| Show OPENING OF CONGRESS flowers did not decorate the dk of senator washington dec 4 congress will convene today at noon with the usual formalities the sessions ot the two bodies will be brief in the senaie new members will be in and the routine incident to the first day transacted after which an adjournment will be lateen out of respect to the memory ot the late senator piatt 0 connecticut in taft house greater interest attaches to the proceedings because a complete organization was necessary athla includes tha election ot a speaker and other and the drawing of seals by of the house the first session of the fifty ninth congress has been looked forward to as one likely to be more than ordinarily eventful pending mattara of commercial and political interest have proved intensely attractive during the long recess columns ot newspaper space have been devoted daily for many weeks to predictions of legislative battles that may be fought by factions interested in the outcome of demands for railroad rate regulation oc legislation or on any one of a dozen public questions of equal importance the I 1 matters to be urged upon the attention of congress include the questions ot protecting the interests of policy holders in insurance companies stale hood for the remaining territories panama canal construction immigration and the treatment of the chinese under the present exclusion law rats ing revenue against a possible deficit control of corporations engaged in interstate ter state business corrupt use of money at elections the philippines santo domingo and other western republics questions and commercial competition with germany as well as the usual diversified subjects which tha executive departments annually present to congress early in the dy the lobbies of the hotels were enlivened by many visitors preparing to attend the session and the crowds on tho streets were all directed toward the big marble buildings on the hill although admission to the galleries was by caid this did not prevent hundreds of sightseers from wandering through the carrl dora and inspecting committee rooms from which visitors were not barred the visitors were greeted with many changes both on the exterior and interior the finger marks ot time have been scoured away in the nine months that have elapsed since the last session the steps and walls of the look new but the greatest surprise us caused toy the presence of the interior of the building the rotunda and dome have been scoured nd varnished until nothing is left of the stains of age that have been accumulating for fifty years white granite and marble stand out with a boldness that almost repel bright new have been laid on the floors of both chambers the ceiling lighting arrangement of the senate also have been enlarged no flags had floated ivr the for nine months save on national holidays but early today they were raised over the east and west entrances As soon as the sessions are called to order flags will be flown on the senate and houa wanga of the buildings aad will be lowered when adjournment Is taken regular attendants at the opening session of congress missed the usual tributes of flowers with which friends of members have testified their admiration and esteem these offerings frequently had been ade with such that piled high upon th e desks they hid from view the statesmen behind them A year ago a resolution was adopted prohibiting the bringing of floors imp the senate chamber and the rule has had the effect of stopping the sending of such to the house |
