Evening Star Newspaper, December 5, 1898, Page 5

HE EVENING STAR, ENES €UDLISHED DAILY, EXCRET SUNDAY, AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Ave., Cor. Irth St., by The Evening Star Newspaper Company. 8. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres’t. as - - New York Office, 49 Potter Bai! = = = bs Er Nsertere tn the at 10 cents ng Star ts <. on or 44 cents ents ea: tes or Cal ay by ber week By mw: postage pt cot Star, $1 per year, with = =a BUSINESS Busine POINTERS, will be geod this An advertisement in a paper bears fruit a y iekly and Everybody who h with which to bay y paper. m reach more than money things crs through the ce . $08 Office at Washington, D. C. ter.) “ ng must he atd in advance. . 1898-TWENTY PAGES, umns of The Star as you can through any other medium, TWO CENTS PESTS. MES The Slory oh ren Spall Grapl- EXPANSION POLICY NOT DISCUSSED Tnerease of Both the Army and Navy Strongly Recommended, NICARAGUA CANAL IS ADVOCATED ruin of the Island, lay in how far distant no one could ven- to conjectu A New Building for the Depart- |‘ ment of Justice Urged--The Destruction of the Maine. this juncture, red the while n the 15th of February destruction of the battle rightft lying in the on a mission of interna na good will—a catastrophe and horror of which National Capital Centen- last, ship Mair nial Indorsed. harbor of Havan: al cour ous nat \ | | | | 1 [s sense distinguishing 0 | i : ed the nation’s heart profoundly. It is t today sent the iking evidence of the poise and sturdy gre national char- aud House of Representa | acter that this shocking biow, falling u 1 generous people, already deeply touched hstané add irdens ¥ preceding events in Cuba, did not move EEE BOUTS © war peor them to an instant, desperate resolve to i ry $e and stea tolerate no long existence of a condi- neta evider order at d, ct of justice vusly awaited investigation at ling of the naval ved that the origin perity | tion of dang | that | our doors by whom- f business ever made ver wr possible ght prevailed a t of the of the « 3 external by a sub- marine min uly halted, through lack j of positive ny, to fix the responsi. | bility of its authorship. Ali these things carried conviction to the ; Most thoughtful, even before the finding of the naval court, that a crisis in our reid With Spain and toward Cuba was at So strong was this belief that it 1 but a brief Executive suggestion to i yngress to receive immediate answer | to the duty of making instant provision for the possible and perhaps speedily probable emergency of war, and the remarkable, al- most unique spectacle was presented of a unanimous vote’ of both Houses, on the 9th ‘ of March, appropriating fifty million dollars 5 : for the national defense and for each and far-reaching consequences which v <1 purpose cor ed therewith, to be quire the earnest attentior Congress, | ex ed at the discretion of the Presi CHE CUBAN QUESTION. | de at ths act of prevision came none | too soon was disclosed when th ms lal message very full con- was undertaken. Our the questic acticz undefended. Our arge provision for increased n and supplies, and th any -n numbers Sudden attack from the mportant were then called which comprised modern siderations then ad ighest type of continental ftion of the views Army also required er my ot and munition he de- F uation. Set- Jed preparation for the panded or prac- of the readed contingency f the Se is told in the reports and of the Nay aries of Wa recog- | and need not be rex here. It is suffi- ient to say that the outbreak of war, when it did come, found our nation not unpre- pared to meet the conflict. Note of the Powers, Nor was tne apprehension of coming strife confined to our own country. It was felt by the continental powers, which, on April 6th, through their adors and envoys, addressed to the Executive an ex- pression of hope that humanity and mod- eration might mark the course of this Gov- ernment and people, and that further nego- Uations would lead to an agreement whic while securing the maintenance of peace, weuld afford all necessary guarantees for the re-establishment of ord2r in Cuba. In responding to that representation, I said I shared the hope the envoys had expressed | that peace might be preserved in a manne to terminate the chronic condition of dis- set aud of the principal | turbance in Cuba so injurious and mena ties appeared not to gain the favor of the | img to our interests and tranquillity, as casita mae tee bea to extend thet | Well as shocking to our sentiments of hu- ce to the large extent of territory | ™manity; and, while appreciating the hu- s . while the military | Manitarian and disinterested character of bvie! nable to cope with the still | the communteation they had made on be- rebe ontinued many of | balf of the powers, I stated the confidence aati offensive polic of this Government, for its part, that equal ao Se di appreciation would be shown for its own vast | earnest and unselfish endeavors to fulfil a Rage jos despite the | duty to humanity by ending a situation the sted professions made in that regard | indefinite prolongation erable. 