The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-03-08
Closing Hours Of Congress.

WASHINGTON, MARCH 4.
The FOrty-fourth Congress passed into his
tory at noon to-day. Speaker RandalPs brief
valedictory barely prevented its going out in
gloriously Oh roll-call. Its death was wit
messed by a vast throng. Its closing hour scored
triumph for the House Democracy, who stood
firm in their determination to put stop to the
further use of the military as political engine.
BY comparison with the intense excitement of
the past month the proceedings of this closing
day seemed tame. The customary press OF prl-
vate bills caused the customary race with time
and created the customary confusion, which
even Speaker RandalFs steady hand and clear
head were not wholly able to suppress. The
effects of frequent weary night yigils Of the
past week were plainly visible when Randall
called the last session Of the EOrty-fOurth Con-
gress to order at s O'Clock this morning. Less
than quorum of members had assembled, and
the galleries were only sparsely populated.
Most of the necessary work on Appropriation
bills had been finished before the House took
its recess at halfpast this morning, and men,
bers knowing that the only remaining questions
| on Appropriation bills were whether the Con-
ference Committees could agree prolonged their
morning maps as long as possible. Nearly every
member had some private pet measures to Eut
through, however, and by 9 O'Clock most of
them were in their seats. The galleries also
began to ill up rapidly, and from that on the
excitement steadily increased to the close.
The climax was reached when the fourth Con-
ference Committee on the Army bill reported,
through Morrison, that an agreement would not
he reached between the two houses on the fifth
section, as the Senate utterly refused to restrict
the Executive in the use of troops, and the
House would not yield its determination to re-
strict expressed in that section. Before the
fourth Conference Committee went out, Atkins
in reporting the same state of affairs for the
third Conference Committee, made Il short but
vigorous speech, eyhortng the Democrats TO
stand firm A vote was taken to test the sense
Of the House and by a etl let party vote it was
decided that the House would not Weld the
point. When therefore, Morrison came back
and reported that the Senate would not yield a
vote was taken on resolution offered by him.
simply affirming the position taken by the
House, and calling for no new conference. All
realized that the passage of the resolution
meant the failure of the Army bill and new
session. This was just what the Republicans
did not want, AS they realized that Hayes had
all the complications on hand al present he
could we'll attend to. and they We're not very
anxious Hayes should be forced tc NEEDLE witt
the military occupation of South Carolina ana
Louisiana. Charley Foster, Hayes's spoles-
man in The House, jumped 10 his feet and Of
tered a resolution that the House renew the
army appropriations of last year for six months.
His proposition was received with dersive cries
from the Democratic side Then he begged for
an appropriation for three month Or even one
month, but the Democrats shouted "Nota day."
Losing his temper. Foster then declared that
the responsibility for a new session rested with
the Democrats. whereof Field, lifting up his tall
form, shouted back eve accept it." Foster
protested. He spoke for no one, but it was ev-
ident to all he was speaking for Hayes. and de-
sired time to await the development Of Hayes's
Southern policy.
The scene in the House at this time was i'm
pressive. Nearly every member was in his
seat. Back of the benches solid belt of faces
semi-clrcled clear around the great hall and
filled every niche. The galleries We're fairly
swarming with a crowd which overlooked into
the corridors. The passage of Morrison's res
olution was Il toregone conclusion. With its
passage fell the Army bill and the probability
of an extra May session is now conceded. The
amusing episode of the day was Homans de-
mand for an yea and nay vote at II IL on the
passage of small claim bill. Nearly every
member had his little bill to pass. There re-
manned only forty-tive minutes, and roll-call
was sure to consume most Of it, Expressions
of diSapprObation came from all parts of the
hall. Members rushed to Holman in squads to
plead with him personally, but the ruling pas
sion of the great Director proved strong in the
expiring moments of his Congressional life and
the call proceeded. 1t is sale to say quicker
call or roll was never made in the House, and
it is safer to guess Holman will never be able
to get many members of the last House to
stump his district. The roll call, however.
private bills. At 40 Hurlbut called for the
yeas and nays again on Morrison's resolution
1t was evident the call could not be completed,
but it progressed far enough to show that the
resolution was adopted by Il party vote, which
was all that was wanted by the Republicans,
and so no objection was made when, at five
| minutes to noon, Randall summarily stopped
the roll-cal and began his valedictory. Speak
| er Randalrs closing words were not acceptable
to Republicans. but his declaration of the priu-
ciples and attitude of the Democratic party
elected applause from the Democratic side.
The moment he announced that the House was
adjourned without day, there was spontane-
| Gus sigh of relief all over the House. Members
rose to their feet as by common consent, APP
plauded with hands and feet and then cheered
| Justify. In five minutes the galleries were de
serted and in fifteen minutes cloud of fine
dust, sitted up by shuliiing feet, alone marked
| the departure of the vast thron%.
The House yielded on the paragraph i'll the
Legislative Appropriation bill reducing the
Presidents salary, because it could not have
| accomplished the object by forcing an extra
session through the defeating of the bill. The
Constitution provides that the Presidents sal
airy shall not be increased or diminished while
he is in office. Hayes would have been the
| President when the special session convened
and the House would have been poweress
then to make the reduction.
Banning's Equalization Bounty bill for sol
diers of the late war was killed in the Senate.
Morton and others talked it to death.
Grant signed the Sundry Civil Appropriation
bill before it was engrOssed in full in order to
save it. In law the act would be considered a
dead letter. Under Grantam it makes no diff
ference.