New-York tribune., 1878-06-21
CLOSING sCENEs IN CONGRESS.

the Louisiana Commission.
CLOSING SCENES IN CONGRESS-
cox's REMARKABLE RHETORIC-RAINEY CoNGRATU-
LATED FOR FACILITATING BUsINEss-INCiDENIs
IN THE HOUSE.
ley TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEl
WAsHINGToN, June 2O.-The second session OF the
XIYth Congress adjourned without date at o'clock
this morning.
Very little was accomplished after midnight, al
most the entire time being spent by the Senate and
in the House in deysing means to prevent bad leg
isaton. At midnight when the Sundry Clvl Ap-
preparation bill was passed by the House, not more
than quorum Of members were present AS the
hours wore on and it became apparent that nothing
else would be done except to witness the signature
of the enrolled Sundry Civil BILL after another
of the members dropped out, overcome by fatigue
OF some more potent agency. When the final ad-
journment took place not more than seventy-hve
Representatives were in their places.
During the morningh hours some exciting and many
laughabe scenes occurred in the House. Nearly
every attempt TO transact public business failed on
account Of the great disorder. Time and again the
Speaker was obliged to direct the Sergeantat-Arms
to carry the mace among the members and to beg
them to take their seats and cease conversation
Less respect was shown to this sign Of the dignity
of the House than on any previous occasion in many
years. Loose documents and paper wads were
thrown at the Sergeant-at-Arms as he passed and
down the asle9 on the Democratic side; and the
Representatives who took their seats when the
mace was held before them left them again the
minute after the Sergeant-at-Arms passed tOanOther
portion of the chamber,
During the last six hours of the session three re-
Fesses were taken and after each one the number Of
Representatives who appeared in their places grew
smaller and smaller On several occasions, when
Iv4
voted as many as three or four times in order to
make up the necessary quorum.
The successive votes postponing the final adjourn
ment of the session. first TO o'clock, then TO 3, and
subsequently to 5 and O'clock were made
sary by the fact that the enTossnG clerks had been
unable to make a copy of the Sundry Civil Appro-
priation bill and compare it with the report of the
conference committee. The importance Of a careful
comparison of a meassre Of fthsmagnitude can hardly
be overestmated. The change Of comma in an ap-
propriation bill passed by the XLIIId Congress
cost the Government more than a million Of dollars
in duties which on account of this blunder it was
Obliged to refund upon fruits. Last night one Sc
TiOus error was discovered in the bill and corrected
by the passage of special resolution; and to-day
still more important one has been found. Doubt
less careful examination of the bill will show
the presence of many more.
Among the amusing incidents which occurred
during the late hours of the morning was the ap-
pearance of Mr. s. s. Cox at the Clerks desk as vol
unteer reader Of pension bill Not a word that he
said could be heard. The confusion was Oyerwhelm-
ing Representatives suggested that he had not
taken the oath Of Office and could not, therefore,
serve The Sergeant-at-Arms was directed TO re-
store order and the mace was once more taken down
among the members General Butler was one of
those causing confusion and when the silver eagle
was held up before him he fed before it mp the aisle
In mock alarm and took refuge in the clOak-room
The scene was extremely lUdicrous Mr.. Cox at
tempted TO make speech in support of the pension
bill and in the midst Of the noise and confusion the
following remarkable sentence was heard referring
TO the soldier to whom It was proposed to grant
pension "This is a very meritorious case he
served throughout the war and was thoroughly
wounded in every respect"
The last recess closed at $50 this morning. Mr.
Springer entered the chair and called the House
20 order. Very few of the members responded
Many were asleep upon the sofas and in the cloak
rooms General Butler offered a resolution, which
was agreed to, making appropriation to purchase
a new gavel for the Speaker in the place of that
which had been worn out in frutless attempts to
preserve order. Subsequently Speaker Randall
came in, and requested that the word fruitless"
be stricken out Of the resolution. The closing scene
IN the Honse was a unique one. At about quarter
10 word was passed around that the Sundry
Civil Appropriation bill had been enrolled. The
Speaker resumed the chair. The pages walked up the
Beveuty-fve OF eighty members who still renamed;
aud in minute OF two Mr. Rainey, of the Commit
tee on Enrolled Bills, colored member, from South
Carolina entered hurriedyat the westdoor with the
enormous parchment roll under his arm. Hewas fol;
lowed by Messrs Atkins and ClymeT and as hepiaeed
the roll on the Speakers table, the latter extended
his hand and warmly congratulated hlm. IL is
only fau TO Mr. Raney 70 say that during the lasJ
hours OF the session he was the only member OF the
important Committee on Enrolled Bills VINO .I Tas III
condition to do any work, and that TO ms lndustIy
and perseverance, Congress indebted Tor lts aD-
tty 10 adjourn at the time 10 did. All the other
members of that committee had either left the Gap
itol, or were Incapactated by. sickness or Other
causes. Mr.. Rainey was greeted by the House Win
shout, Rainey, you will be worth more now than
Won ever were before The bill was hurried 70 the
senate which had been nOminally IN executive ses-
lOh tor two hours but really had closed the doors
~ order % give the Senators opportunity 10
sleep, and thence il was taken to the President who
Hgned it Just four minutes before o'clock
Inc last lew minutes Of the session were spent Dy
.hS HQuse IN introducing or passing unnpOrtant
D!s; iiaii the members present. as the CLOCK lnul.
Gated the hOur Of adjournment, were In the vacant
space N mont Of the Speakers table shouting at the
tOp ot Their voices for aB opportunity 10 have bill
referred, in the midst Of this the Speaker struck
the desk with the gaYel, and after wishing the
members Of the House a pleasant Journey home he
declared the second session Of the XllYth Congress-
adjourned without day.
In the Senate, the last few minutes were Rpcnt in
executive session. The doors were opened at
o'clock and Mr. Ferry, the President pro tenn.
thanked tho Senators for their courtesy to him. ex-
pressed the hope that they might reach their homes
" saiety' ana declared the session at an end.
NO DEMOCRATIC LEADERS.
an EXPLANATION OF THE ISEFFIcIEEcY AND T4RDY