the law makers. A new and extensive
ventilating system has been pUt in,
and the Improvement is distinctly
noticeable. The interior of the Rotunda
has been restored in such manner that
it now looks as clean and new as il
did half a century ago.
The great anegOrical picture in the
roof was renewed by skilled painters
all the paint was scratched from the
stone walls so that the stone carvings.
wreaths and garlands, some OF them
representing scenes from the Colonial
days and the early history of the cOun-
try, again stand out in sharp outline
the dust OF decades removed from their
beautiful surfaces. There will be 900
electric lights III the rejuvenated Ro-
tunda. and there viii be no more SCOT
and smoke from gas jets to age the his
torical paintings and their frame work.
which latter has been all gone over
with gold foil.
New Bronze Doors.
Two new massive bronze doors nave
been placed in the House wing the de-
sign for which was begun forty-seven
years ago, at Rome. by Thomas Craw-
ford, the American sculptor. which.
with their frames. weigh seven tons, and
which were recently finished at his
Chicopee, Mass, foundry by Nelzar
H Mosman for a price OF s450OO
Tho proceedings in the Senate next
Monday win be exceedingly brief That
august body viii be called to order By
Vice President Fairbanks at noon.
Prayer viii be offered by Chaplain Ed
ward Everett Hale. Then comes the roll
call, and the presentation and swearing,
in OF the new members. Resolutions will
be adopted informing the House that
the Senate IS assembled and ready to
proceed TO business and providing for
the appointment OF q committee TO act
with a similar committee on the part
of the House to notify the President
that the Congress IS ready to receive
any Communication he may desire TO
transmit. A resolution win be adopted
fixing noon as the daily hour of meet
ing, and then the Senate Will be form
ally notified of the death Of its late
member, Orville H. Platt OF Connecticut
As a further mark of respect to his
memory, the Senate will then adjourn
an agreement having been reached by
which the President viii not submit his
annual message unt5l the following day
Opening in the House.
The House Will be called to order By
the clerk Of the last House. Hon. Alex
ander Mcdowell. Chaplain Henry n
Couden viii offer a prayer The roll viii
be called, and the House VIII proceed
TO the election. OF a Speaker. Uncle Joe,
Cannon. Of Illinois, the Speaker Of the
last House. viii be placed in nomina-
tion by the Republicans John Sharp
Williams, of mississippi viii receive
the honorary nomination from his Dem
ocEatic colleagues. Tellers will be ap-
pointed. and a roll call viii ensue. Clerk
Mcdowell viii announce the result. and
Williams. the defeated candidate viii
escort Uncle Joe" to the chair. A brief
speech by the new Speaker. and Repre-
sentative Bingham. of Pennsylvania, the
Father Of the House" viii administer
TO him the oath Of office. The Speaker,
IN turn. Will administer the oath OF Office