The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-06-27
THE CLOSING HOURS OF CONGRESS.
Al-Night Scenes and Incidents-Hayes
Holding u Temperance Meeting.
Special Dispatch to The Baltimore Sun.

houses of Congress did not occur until
I o'clock this morning. The sundry
civil bill, the last of the appropriation
bills, was finally acted upon by both
houses before n. IN, and the ipterven-
ing time was occupied by the enrolling
clerks of the House in putting the bill
in shape for the signature of the presid-
ing officers and of the President. 1t was
considered rather provoking that over
300 Senators aud members were compell-
ed to remain in their respective cham
bers all night waiting upon the tardy
action of two or three clerks. The clerks
did the best they. could, as the sundry
civil bill was very long, and the action
of the conference committee had changed
very much the shape in which it had
passed the Senate, but it Was thought
rather strange that extra clerical labor
was not employed.
After o'clock this morning the dis
order in the House became more general,
and as it was shown to be useless to at
tempt the transaction of any business,
recesses were ordered from time to time.
It is no more than just to say that there
was less intoxication exhibited than has
| heretofore been the case in the closing
hours of session, but still there was
enough of it to keep up the reputation of
the House in that line. During the re-
cesses members amused themselves by
improvised concerts. At one time ascore
OF members stood In a row, with the
whole force of pages behind them as a
chorus, and sang with great gusto "Home,
Sweet Home" 1.-THE Sweet By and By"
"John Browns Body Lies Mouldering in
the Grave" &C., until the roof fairly
echoed with the sound.
Champagne flowed freely in one of the
committee rooms, "set up" in pure good
ness of heart by the king of the lobby,
(Sam Ward for he insisted that there
was nothing pending in which be had
any interest. This beverage seemed TO
impart its own sparkling qualities to
those who partook, as flashes of wit and
repartee went around, and no one was
lill-humored. While the House was in
actual session the duties of the Speaker
were very arduous, as it devolyed upon
him to do the dignity for the whole body.
The Sergeant-at-Arms, at the order of
the Speaker, several times paraded up
and down with his mace, but this exhibi-
ton of authority always had the contrary
effect to that which was intended.
| After daylight this morning General
Butler, with twinkle in his eye, rose
up and offered a resolution to purchase
for the Speaker new gavel, in place OF
the one which he had pounded to pieces
in las the resolution said) his "fruit-
less" efforts to preserve order. This was
adopted by acclamation. The crowds in
the galleries and in. the corridors showed
| no perceptible diminution till long past
| midnight, and when the final adjourn
ment took place there WIS goodly
sprinkling of spectators in the galleries
| Of both houses. Within fifteen minutes
of seven Mr.. Rainey, of the Committee
on Enrolled Bills, appeared at the front
door of the hall of the House with q
COPY of the enrolled sundry civil bill in
his hand and as he swiftly passed to the
Speakers desk with the bulky roll oi
parchment in his hand the members
showed their qualification by loud ap-
plause.
The great anxiety was to get the Presi-
dents signature to the bill before Z
o'clock, so as to obviate the necessity fol
another extension of the time of adjourn
ment. It was at this time about four
minutes of Z. The President, WHO had
been at the capitol all night, was sur.
rounded by several members Of the
Cabinet. all looking sleepy and worn
out. The President evinced no hurry
when the bill was handed to him. He
got up from his chair, came over to the
table, rubbed his eyes, spread out the
bill very slowly and carefully, and in
the same manner took up his pen and
wrote with the deliberation of writing
master, "Approved, r. B. Hayes" By
this time it was full 7 o'clock, and there
was nothing to do but resort to the
familiar dodge of turning back the hands
of the great clock which marks time fol
the Senate. Then one minute was left
which was devoted to executive session
probably the shortest on record, and
nominations for Commissioners to con-
slider the subject of removing the naval
observatory were confirmed.
The President pro tenn. Mr.. Ferry
then delivered the usual brief closing re-
marks, which the presiding officers ap'
pear to think incumbent on them,
brought down his gavel, and declared
the Senate adjourned without day. In.
patient of their enforced stay during the
whole night Senators separated very un'
tremendously, and in three minutes the
chamber was deserted. The Speaker had
already declared the house adjourned
sine die, and the members had departed
even more quickly than the Senators
and the busy, bustling hall was given
over to solitude. The President with
his party had LETT as soon as his signature
was put to the last of the bills. 1t was
noticed that during the night his room
did not seem to be a popular place of re.
sort for Senators, as has generally been
the case when President is at the capi'
tol.
The few Senators who went in did moi
tarry long, but, after paying their re-
spects, came out. None of the promi-
nent Republicans were among them, with
perhaps enc or two exceptions. The
President made himself as agreeable as
possible. He had refreshments in the
shape of large pitcher of ice water,
which, however, did not appear to be
much in demand. 1t was said thatmore
than once during the night certain
members of the Cabinet got little tired
of ice water, end furtively made their
way to another room not very far distant
where more stimulating beverages were
dispensed. The President on returning
to the White House went to bed, and did
not rise until quite late in the day. He
did not receive general callers, but gave
audience to such Senators and members
as called.
ANOTHER BEECH ISLAND TRAGEDY.
In our yesterdays issue we gave the
particulars of murder and suicide in
Beech Island, S. c., in which negro
named David Crawford and his wife were
L