1 animated by the of which had be- hope of a peaceful jon and obeying the dictates of dut 3 relaxed to bring about promises 6 to effect € recognition of her people's right to in- dependence. of Besides this, the instant re- the order of reconcentration so that the sufferers, returning te their homes and aided by united Ameri- <an and Spanish effort, might be put in a treseed at over forty per cent fr | | \ | | ; the time General Weyler’s decree of Way to support themselves, and, by orderly cer was enforced. With the acqui- | resumption of the well-nigh destroyed pro- escence of anish av sa scheme | ductive energies of the Island, contribute was adopted for relief by charitable contri- | to the restoration’ of its t nquillity and butions raise Ns Country aud Matrib-\ weit being: Negutiationall Gentian ier i Sa esas Be a | Seme little time at Madrid, resulting in of- tcc tirecet the ac fers by the Spanish Government which rs of t Thousands of nized ncies American ives were thus Red ave, } could not but be regarded as inadequate. <n jt was proposed to confide the preparation | of peace to the insular parliament, yet to t Dk the is more were ae sible } ; i y = arabe m) ne ina ible | be convened under the autonomous decrees > such forms of ald of November, 1897, bi i The war continued on the old footing | et in anywise of the constitutional powers of without comprehensive pian, developing |) Magia! Govesanene seater only the same spasmodic encounters, bar- pon eee Sonceusigcnemecaeon ee | end, would grant an armistice, if solicited course eff tile excios suc peas on as | PY the insurgents, for such time as the gen- well as the present insurrection from its | @T@!-in-chief might see fit to fix. How and start. No alternative save physical exhaus- | With what scope of discretionary powers tdon of either combatant, and therewithal ! ~~ (Continued on Fourteenth Page) = lered to the ending of the Cuban struggle. N. ations to this object continued actively all wh ude life and home a the Government of Spain, looking to | Sec ied te region among unsym- | the immediate conclusion of a six months’ pe i: strangers hardly less ni tmistice in Cuba, with a view ti FURY OF THE WINDS Washington Escaped the Brunt of the “Twisting.” THE TROPICAL, HURRICANE’S COURSE Whirled and Gyrated Upward From Gulf of Mexico. ——— AMONG THE WIRES ——— HAVOC A tropical hurricane passed over the ely yesterday afternoon. It was in many re- spects like the “twister” that caused such destruction in the latter part of September, 1806. The difference was that this one originated over the Gulf of Mexico and did not possess such elements of violence as accompiny the hurricanes from the West Indies, from which center the ‘96 storm hailed. Comparative immunity from the tempest of wind and rain was enjoyed by this sity for the reason that the storm center passed directly overhead. It is a well-known fea- ture of these hurricanes that at their cen- ter the winds fiuctuate and have not half the violence to be found at the edges where the whirling and twisting motion reach+s its highest development. The telegraph companies had a few of their wires torn down, the railroads were slightly em; rassed by delayed trains, the river boa: were buffeted by winds and waves, but th damage in dollars and cents amounted to little. In describing it today Forecast Official Garriott of the weather bureau said: “It originated last Saturday over the Gulf of Mexico, but had not much strength. It moved over low Kentucky yesterday, and Jast night it had gone as far as Pennsyl- vania, including the area around here, and today it is up in the St. Lawrence va ley. northeast of Lake Ontario. The remark- able feature was the very rapid incr of strength Satarday night. It is, however, characteristic of this class of subtropical storms. They are the worst we have but are not at all unusual, although it Is rather in the season for one of such violence. h Temperature and Moisture. “Over the West Indies and the gulf it is never very cold, and storms coming from there bring with them high temperature and a vast amount of moisture. Reaching the colder regions, the moisture is densed and turns into rain or snow. ierday’s storm was about twelve hours in Suration and actualiy covered all the coun- con- try east of the Mississippi valley. The country was given twenty-four hours’ no tice of its approach and fully twelve hours’ warning of t of it he hurricane character All observers were told to warn all vessels to remain in pert. Last night the maximum velocity of the wind was at New York (76 miles); at Block Island, 52: at Cleveland, 60; at Cape Ma at times as high as fifty miles. The rain- fall in this city lasted until nearly mid- night and regtstered .