Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-03-09
From Washington.

The LAST SESSION OF THE OLD CoSGgEEs.
WASHINGTON, March 4.-The all night
session OF the House continued until $50
A. NJ regular storm was raised by n
proposition of Mr.. Garfield OF Ohio TO
adopt an amendment OF the rules which
was interpreted by the Democrats to aim
at giving TO the Republican majority in
the next Congress the same power that It
exercised during the present Congress
through the majority OF over two-thirds.
The proposition was to amend the ~ rule
50 as to provide that after previous ques-
ton j. moved no motion shall be enter
tanned except TO adj ourn TO fix the
time to which il will adjourn and TO lay on
the table such motion not to be repealed
and that amer the previous question Is sec.
onded no original motion whsievsr shall
he entertained except the single motion to
adjourn.
Messrs Eldridge. Brooks Of New York,
Ransdall and other Democrats denounced
the proposition in unmcasured terms a.
mist the greatest excitement.-Mr. Brooks
yowing that Democrats would resist it
even at the hazard OF revolution.
Mr.. Van Wyck OF New York declared
that the 42d Congress could adopt its own
rules and the present Congress had found
the existing rules necessary to ecure hon
est legislation.
Mr.. Eldridge thanked God that there
were some honest men on the Repubii-
can side Of the House.
DOPING the amendment and it was negativ-
ed Ga TO 62, and two-thirds in the afiirma-
tive.
Another scene occurred where Mr..
Clarke Of Kansas made an attempt TO get
up land grant bill which was denounced
by Messrs. MrNeely Of Illinois and Ran
dali OF Pennsylvania as "Sta,e Street"
charge. II was resented by Mr.. Clarke
who pronounced it false. III feeling went
so FAR that the active movers in the affair
shook their fists at each other but did not
come to blows. The proposition TO sus-
pend the rules and pass the bill got only
two affirmative votes.
Finally At half-psst four O'Clock the ON
ni1us bill came over from the Senate with
an enormous batch OF amendments tackled
TO IL which were read.
Mr. Dawes OF Massachusetts stated that
the committee on appropriations ha look
ed over the new Senate amendments and
that although there We're many things in
them which they not entirely approve he
still thought the best thing which they
co Id do was to concur in them all rather
thar send them 10 the conference commit
tee. He therefore moved to concur in all
the Senate amendments.
Mr.. Lawrence of Ohio endorsed the
statement of Mr.. Dawes and said that the
bill as it came from the Senate was an i'm
provenrnt on the bill which left the House
The amendment were then concurred in
and the House al $40 A. NJ, took a recess
TIL 10 A. NJ, having first aesolved that no
business should be In order during the
rest of the session except TO receive mes
sage from the President and Senate to en-
roll bills and in reference to the general
appropriation bills.
The House recommended at 10 A. NJ and
the Speaker presented, several executive
communications. The members generally
wore expressions Of WEAKNESS consequent
on the long night session and want Of rest
After about five minutes spent In presen-
tatioE Of execution messages the House
took further recess till ii o'clock Mean
while the members gathered in groupes
holding noisy conversation on the scenes
or the nights session. The opening OF
the 42d Congress was also discussed and
the galleries gradully filed up with spec
tatoIs.
The House resumed its session at IL A
NJ Mr.. Negley OF Pennsylvania called IN
the report of the Committee on Military
Affairs on the investigation into the man
ageme Of the National Asylum and it
Was laid on the table without action.
A resolution was adopted to nav J. I
Hines Of Alabama $500 for contesting his
seat to which he was entitled
unanimous consent being asked for sew
eral propositions OF various kindes Mr.
Randall objected and gave notice that he
would object to everything Business
therefore came 10 a stand still and the
buzz of conversation became general
again in the hall and galleries. At this
tlIne there was not vacent seat in the
galleries.
Mr. Starkveather from the conference
committee on the bill to abolish the ONCE,
OF Admiral and Vice Admiral reported that
they were unable to agree. Mr.. Scofield
moved that the House recede from its dis
agreement and let the bill become a law so
that the two offices shall terminate as soon
as vacancies occur.
Pending discussion a committee WAS
ORDERED 70 join like one on the part OF
the Senate to wait upon the President and
inform hun that if he had no further com.
municatlon to make Congress was ready
to adjourn. Messrs. Garfield, Mercer and
Cox were appointed.
The conference report on the Admiral
on was resumed and Messrs Butler OF
Mass, and Stevens of New Hampshire ar
eueu against Mr.. Sco6eld's motion to re-
ceoe tnere were ITO in favor to A. against.
the enect OF which would have been to
pass the Dill but as il then wanted five min
utes ofthe hour Of adjournment the bin
was defeated by the minority demanding
the yeas and nays.
During the lulu Mr.. Garfield announced
that the committee were auth ,rixed 10 in
form Congress that the President had NJ
further communication to make to it.
The calling Of the roll was resumed bu,
before its termination the hour of no~n
arrived when the call was interrupted bv
the fall of the Speakers gavel.
The sudden clamor OF the House was
hushed into perfect stiffness when the
Speaker addressing the House said:
Gentlemen Of the House Of Representa-
tives. our labors are at end but delav the I
nnal adjournment long enough to return
my most profound and respectful thanks
for the commentator which You have
been pleased to oestow upon nv Official |
course and conduct. In q deliberative |
M hfz Oh a.