National Republican., 1883-03-05

slider the question Of the salaries and cOmpcn-
sation Of the sonatoand house and report as to
the number of such employees requisite for the
transaction of business.
Various requests to take up and pass bills
by unanimous consent were made, but were
invariably met with shouts OF object" But
when, through somo inattention or on ac-
count Of the tumuit i'm the hall, one such
attempt was successful lin regard to n bill fix
ing the terms Of United States courts in
Texas there was u loud roar of laughter.
AT 1855 the committee to wait on the Pres
ident reported that he had no further COM
munication to make to congress.
REFERS FAREWELL.
Then the speaker began his closing address.
He said:
GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVE
Tho time has come when our official relations
representatives in the fOrty-seventh congress are
10 he dissolved. IN moment more this house of
representatives Will be known only in history. It's
nets VIII stand, many Of them, it Is believed,
through The future history OF the republic.
On the opening day Of this congress yenturcd
!he suggestion and the expression Of hope that
IL should be marked "pecnliarly rs a business
congress-" II has successfully prappled with more
OF the vitnl, material, and moral questions of the
country than i8 predecessOrs Many Of these
questions have been settled wisely and well by
appropriate legislation. .s ..sr.
IL would pc quite impossible at this time to
been enacted to foster and promote the substantial
interests Of the whole country.
This congress- enacted into law the first per
cent. funding bill known to this country, and un
der IL u considerable portion of the government
debt has been refunded ut lower rates than ever
before.
Itdld not hesitate to take hold Of the question of
pOlygumy and ii is believed 1t has struck the first
effective blow in the direction OF destroying that
greatest remaining public crime ofthe age.
Laws have been passed to protect the emgrant
on his way across the sea, and upon his arrival in
the ports of this country
Laws have also been passed to extend the char
tiers OF banking institutions so that financial dis
order can not take place. which would otherwise
have come ut the ex piration of old bank charters
Many public acts Will he found relating to the
lndian policy and the land policy OF this country,
which will prove to be wise.
The postotllcu laws have been so changed as to
reduce letter postage from three TO two cents the
lowest rate ever known In the United States.
No legislation OF this congress will be found
upon the statute books utionary in character,
or which will oppress any section or individual in
AliegislRion has been in the direction Of relief.
Pension Iaws have been enacted which are
deemed wise, aud liberal appropriations have
been made to pay the deserving and unfortunate
Internal revenue taxes have been taken of and
the tariff laws have been revised
soeionalism has been unknown in the enact
In the main fraternal spirit has prevailed
| among the members from all portions of the
union. What has been said in the heat of debate
anu under excitement, and sometimes with provo.
cation, is not to be regarded in determining the
| genuine feeling Of concord existing between mem
sessions of this congress has enabled me to judge
better of the true spirit of the members that COM
| pose IL than could otherwise have done.
1t common to say that the house of represent
| atives is very turbulent and disorderly body Of
| men. This Is true more in appearance than In
reality. Those who look on und do not partic-
pate see more apparent confusion than exists
in reality. The disorder that often appears
upon the floor Of the house grows out Of an car
| nest active spirit possessed by members coming
from all sections of the United States, and indi.
Gates in high. degree their strong individuality
and their great zeal In trying TO secure recognition
in the prompt discharge of their duty. No more
| conscientious body Of men than compose this
house of representatives., in my opinion, ever met.
Partizan zeal hns, In some instances, led to fierce
word contests on the lOUr; but when the occasion
which gave rise 10 1t passed by party spirit went
| with 1t.
lam very thankful for the considerate manner
in which have been treated by the house in its
collective capacity. l nm also very thankful to
| each individual member OF this body for his per-
sonal treatment of me. shall lay down the gayel
| and the high office you clothed me with filled
with good feeling toward each member of this
house have been ~ times impatient and some
| times severe with members, but have never
| purpcsely harshly treated any member. / have
become warmly attached TO and possessed
| of high admiration, not only Of the
| high character of this house us a parliamentary
| body, but for all its individual members. Iheart-
| lily tnank the house for its vote of thanks. The
| duties of speaker are of the most delicate and
| critical kind. His decisions are, in the main,
made without time for deliberation. and are often
very ar-Teaching and controlling in the leglsla-
| ton Of the country and important matters, and
they call out the seYerest criticism. The rules
| Of this house which leave to the speaker the
onerous duty aud delicate task of recog-
| nizlng individuals to present their matters for
legislation render the Office in that re-
| spect an exceedingly unpleasant one. No mem.
Der should have the legislation he desires depend
| upon the individual recognition OF the speaker,
| and no speaker should be compelled to decide
between meplbers having matters of possibly
| equal importance or of equal right to his recog-
milton. l suggest here that the time will soon
come when another mode will have to be adopted
which will relieve both the speaker and ndi-
| vidual members from this exceedingly embarrass-
| ing II not dangerous power
During my administration in the chair very
| many important questions have been decided by
me, and ! do not lltter myself that have, in the
hurry Of decisions, made no mistakes. But 1 DO
take great pride In being able to say that no par
| liamentary decision of mine has leen overruled
| by the judgment ol this almost evenly politically
| balanced house. although many appeals have been
| taken.
congratulate each member of this house upon
what has been accomplished by him In the dis
charge of the important duties of representa-
| tive and with the sinccrest hope that all may
return safely TO their homes, and wishing each d
successful and happy future during lite, now
eXerciso my last official duty as presiding officer
of this house by declaring the term of this house
under the constitution of the United States, Mt an
end, and that 1t shall stand adjourned sine die.
When the speaker closed his remarks there
was general manifestation of applause on
| both sides of the house. For q long time af-
terward members were engaged in taking
leave OF each other, and the utmost cordiality
and good feeling were manifested in these
farewell greetings.
---o----
SEVERAL SUICIDES.