&5 of an inch “A cold wave {s following In the wake of the hurricane, and there will be a sharp ll of temperature het Rain or snow has len from the Mississipp! valley to the antic coast. Frost is reported at Jack- sonville, where there was a drop of from 20 to 30 degrees in temperature.” Damage to Wires. Postal Telegraph Company stated to- there were many breaks in its wires between Washington and Baltimore last night, but these have been repaired. From Baltimore to New York conditions are the result being that facilitles to the 6, and here A Th are somewhat limited. The e all right south as far as Birming- ham, Ala., but below there difficuity is ex- perienced in sending messages. Locally the damage will be covered he Western Unton that all its lines will be morrow. $125, Company reported in normal shape to- Around this city there was little harm done, but near Baltimo there on to New ork Talli down many wire Harbormaster § ton yachts and shipping along Were undisturbed aud unharmed. Trains on the Pennsylvania railro made late by inability to run at rhedule speed against the wind. The Itimore and Ohio railroad officials stated that nothing w e than slight delays troubled them. The rain storm Saturday night and yester- y did considerable damage to the county roads and unimproved strects, and the po- stated that the the water front d were lice were kept busy terday investigat- ing. In addition to the washouts, police reports show that about 100 naphtha lamps in the suburbs were extingutshed. In some cases the police were able to re- light them, but in most {nstances the road or street had to remain in darkness during the night. While there were many sma! washouts reported, none of them were par- ticularly serious. “Today, however, tt was necessary for some repairs to be made im order to avoid possible danger.. Within the city limits some of the unimproved streets were badly washed, and many sewers we-e obstructed. In cases where prope is above grade many sidewalks were left cev- ered with mud. There were only two trees reported damaged, and the injury to taam was slight. Effect The failure on Eckington Fire. of fire-alarm box 618, 3d and Seaton streets, to work Saturday night upon the occasion of the fire in Eckington was due, so the District electrical engineer W. C. Allen, has discovered, to a cross of the box wire with a telephone wire. crossing of the two wires, Mr. Allen finds, was e@used by the prevailing storm, the wind blowing one wire down upon the oth er. The storm interfered to a great ex. tent with the wires of the fire and police departments, and the force employed by the District telegraph and telephone ice is bustly engaged today in straightening out matters. In this connection Commi stated to a Star reporter the appropriations which the Commission- ers earnestly urged in their confer:nce with the appropriation committee last week was one of $6,000 for heginning the work of joner Wight oday that one of placing under ground all District telegraph and telephone wires. The failure of box SIS to work Saturday night, said Mr. Wight, is another illustration of the dan- gers to be met at any moment because of overhead wires, and is an opportune argu- ment in support of underground wires for the fire and polic2 departments. Appropriation Needed. Should Congress give the Commissioners the $6,000 asked for, it would be possible, he explained, for the Commissioners to place about all of the fire and police department wires in the central portion of the city un- der ground, and when that is done the Commissioners will ask for such appropria- tion as will enable them to complete such a work. With the present system of over- head wires, the wires of both the fire and police departments, said Mr. Wight, are lia- ble at any moment to be so interfered with or disabled as to cause serious loss of Mte or property. “I trust,” remarked Mr. Wight, “that The Star will redouble its efforts for'a complete system of underground wires, for no mat- ter how perfect a fir> or police department we have, overhead wires are liable at any moment to seriously cripple the work