Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-28

that high functionary. previous to the cere-
nnOny to be described.
On February 5 the two houses of Con-
gress will meet, as usual, a noon, at which
hour flag run up on each of their re-
speCtive wings of the Capitol will proclaim
their sitting. For several previous hours
large crowds will have been swarming to
tie great granite pile. There will be a
scuffiing of hundreds of feet up the wind
ing marble Stairways. and doorkeeperS,
lounging easily in their chairs outside the
gallery entrances of the House of Repre-
sentatives, will be importuned for admit
tance. But senators, representatives, their
families and friends will alone be permit
ted by card to occupy the seats usually
set apart for the general public. The dis
appointed ones will descend to the main
floor of the great building and line them
selves along the two good blocks of corrl-
dor connecting the wings of the edifce-
The Senate on Parade
At 1 o'clock a messenger having notified
the upper house that the lower is ready,
the southern door of the Senate chamber
will open. and. tramp, tramp tramp"
procession of sages will issue forth upon
the mosaic floor of the corridor. Ahead of
them will march a phalanx of Capitol
police-the very creme de la creme of the
nations "fnest'-in bright blue uniforms
and shining brass buttons Behind them
the assistant doorkeepers Of the Senate
will bear the polished mahogany boxes,
bearing the sealed certificates of the cleo
toral vote. Next will march the sergeant
alarms of the Senate, Col. Daniel NJ.
RamsdeIl followed by the president pro
tempore Senator VIM. p. Frye of Maine
(who presides over the Senate in the alb
Bencc of a Vice President of the United
States) Senator Frye will be escorted by
Chas. c. Bennett, clerk of the Senate. Be
hind them the senators will follow in dou-
BILE file.
Before this distinguished procession
reaches the swinging northern door of the
hall of the House Doorkeeper F. B. Lyon
of that body will enter the great chamber
by the center aisle and formally announce
10 the Speaker the arrival of the Senate.
The Speaker Will rise, his example being
followed by the $50 other members in a
body. All will remain standing until the
upper house is seated. Previously ninety
representatives, on the democratic side will
have vacated their chairs in the first four
rows to the right of the Speaker, and will
have been crowded in among the members
In the remainder of the hall. Few among
the general public aware of the fact
that the democrats occupy the honor seats
in both houses of Congress-those on the
fight of the presiding officer. The republic
can majority in recent Congresses has been
so great. however, that legislators of that
faith have overrun the honor side 10 a con-
Siderable extent.
Beneath the large silk flag draped above
the presiding officers chair President Pro
TEN. Frye and Speaker Cannon will sit side
by side the former, on the right, being by
Statute the presiding officer of the Joint ses-
sion. Congress many years ago specified
very clearly as to who should preside on
such an occasion, and perhaps the leaders
of that day toreSaw that q babel such as
occurred a few weeks ago in the Colorado
state capitol might be witnessed In the ma
tlonal House on an occasion of bitter politi-
cal strife. The Colorado legislature was In
5oint session, performing for the state the
Same function which Congress will perform
for the nation-tbe ratification of the ex-
ecutive vote-when the dispute arose as to
who was the presiding officer OF the Joint
session. and when the lieutenant governor
and speaker endeavored to OUTBOUND each
0ther with their gavels while each contra
dicted the ruling of the other.
How Morton Blocked Ceremony.
The two mahogany cases will repose unop
the Speakers desk, the two keys being
placed before Senator Frye The ceremony
viii actually commence with the unlocking
or the boxes by the President pro tenn In
1888 hitch occurred at this stage of the
ceremony. Mr.. Morton was then Vice Pres
Adent He put out his hand to take up the
keys but they were not In their traditional
place. He raised various sheets of paper
Upon his broad desk and peered beneath
Them The Speaker. seated beside him,
looked under the inkstand but still no kew
was to be found. The secretary. the clerk
and various other attaches Joined in fine
Eeareh. the Vice President growing more
and more nervous every minute. The bOxes
were tried. but their locks refused to Yield
~ began to look as though Grover Cleye-