National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-05
THE OLD AND NEW.
EXPIRING SCENES IN CONGRESS.
yie,.Presidsut Arthur Sworn Ia Speeches By
Himself and ex-yice-President Wheeler
Interesting SceRes-BayOnets Crssts
a Scare in the House.

exening and until two O'Clock yesterday morning.
1vhen Mr. Lamar who had been specially con-
spicuouS in championing the measure SAID ne "as
grateful for the patience with which the subject
had been considered, but that, as 1t was not no"
probabIe the bill could possibly pass the House. No
would not trcspass further upon the time anu AZ
tention of the Senate.
Mr., Conkling said he desired 10 assure the
friends of the measure that his own Criticisms
mon and efforts to amend the bill, were made in
GOOD faith. and with view to tull understand
inc oft partfcuarly of the provisions which had
beeu added BIZ the committee from which 1t was
reported.
Mr. Salisbury said he would object to any ar
rsnpe,nent He hoped Senator's would not consent
TO any condition or control but would exercise the
rights TO which they were entitled.
Mr. Burnside made a similar statement, and the
bill was laid aside.
The Senate then proceeded to consider various
House bills of no public interest
On motion of Mr.. Paddock, the Senate joint reso-
luton for the paymentef the District government
EMPLOYEES for holidays was passed.
MI Herman said he had repeatedly moved an
etecutivFsessf0Ir heretoforewhen there was abun-
dance Of time for the purpose; and he would now
insist upon the motion.
Nj. Bailey commented upon what he construed
Is threat TO intimidate thsSenate by the Senator
from New York. He (SIr. Bailey, for one, detied
y,,ch threats, and they would have no influence
upon him. He hoped they would have none with
the Senate He therefore renewed the motion for
an executive Sc sson.
Mr. Conkling denied having uttered q threat
The question being taken, and many Repub-
lcan Senators declining to answer, it was found
that 20 quorum had voted.
A long debate followed upon the power OF the
Senate under the rules to compel members in at
tendance TO answer On rol-cal.
Pending motion by Mr.. Salisbury lat four
o'clock q. M that the Chair be instructed to call
upon the recusant members for any excuses they
might have to give for not answering motion for
recess was negatived-ayes, %; noes, 3O-a party
vote, except that Mr.. Thurman voted with the Re-
publcans.
At half past two O'Clock a roll call, upon mo-
ton for executive session, showed less than
quorum of Senators present.
Mr. Davis, of West Virginia, stated that ali the
reports of conferences Oh appropriation bills had
been adopted by the two Houses, and the bills
passed.
At this point an animated coIIoGuy occurred be-
tween Senators CoRkling and Herman, who had
apparently been engaged in aprivate conversation.
Mr.. Herman, evidently by way of reply ex-
claimed, with unusual warmth. II don't care, sir,
whether you do Or not" To which Mr.. Conkling
responded, " Get him confirmed, if you cen. You
will not DO it by twelve o'clock tomorrow" The
reference was supposed TO be the contested Albany
confirmation. The chair (Mr. CockreiD raped Wig
oTously for order and the two Senators separated.
Subsequently, upon repetition ofthe motion for
all executive session, Mr.. Conkling said he would
make no objection if the action 10 be taken was
limited TO cases unobiected to- but that if the pur
pose was to take up contested cases at this time,
in the absence of many Of the Republican mem
bers, he would resist the contamination of that
purpose until the minute had reached twelve
O'Clock noon.
Mr. Voorhees, said he was Indifferent about an
executive session, as the pending nominations
gave hin no concern whatever The recent food
from the President contained SO many specimens
ofpartisanship and unfaIrness that he OR. VoOr-
hecsl was not desiTous of acting upon them at all.
Mr. Ransom renewed the motion for an executive
session.
Mr.. Teller moved to lay the motion on the table.
The Chair ruled the latter motion ont of order.
No quorum having voted On Mr.. RanSOmS mo-
ton (which resulted-ayes, 81; noes, nonel; the
Republicans again declining to vote,
Various motions met like fate and pending
motion by Mr.. Thurman 10 take up the Senate
Joint resolution placing General Thomas L. Crit
tenden upon the retired list, the point of no quo
rum wa made. when, the Chair, upon ali actual
count, determined that forty Senator'S sufficient
number, were present The bill was then taken
up and passed.
At five o'clock a. m, after repeated but ineffec-
tual efforts by the majority for en executive ses-
sion, sufficient number of the Republican Sen
aors declining to answer upon yea and nay votes
TO enable the point of" no quorum to be made, a
recess was taken until $50 o'clock.
Owing to failure of quorum to appear
81 the hour appointed (haf- past nine o'clock, the
recess of the Senate was substantially prolonged
until half past ten O'Clock, when message from
the President received and joint resolution,
offered by Mr. Batter, for an extra months pay to
Senate officers and employees WAS briefly debated
and passed i
The galleries were meanwhile thrown open 10
ticket holders fully hTee- fourths of whom were
ladies and their unrcStrained conversation soon
caused so much confusion as to practically ter |
inmate fOrsome moments all further attempts at |
legislation.
The Vice President announced the signing of
the enrolled sundry civil and deficiency appropria-
ton bills.
At 1880 O'clock Maior-Gencral Hancock, with /
Colonel Mitchell, of his staff under the escort of
Senator Blaine entered from the west door of the
Senate, and was welcomed with long continued |
applause from the galleries and on the floor. The !
first on the floor to greet him was Senator Conk-
ling. and the cordial Misunderstanding initiated by |
them was repeated by all the Senators present, /
who pressed eagerly forward for the purpose. |
Meanwhile the applause of the gallerieSSweled to |
a tumult and subsidized. The distinguished visitor |
finally took seat to the left ofthe Chair The arri
val Of Lieuteuant-General Sheridan some moments
later was the occasion for the renewal of the en-
thusiasGl, though the demonstration was devoid /
fthe spirit and significance of that which pre- |
ceded it.
At 11:2O O'Clock the diplomatic corps entered !
and occupied the seats Of Senators on the right Of
the Chair.
Later the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of
the Supreme Court entered and were seated in the /
space Immediately in front and 10 the right of the
Fice-President, the Senate meanwhile combining
itselft0 the half Of the semicrcle of seats to the
left with members of the House, and the only in
cdents of the interim proceeding the arrival of
The President and Vice-P rcSident-e elect was the /
appointment Of a committee of notification by the I
PRESIDENT oftie close of the present Congress, their
subsequent report that the President had fur
lher communications TO make ana the receipt ana
reading Of messages from the President transmit
ing the call for Senate executive session. and
houncing the resignation of Hon. Benjamin Har-
ftson, from the Mississippi River Improvement
Commission
Inc presidential procession, headed by Presi
Ue't Hayes and PEeSidcut-clec Garfield, finally
entered under escort of Senators PendletOn, An
lHony, and Bayard. and others ofthe committee of
%IangementS and two minutes later was followed
" NONRESIDENT cleo Arthur in charge of
subcommittee composed of the above named Scna-
WIS ali present in The chamber rising upon each
OCCASION
Nce-PTesident-elect Arthur was then intro
oUCea 10 the Senate by Vice President Wheeler
rlu after taking the prescribed oath of Office de-
--'eFce The usual formal address, as follows:
SENATOR'S: come a. your presiding officer with
s,-.olAe Soicitude, remembering my inexperience
!. pafiiamentary proceedings. l cannot forget
Nv" lllp9Ttant. Intricate ard nffnn en- hnrraSsing