of each,” >-— Gen, Miles Has a Cold. Gen. Miles is suffering from a bad cold, but was able to spend several hours at his office today. NOW AN AMBASSADOR Mexican Minister Returns With Additional Power. Senor Remero Among the Best- Known Diplomats in Th City. Senor Don Matias Romero, the Mexican envoy extraordinary and minister plenipo- tentiary to the United States, has returned to Washington after a prolonged visit to his native country, bringing with him news of the determination of his government to advance the Mexican mission here to the rank of embassy. Senor Romero will soon recelve word of his elevation to ambassa- dor. The news will be heard in Washington with the greatest interest and satisfaction by those in official circles, diplomatic cir- cles and the minister's many friends among resident soclety. Senor Romero called at the Stat> Depart- ment this morning and paid his respects to Secretary Hay and the assistant sec- retaries, He informed the Secretary of the eloyation of the legation in this ‘city, and mutual congratulations were exchang- ed. The dignity of the position of the United States among the nations of the world, as well as the great worth of Senor Romero, are both attestsd by the action of the Mexican government. As the law provides that the United States government may advance to the rank of ambassador any of its ministers, when the country to which they are ac- credited takes the first step in that direc- tion with their own representative, Mr. Powell Clayton, at present the American ico, residing at the City of Mexico, become ambassador of the United States to Mexico just as soon as the necessary formalities can be gone through with, This action of the Mexican government is but one of a number of significant facts pointing to a suddenly aroused conception on the part of foreign nations of the grow- minister to M ill ing importance of Washington as a dipl matic po: there are already five am- bassadors accredited to Washington and Senor Romer ‘Phe will make the sixth. countries so represent»d are Great in, Italy, Germany, France and Ru: n that order of precedence rtue of the fact that they were so a credited in point of time. S=veral other European nations have already signified their intention to elevate the rank of their missions in this country, and it is fully ex- pected that within a short time all of the great pow2rs will he represented in Wash- ington by ambassadors of full rank. Prob- ably among the first countries to tak= the step will be Turkey and Austria, both being represented now by ministers Senor Romero came to Washington as minister from the Mexican republic March 7, 1882, and enjoys the distinction of being longest in one grade of any of the diplo- matic representatives in’ Washington. Senor Romero has resided here continu- ously since his appointment as ministe: taking occasional irips to his home in the City of Mexico, The legation is situated in the magnificent hous: northwest. Phe ministe: lors have been the sceng of many elaborate entertainments. He afd his wife, Mme. Romero, Whose death wes sincerely mourn- ed some months ago, were known as the most lavish entertainers in the diplomatic corps. Senor Romero's long service as the dipio- matic representative of his country has won for him an enviable position among the distinguished diplomats of th» world. He has guarded the interests of his fellow- countrymen zealously and at the same time has done much to bring the United States and their sister republic to the south into closer and more friendly relations. ‘The action of the Mexican government in ele- vating the rank of its mission in this coun- try so soon after the signal victory over Spain is significant as representing the feel- ing prevailing among the Mexicans and the appreciation of America’s achievements. The friendly relations that have long ex- isted between the United States and Mex. ico, due to a very great extent to Ministe Romero's conduct ag the representative of his government, can but be strzngthened and enhanced by this new evidence of re spect and esteem for the United Sta The new honor conferred upon Senor Romero will be anpreciated by a host of friends in this city. His long residence here has made him familiar with Washin; ton and her interests, and his undisgu anxiety for the welfare of the city a nation has won for him a ce in the hearts of all residents of the capital city. is perhaps the best known of the for- eign representatives in the country. His at- tractive personality and hospitality have but added to the high res in which he Was otherwise held. of other nations nor Romero’ Among the diplomats credited to