The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-06-19
LAST HOURS OF CONGRESS.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVE ON WEDNESDAY.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE
OF EErRESENTATIyE ON WEDNESDAY.
The Senate met at 8 o clock on Wednes-
day morning, and after short executive
session. took up the calendar and finished
it. All the executive business was closed
up too. The galleries were pretty well
filled, but not crowded. The Hobbies
were filled with Il rushing, crowding
mass, all more or less excited over their
respective interests in bills which they
hoped to get through. The usual de
corum of the Senate was considerably
upset by Senators desiring to get the at
tcntion of the presiding officer. Half Il
dozen would call Mr. President" at
ones, and there was, in some cases. sharp
competition for the floor. Occasionally
Senator would enter upon a speech in
regard to some subject, and then the
others would make their impotence and
disgust manifest.
No speeches were wanted, and the
Senator who attempted it was frequently
interrupted with calls of vote vote
The bill to reduce the duty on malt was
gotten up. Mr.. Beck worried the Senate
by reading a number of telegrams against
it, and then Senator Dawes engaged in a
speech on the question. This was almost
too much for the impatient Senators. and
every few moments the chair wonld have
to call for order. Everybody engaged in
conversation and nobody listened to the
speech, but Mr.. Dawes kept on talking
Senator Garland moved to Law aside the
bill and take up the Presidents message
Senator Conkling. in sarcastic tone.
said: Il wish to say that malt stands
no chance here against talk The malt
bill was sent over to the next session,
whereupon Mr.. IIoar moved to recon-
slider. and Senator Eaton claimed that he
had addressed the chair before the motion
to lay over was put. The chair heard him.
Senator Thurman read the clause of the
Constitution relating to the action upon
veto messages. and said it was mandatory
upon the Senate to consider the Presi-
dent veto. liewevcr no time for such
consideration was fixed, and he moved
that the veto lay over till next session
and the Senate go into executive session
This was adopted, and at twenty minutes
to twelve the doors We're closed for the
purpose of passing upon nominations
sent iii that morning.
The Senate remained in executive SEES
sion until ten minutes past II o'clock.
but when the doors were opened it was
evident that Captain Bassctt lad been
manipulating the Senate timekeeper with
Il backward turn of the hands. He had
set the clock back to II. and two or
three minutes more Suificed to wind uD
the session. Senator Thurman returned
thanks and declared the Senate adjourn
ed sine die. The close was very quiet,
even dull. There was not IN incident to
make it memorable.
The scenes in the House of Represen-
tativeS We're not very different from for
mer scenes at Il break up of Congress.
except i'll the one important particular
that there was no opportunity to get a
job through. There was the same crowd
in the galleries and the same anxiety on
the floor to have measures passed Since
Monday Speaker Randall has managed to
keep certain measures before the House,
which operated to keep out miscellaneous
business. The purpose Of the Speaker
was to exclude Objectionable bills. But
i'll the estimation of many members he
enforced the rule too strictly There
were many meritorious claims which
should have passed, but i'll order to keep
jobs out the Speaker had it SO arranged
that nothing should get in except by
unanimous consent. When the House
was called to order the area in front of
the clerks desk was crowded with as
many members as could well be packed
there. and all demanding recognition
The most desperate efforts were made to
catch the Speakers eye" Some had
the most impraetieablc propositions,
which they knew could not be passed
Above the din for recognition rose the
demand for the regular order. while mem
bels in appealing terms said. ''Oh, don t
do that" Mr. McLanc. who had charge
of the sugar tariff BILL which was the
regular order, yielded the floor without
qualification, and thus vacated his right
to regard the sugar bill us unfinished
business. IN the midst of the turmoil
/ the House adjourned for Tuesdays ses-
sion, and Wednesdays session WAS orcli-
cd with prayer.
The chaplain had scarcely uttered his
Amen when there was another ciamor
/ for recognition. Mr.. Carlisle stopped the
, clamor for Il few moments by reporting
on privileged matter which was in ref
crencc to the anonymous letter in the
( Washburnc-Donnelly contested election
ease. \ slight sensation was created by
Mr.. Carlisle reporting that the majority
of the committee had reached the con-
clusion that II, Ii. FiGlay, Mr.. nnnnelly's
counsel and near friend, was The author
of the anonymous letter. The majority
! of the committee ut the same time exon
Grated Mr.. Donneily from any guilty
knowledge Of the matter.
/ Then there was another rush for - the
/ Speakers eye Mr.. Singleton, of Mis-
/ sissippi, caught it and got through a bill
for the erection Of . public building at
Jackson, Miss. Other g5ntloi,,o,i trie,l 10
do the same thing for their districts, but
were unsuccessful. If the Speaker re-
cognizcd a democrat the republican side
objected. and vice versa if he recognized
/ Il republican. After the the impossibili-
/ ty OF accomplishing any business had
! been demonstrated, Mr.. Brewer. of Mich
igaii, interrupted all demands for recog-
milton by moym. lrnesa, \ sufficient
number nf gentlemen refused 10 vote to
make ii appear that there was not !; uuor-
UNI present. Then II call Of the House
was ordered, to the great disgust Of the
members who wanted to get bills through.
The roll was called rapidly. in order that
/ ali members might have their names re-
corded. 1t got no further than to the
name af Mr.: Wise. of Pennsylvania,
when The hands on ihe CLOCK pointed to
y. and the Speaker i" a Lriof speech,
declared the session adjourned without
day.
| The announcement was received with
applause on the flour and III the galleries.
Members remained only long enough to
gather up their papers and say good-by
Tie flags eli the Capitol were furled,
not to be flung 10 The liFeete again GItil
! December next. unless some cNtraorCina-
ry emergency shall compel the President
to call the members together at an earlier
date.