The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-07-09
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER


SCENES OF DISORDER LARGE
FIELD FOR MURPHY, TIE TEMPERANCE
ADvoCATE-vALEDIC MUSICAL
TALENTS AMONG MEMBERS AND
PAGES.
From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON. juno %, 1873.
Ed. INTELLIGENCER Although the
business OF the session was practically
finished between one and two o'clock
on Thursday morning, when The Senate
Civil Appropriation bill passed the
Senate, yet the formal announcement of
the sine die adjournment was delayed
until seven o'clock A. NJ, on account
of the delay i'll enrolling the bill, which
is very voluminous. No business of i'm
pottance was done after the passage of
of the bill, the Senate quietly closing
its doors in executive session, which
was mere cover to enable Senators to
take their ease while in the House.
The time after midnight was spent in
alternate short sessions and longer re-
cesses, the latter being devoted by
portion of the members to spout and
song. Just before three o'clock Mr..
Turney, of Pennsylvania, moved an
amendment to the constitution as an off
set to that Of Conger submitted earlier
in the evening. providing that no
claims should be paid by the govern
ment for property taken and used by
United States troops for the mainten-
ance of the Union during the war Of
the Rebellion. At has. three Mr.. Civ.
mer moved recess till half-past four.
and this motion was filibustered for
nearly an hour Mr. Springer was in
the chair at the time, and resisted the
motion on the ground that he was
bound by common understanding
among members to recognize gentlemen
for suspension of rules. Mr. Dean. a,
member of Mr.. Springer's Comu.lttee
on Expenditures in the State Depart
ment, then got in bill to provide an
appropriation to pay the expenses of
the Summer session of that committee
while examining witnesses. At half
past four messenger was received
from the Senate announcing further
extension of the time of adjournment 10
seven A. NJ, in which the House con-
Cured. After this there was another
long recess. which was taken advantage
Of by both houses TO take q rest. Mem
bers loanged in the cloak room, and
chatted and slept. AT Gas the enrolled
Sunday Civil bill was received in the
House and signed by the Speaker. and
in less than five minutes became a law.
The Speaker then made his usual vale
dictory, and at seven A. NJ both houses
adjourned. The night was on the
whole dull and uninteresting. The
crowds left the galleries after one
o'clock. The mere noise and confusion
on the floor of the House was nothing
to keep one awake during the first re-
cess from half past one 10 two A. NJ. A
number of pages and a few members
organized themselves into a glee club
and sang all the songs they knew to the
amusement Of the lockers on. About
night fall the galleries of the House
gradually began to fill up, and two or
three hours later it became crammei
to almost safficstiug degree On the
hoor below members rushed about
shouting at the tops of their voices,
-holing their fellow members and
resorting to all sort of parliamentary
legerdemain in order TO carry their
points, The Senate was in executive
session . good part of the time, and
considerable delay was experienced in
regard to the final passage of the Court
Appropriation bill.
One of the most interesting incidents
OF the executive session of the Senate
was the fight over Ex-Governor Felton's
nomination as Monetary Commissioner.