Washington, uonal opinion on all interr s is eagerly sought and his and comment carry great weight whe and whenever expressed. The new ambassador is just back from the City of Mexico, where h> has enjoyed al He is recuperated and is now enjoying excellent health, He accomp the remains of his wife to his Mexican hom», remaining in the City of Mexico af- ter her funeral until he began his return Journey to Washington. ———_ ++ AN IMPROMPTU RECEPTION. Agricultural Department Employes Shake Hands With Gen. Shafter. Maj. Gen. Wm. R. Shafter went over to the Agricultural Department to see Sec: tary Wilson this morning, and as soon as it was known that he was in the building the employes gathered around and he was obliged to hold an impromptu reception, nearly all the ladies and gentlemen in the department being eager to shake the hand of the hero of Santiago. ‘The reception was held in the room of tHe chief clerk, Col. Andrew Geddes, betweén whom and Gen. Shafter there is a warm feeling of friend- ship, which was formed years ago while both were out on the plains fighting the Indians, Col. Geddes then being Gen. Shaf- ter's adjutant. After Gen. Shafter had been cordially re- ceived by Secretary “Wilson, Col. Geddes made the introductions during the recep- 1, which lasted nearly an hour. ———_—__ + e+ _____. FIRST LOCAL BILL. It Authorized the Extension of the Metropolitan Line. ‘The first local bill introduced in the House today was offered by Mr. Richardson of Tennessee, member of the District of Co- lumbia committee, and previded for street railway extension. ‘The’ bill authorizes the Metropolitan Railway Company to extend double track line from the Intersection ef Wth street _and Florida avenue north- West west on Florida avenue to 11th street, north on llth street to Lydecker avenue, west on Lydecker avenue to the Mattingly tract, and through that tract to 14th street, the road to be operated by the underground electric system, and shall be completed within one year after J1th stréet is graded. e+ MONEY FOR HE ARMY. eijon of the Def- mey Bill. The army deficfency appropriation bill has practically been completed by the sub- committee of the House appropriations committee and wilt be reported to the full committee tomorrew or next day. The ex- traordi appropriations for the army will expire cember 3t, large sums unexpended. The Prtnagd a is to ask to have these ur ens balances made available for use, the memainder of the fiscal year. : . MAY FINISH TODAY Joint Session of Peace Commissions at Paris This Afternoon. See AMERICAN DEMANDS MODIFIED ee State Department Officials Say There May Be Two Treaties. a POINTS ALL — -2e MAIN SETTLED PARIS, December 5.—The American peace commissioners held a long conference this morning, beginning at 10 o'clock, and only had brief recess for lunch before going to the foreign office to meet the Spanish com- missioners at 3 o'clock p.m. The Americans, apparently, had changed the form, if not the substance, of some of their demands, as a result of their delibera- ions during the past three da. Secretary Moore of the United States commission was engaged far into the night in revising the draft of the treaty of peace. The American commissioners say it is possible, though improbable, that today’s int session will settle all the open ques- tions in substance, leaving only the word- ing of the treaty for discussion. May Be Two or More Treaties. The impression prevails here that the re- sults of the negotiations at Paris will be embodied in two or more treaties instead of one. Thus there will be one actual peace treaty, embodying nothing more than the protocol points relating to the relinquish- ment of Spanish sovereignty over Cuba and the Spanish West Indies, Guam and the Philippines, with the single exc2ption of the proviso for the release of prisone! All the other matters, those relating to the renewal of the commercial treaties, the acquisition of cable stations and coal stations and, in fact, all those matters that have been mentioned likely to be in- corporated in the peace treaty, will form ihe subject of a special treaty. ‘This course is likely to be adopted in order to hasten the conclusion ef peace, for which there is a great necessity, if for no other reason than to secure the release of prisoners anl the restoration of trade between Spain and the United States. on including in this treaty, along the prozozol points, the other mat mentioned as proper subjects for treaty is now conceded, very mu ‘To msist with bases would, it 1b- delay th mission of the ‘peace treaty to Congr This would tend, too, without any disposi- ticn on the part of the Spanish © mmis- sioners, to