Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-03-15

Edmwnds, facing the Republican SEN
ators, began to lift his right hand, It's
complete elevation being coincident
in point Of time with Mr.. Anthony 3
discovery of the form of the oath. Mr.
Edmunds was tnen duly sworn, the
form heirg that known as the iror- clad
oath, which Mr.. Eamunds took at the
beginning of his senatorial term, and
which, by the ordinary laws Of casuistry
is still binding on him. When the cath
was over with and Mr.. Edmunds felt
himself to be every inch IL president
pro tenn, and by large majority a
vice president also, he ommenced bis
official career by sending a messenger
to the galleries to tell the American
people TO make less noise. There was
perfect silence at the time. There was
not even applause at MIR. Edmunds
installation. He had drawn the second
prize III the lottery which he scathing-
ly characterized in his famous remark
IN the Senate about eighteen months
ago. Senator Davis, fre ed from the
care Of his position, was seen but little
cay. He seemed to care very little
about subsequent proceedings. How
ever, he WAS called to the chair again
this evening by acting Vice President
Ednunds, and rushed bills along with
MS usual facility. Among other mea-
sures passed was the house joint reso-
luton to set aside the awards made by
Venezuelan commission, which have
been subject of controversy for so
many years. This is another of the
old matters like the Geneva award, the
japanese indemnity and the Brigadier
General Armstrong claim which this
congress has finally cleared off the
dOckets.
The Last Hours.
CLOSING SCENES.
The last night OF the last session of
the forty-seventh congress was memor-
able only for vast crowd at the capi-
tol, noisy and turbul lent scenes upon
the floor of the house, dull and monot-
onous doings in the senate, hand-saak-
ings, leavG-takings, and sighs. More
than One-half of the thousand Of peo-
pie who came to the capitol backed the
gallaries, surged through the corridors
and lobies, and vainly implored mem
bers and senators for seats. They ex-
pected to see the tariff bill passed.
They were too late for that sight, but
ciamored none the less tiercely for a
chance to hear the dry details of the
contested election cases ard conference
reports.
ABOUT NINE O'CLOCK
the president and mem bers of the cab
net arrived at the capitol They were
escorted to the presidents psrlor, in
the rear of the senate chamber. There
the president remained until late
hour, afhxing his signature to bills that
had passed both houses. The door
keepers on duty along the corridors ad-
joining the presidents room were in
structed TO allow senate officers only to
pass, and the white-haired captain OF
the capitol police mounted guard at the
door with 8 pride and dignity of q SER
geant grenadier.
The members of the cabinet spent
siderable time on the floor Of the
senate. There was general exchange
of good-bys among senators-quiet )i;,
tie partings, some of them warm and
sincere, others cold and formal. Mean
time the work Of the session steadily
progressed. Bills unobjected to were
taken from the calendars and passed,
and the reports of the conference COM
mittees considered and disposed Of
The conferrees on the sundry civil bill
disagreed and reported their difference
to the respective houses. The report
In each case was sustained and a new
conference ordered. This bill is the
only barrier in the way of an immedi-
ate adjournment tonight.
Hooker, of Mississippi, who was a
trif1e more drunk than usual, narrowly
escaped q fight while trying to seat two
ladies in a crowded gallery. He was
not subdued until a sturdy byst&ndel
threatened to knock him down.
Facts I'm Figures.
ANALYzING THE WORK OF CONGRESS.
An examination of the books at the
capitol showed that during the forty
seventh congress the number of bills
introduced was 1860, of which only
$50 became laws, leaving a balance OF
hand Of 10000. The house calendar
contains ], 800 bills upon which report:
have been made, none Of which can
secure action, although 225 have pass.
ed the senate. They are mainly bill;
Of private character for relief. Pen.
siCns and war claims and the meri-
toriOus had to share the same fate al
those in which a lob WAS suOOOSed tC
be concealed. The reports of debate:
in the two houses covered 10715 page!
Of the Congressional Record, and esti
mating each page to contain 1,50(
words, the solons of the national legis'
lature used 16, 100000 words to express
the wants of their constituents during
the two sessions of the forty-seventt
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