The Portland daily press., 1875-03-05

rules. as the river and harbor bill was original
7 ly passed, and said that if he ever had a hand
in legislation hereafter, no appropriation bill
should go through in that way.
Mr. Mayuard-As the gentleman IS a caudi-
date for the eakership, suppose that is to
be taken IS his declaration of principles
Mr. Cox-The gentleman can retire to his
mountains, aud we will take care of legisla-
ton: or he may retire TO Constantinople, where
he is going (aughter).
On motion of MIR. Lawrence, the Senate
amendments to the southern claims bill were
concu rred in. Various matters of minor inter-
est also came in under unani nous consent.
Mr. Garfield from the conference committee
on the sundry civil appropriation bill, made
report.
had not signed the report because he cousid
cred the aggregate of the bill, $27 ,000, 000 as
utterly uniustihable in the present condition
of the finances of the government aud of the
business of the country. The proposition ia
regard TO the New Iderla ne regarded as a mere
sham.
Butler took a like view of the latter pont,
and said the paragraph reported was mere trf-
ling with the question.
Mr. Garfield said there has been seventy-five
differences pending. In most cases amounts
had been cut down. He did not think the bill
largely exceeded, if at all, the amountIin it
when it left the House, and he should not be
surprised if it was found to be less.
After some discussion, the conference report
| was agreed to.
Mr.. Parker presented the conference report
| on the deficiency bill, which was agreed to.
Scores of resolutions and bills of a private
| character were rushed through at rate battling
| all efforts to get connected idea of them.
| The area in font of the Speakers chair was
| occupied by members, each having a PROPOSE
ton OF some kind to get before the House and
| the Speaker recognized after another,
| as rapidly as possible. For the last hour of the
| session there was little done except the passage
of the resolution making some special allow
ance to clerks and employees.
In the midst of the turmoil Mr.. Niblack of
indiana offered resolution of thanks to the
! Clerk, Sergeant alarms, Postmaster aud other
subordinates for their courtesy, efficiency and
| fidelity, which was agreed to-
! Mr.. Cox suggested loosely. that the chap
| lain be included. (Laughter.)
| Messrs. Dawes May nard and Cox were APP
| pointed a committee to wait on the President
| to notify him that Congress was ready to adj
| iourn.
| At 11.45 the pressure of spectators was so
| great that on motion the doors of the bali were
! thrown open to ladies and a large number
| ayailed themselves of the privilege The gal
| leries were crowded to suffocatiou, and the
! doorways blocked up with those who could not
force their way in. Even in the diplomatic
/ gallery there was not vacant seat As the
last minutes were wearing away the Speaker
| was engaged in signing and the clerk in read
ing the title OF enrolled bills. meanwhile, mem
| beers and others indulged IN rather loud CONVEX
| sation and everything b8tokened more than the
| usual hustle and confusion of an expiring Con
| gress.
| Speaker Blaine than made his closing address
| which is as follows:
Gentlemen: | close with this hour a six
years service as Speaker of the House of Rep
reseutativeS-a period surpassed in leng til by
| but two of my predecessors, and equaed by on
| Nv two others. The rapid mutations of person.
al aud political fortune in this country have
limited the great majority of those who have
occupied this chair to shorter terms of office.
1t would be the gravest insensblity to the
honors aud responsibilities of life not to be
deeply touched by so signal a mark of public
esteem as that which L have thrice received at
the hands of my political associates. L desire
| 10 this last moment to renew to them, one and
all, my thanks and my gratitude.
| To those from whom L differ in my party re-
lations-the minority of this House-I tender
| my Acknowledgement for the generous courtesy
| with which they have treated me. BY one of
| those sudden and decisive changes which dis
| tnguish popular institutions, and which con-
| spicuOuSy mark free people, that minority is
| transformed in the ensuing Congress to the
| governing power of the House. However it
might possibly have been under other circum-
stances, that event necessarily renders these
| words my farewell to the Chair.
The Speakership of the American House of
Representatives is post of honor, of dignity,
of power, of responsibility. Its duties are at
| once complex and continuous; they are both
| onerous and delicate; they are performed in the
| broad light of day, under the eye of the whole
people, subject at all times to the closest OBJ
servatIon and always attended with the sharp
est criticism. L think no other official is held
| to such instant and such rigid accountability.
| Parliamentary rulings in their very nature
peremptory; almost absolute in authority and
instantaneous in effect. They cannot always
be enforced in SUCH way to win applause
| or secure popularity; but L am sure that no
| man of any party who is worthy to fill this
chair will ever see dividing line between duty
| and policy.
Thanking you once more and thanking you
| most cordially, for the honorable testimonial
| you have placed on record to my credit, per-
| form my only remaining duty in declaring that
the Forty-third Congless has reached its con-
| stitutonal limit, and that the House of Repre-
| sentatives stands adjourned without day.
| AS the Speaker closed his address, he walked
| down from the Chair and joined an immense
| assembage on the floor. This closed Congress.
One of the last acts of the Speaker was the
signing of an enrolled bill affecting the District
of Columbia, when suddenly delegate from
| the district seized the precious document and
| rushed furiously towards the other end of the
| Capitol to get the Presidents signature to the
| bill before the fatal hour of noon. His rapid
! transit through tue hall, with his long blond
| beard floating meteor-llke behind him, created
| great merrmenG.
| Soon after another mercury bound on like
| errand, rushed in the same direction with an
| other sheet.of parchment.
AT minute before IL, Mr.. Dawes, from the
| committee TO wait on the President, reported
| that the committee had perfol med that duty
| and had been informed by the President that
| he no further communication to make to Con
| gress.
The last act enrolled and signed was one for
; the benefit of VIM. Green, and before the mes
| senger bearing it to the President had got out
| of the hail. the Speakers gave fell and he
| took his farewell of the House and announced
| the dissolution of Congress in an address.