obstruct proceedings, for many of the sub ets are of a complicated la- ture, requiring very deliberate considera- tion. There has been no evidence of any fr lion between the American commissione It ts supposed, in fact it is known, that in their own sessions they have differed about some points and have diseussed these at length, but whenever it came to the point of action in the joint commission the Americans were united. ‘The last report received from them at the State Depart- ment was unanimous, bearing the signa- ture of every member of the commission. +e+ TE INVESTI THE WAR. 0 Resol Introduced by Represent- ative Sulzer of New York. Representative Suizer of New York, rank- ing democratic member of the House com- mittee on military affairs, has introduc: a resolution “authorizing and directing the committee on military affairs to investigate the War Department and the conduct of the Spanish-American war.” The resolution is as follows: “Resolved, That the committee on mili tary affairs be, and the same hereby is, authorized and directed nvestigate the to War Department and the conduct of the recent war between Spain and the United States, end report all of said proceedings, with their findings, conclusions and mendations, to the House of Rep tives, with all convenient speed. “That said committee js hereby author- ized and empowered to send for books, doc- uments, pap and persons, examine per- under oath, sit in any part of the United States, employ a stenographer, and that the sergeant-at-arms is hereby di- rected to attend said committee and carr; out its directions “That the necessary vestigation be paid fund of the House.” The resolution was referred to the com- mittee on m| affai recom- senta- sons expenses of the in- out of the contingent SENATE Friday to Consider Local Legislation. There will be a meeting of the Senate committee on the District of Columbia Fri- day, when District legislation will be con- sidered as a whole, and a course mapped out by which it is expected many important local measures will be passed. There are on the calender of the committee of the District of Columbia over a dozen bills that have been passed by the House of Repre- sentatives. The committee will endeavor to have these bills, so far as they may be unobjectionable, reported promptly to the Senate, and it is expected that between now and the holidays there will be oppor- tunities for disposing of them. The Senate committee will aiso discuss local measures with the purpose of endeavoring to have the Senate pass such bills as have orixi- nated in that body, and will not provoke discussion before appropriation bills have been recelved from the House. Chairman Babcock of the House Dist committee is expected to reach Washington tomorrow or Wednesday. Mr. Harry W. Barney, the clerk of the committee, and Mr. Ebers, the messenger, arrived today and opened the committee room. It is not known what day Mr. Babcock will call a meeting of the committee, and it is under- tood that he will decide that question after onferring with some of his colleagues, = ree OVATION WHEELER. A Meeting Will Return to Private Life if the Fighting is Over. Maj. Gen. Wheeler was a center of at- traction and céngratulation when ne ap peared in the House of Representatives today to resume his congressional 4utie: He arrived last night from the camp in Al- abama where his troops are stationed. Gen, Wheeler said he probably would re- sign from the army, but his plans were not yet definitely fixed, He expects to confer with the President and Secretary of War, and then will determine on his course. “If there is to be any more fighiing I want to stay in the army,” said the general, “but if the fighting is over I prefer io re- turn to civil life.’ ——<———— PROGRAM FOR THE SESSION. May Be Outlined Tomorrow by the Ways and Means Committee. Representative Dingley has called a meet- ing of the ways and means committee for ‘tomorrew, for the purpose of distributing to the various committees the subjects Yreated in the President’s message, at which time a program for the session's work probably will be outlined. WNGRESS MET ‘TODAY Heassembling of the ‘Two Legislative Bodies a DISPLAY OF THE FLORISTS’ ART Leading Members in Both Chambers Remembered by Their Friends, CROWDS WAITED LONG FOR ADMITTANCE Congress has awakened from a ste cllep? Glenn the hatt 4 | President Notified as Usual — The almost as much has happened as if it had Message of the Chief Execu- gone to sleep in one generation and awak- isd . ened in another. The whole potltfcal tive Sent to the Capitol and Read in Both “twee sion e economic face of things has changed. conditions, new issues and a different pros- pect open suddenly to view. The eve that have crowded into that short space of Houses, time have produced more that is new strange than would ordinarily develop du —->——_ ing the period of ten Congresses. This short session finds itself clothed with new | /@™&* Social gathering, where every one importance. An epoch has matured during | W@S bubbling over with good feeling toward the few weeks of vacation, and the members | CVC'¥ one cise. It was the most cheerful find themselves standing at the arched en- | 427 cordial atmosphere that vailed rance of another age of progress, advance- the House at any time before in many ment and uncertainty. The horizon of the s. During the hours prec last session of the House te has become a commonpiace | f¢™™<t callin rior foreground which gives contrast to a broad, | Pessible to get one to talk inspiring view. Men of both houses have | °F t discuss the questions whict come back to the capital with a new sense |!26 to excite expressions of differs of responsibility and an impression almost | °F er on. After the three new of awe upon them. members re sworn in, the announcement They are almost bewildered as they look | tit the Senate bad convened had . ack at the rugged heights that have been | ©/ived, and the committee was appointed o’er-leaped. A war has been fought. Deeds | t® Wait on the President recess was taken of valor have been performed and victories | Watt 1 ‘The memt went off to won, An unknown power has been deve! ]iunch together in folly groups, and both ed and a great final triumph sealed by the | the floor of the House and the galleries surrender of Spain. Vast and remote terri | Were almost deserted during th> rece tery and many million people of another Listening to the Messaxe race have become dependencies upon ts! ‘The reading of the message ber nation with the heart of a libe the power of a master, All this pened since Congress was last 3 and so far does it fill the eye of c ets Ancien tion that the intervening election, with all | 4, its vast domestic importance, is passed over The as an incident. carte No other American Congress has looked | 4; back upon such a histor: sicns, and no body of Ir rand as hap- and at the end of an hour a little m a fourth of th d beer a very consi messy mem- ats listening at tively. Senate took ™ a Mitre than it was taken by the House, and ) the reading was furth In view of the great length of and the t r advanced. between its ses- had | essane islators has 5 me 1 in its reading ut ons such a vast prospect opened before it nor | was no opportun saints : has it assémbled under such conditions. The | Vtore meat ae wi abe cu oe effect upon the mind is indicated in the | noon at the ocean cas dat enizet nanner of all as they return to take their | Witt he arte iterate ee Wear noe places at the Capitol. Confusion and be- | iti "9 wilderment are manifested in the conflict : of half formed opinions and disturbed preju- | ress reassembled la nder ¢ dices, The almost universal demand is tor | C¥MStances of unusual py Interest. ‘The time to consider. j Same Congress, six months age, declared What will be done at this session of Con- | Wa against Spain, and now, with the war gress no one can foretell. The stronger men | fveht and won, it came together again for will probably exert themselves to hold it | the first legislative consideration of the questions developed by th dy and prevent anything being done | eventful months that might obstruct future action on more | JUSt past. The spirit of the occasion was mature thought. More or less of a conflict | not, however, onc of immediate expectancy, is threatened over every forward move- | for the few months left to the existence of penis uy » Fifty-fifth Congress gave promise ot The Treaty of Peace. little more than a beginning on the momen- The treaty of peace will probably excite | 'U* Policies and problems growing out of considerable discussion. Legislation for the | “8S Wat eed ee my which has been rendered necessar; | cenlian i Rae Botha ena organ oa Will meet with antagonism, and every move;| Tron No une Capitol for that gala event that looks to the enlargement of our na- {7 VCE ce eee” ‘« 2 a session. tional sphere will meet with some restst- | THC weather imposed no barriers, for the ance. The minority party is seriously di- | cane of yesterday had given way to vided on all questions resultant from the | Clearing sk — balmy air. Long befo: war, and the majority party is not entirely | set agers jour when the Senate and H. in accord. ‘There is no prospect of general | begin their work, the corridors were filled legislation at this session for the govern- Pisleae surging crowds, centering in. the ro- ment oF disposition of our new possessions, | nda aud Statuary Hall, and pushing to- but there are several things which will have | Ward the private galleries. evidences bearing on the general question which it deve = the explosion and fire which seems must be given consideration, The | Técently ravaged the building. By 11 o'clock the leaders began to make their appearance and the filled rapidly. treaty is expected to be ratified vhis winter, This will involve an appropriation of twenty millions to indemnify Spain for money ex- pended for internal improvemerits in the Philippines, which will carry the question into the House. public galleries THE SENATE. In the Senate not oniy were all the seats ‘The regular appropriations will be greatly | for visitors taken, but lines were formed incrzased on account of the new situation, | at each of the gallery entrances of people and this will furnish excuse for discussion, | Who were willing to remain standing for an It scems imperative that there should be | hour or more in order to get a view of the legislation at a very early day to enable | Chamber on the first day of the session. the President to maintain an effectiv mili- | Those who gained admittanc e to the tary government during the transition period | Chamber were much pleased with {ts ap- of theisiands, and this will bring the “island | Pearance. Duriag the recess the side walls and the beams of the ceiling were repainted question” almost directly under considera- tion. There is a very strong sentiment in ; {" Part. Thi rs lighter than tho | seen there at the last session, giving a favor of providing at this s:ssion for the | oer er a neem. stvin construction of the Nicaragua canal, and |}. ne cham- this sentiment is based upon a recognition Perhaps never before has an opening of of a fixed purpose on the part of this gov- Congress seen so great a display of flowers ; its ver he desks of senators. These floral trib- ernment to extend and maintain its power | 0m t 4 ans , | Utes were nearly all of the most elegant oni fhie arte: ras At is eve See | Maken aed Gey et then Sener eae whole great question that confronts the government and which is to be finally set- tled by the next Congress, will come in for discussion on legislation indirectly associat- ed with the question of final settlement; | and this s:ssion will be formative of a policy on which important legislation will be based and with respect to which parties will divide. Out of ths discussions of this proportions as to hide from view the sena- tors on whose desks they were p! of the most elaborate designs was on Se: ator Cullcm’s desk, a portion of it being a representation of an American flag resting on a background of white roses. Senator | Teller had a massive bunch of magnificent American roses on his desk, while Mr. Smith of New Jersey had a basket three feet high, which was filled with splendid roses and chrysanthemums. session will come a@ clearer view of the | Messrs. Perkins, Gorman, Allison, Gallin- situation. It will be the pioneer, possibly, cere Wellington, — Foraker and 3 ss joup were among those who received REST Ge floral remembrances from their friends. Display of Good Feeling. ‘The most marked feature of the reassem- | bling of Congress was the manifestation of unusual good feeling. There was an un- usual cordiality in the handshaking, which occupied all the morning up to the time of cpening prayers, and was resumed again in cloak room and lobby as soon as the formalities of reassembling were concluded, The intermingling on both sides of the House of Representatives of men of all parties and the almost affectionate greet- ings between men of opposing parties was so general as to be a subject of universal comment. There was far less excitement and confusion than usual. In the House the appearance was presented of @ very Hardly had the Senate been opened before the pages began carrying the flowers out of the chamber, and the Senate settled down to @ transaction of business. Seenes on the Floor. Senator Morgan was one of the first sena- tors on the floor, and Senator Vest soon took a seat beside him. Mr. Vest has great- ly changed his appearance since the last session by allowing his beard to grow, and at first many senators did not recognize him. But he was soon surrounded by many of his friends on both sides of the chamber, who inquired in regard to his health. ‘The opening prayer of the blind ch in, Mr. Milburn, contained a reference to Spain and a supplication for Divine favor on that stricken country and its sovereign. During the recess of the Senate for half