The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-03-06
Gentlemen of the House of Repre-

Il
be dissolved. In moment MOI g
this House of Representatives will
be known only in history. Its C s
Will staad, many of them, it is be-
lieved, through the future history
of the Republic. On the opening
day of this Congress l Yentured
the suggestion and expression or
hope that it should be marked
peculiarly as a business Congress.
1t has successfully grappled with
more vital, material and moral
questions of the country than its
predecessors. Many of these cues
lions have been settled wisely and
well by appropriate legislation. 1t
would be quite impossible at this
time to enumerate the MANY impor-
tant laws which have been enacted,
to foster and promote the substan-
tlal interests of the whole country.
Congress enacted into law the first
8 per cent. funding bill known to
the country, and under it consid-
cradle portion of government bonds
have been refunded at lower rates
than ever before. 1t did not hesi-
tate to take hold of the question of
pOlygamy, and it struck the first
effective blow in the direction of
destroying that greatest remaining
public crime of the age. Laws have
been passed to protect the immi-
grant on his way across the sea, and
upon his arrival in the ports of this
country. Laws have also been
passed to extend the charters of
banking institutions, so that fnan-
cial disorder cannot take place,
which would otherwise come at
the expiration Of the old bank
charters. Many public acts were
passed relating TO the Indian policy
and land policy of this country,
which will prove wise. The post
Office laws have been so changed as
to reduce letter postage from SC. to
&c, the lowest rate ever known in
the United States. No legislation
of this Congress will be found
upon the statute books revolu-
tiOnary in character, or which
will Cypress iany section or
individual in the land. All leg
islation has been in the direction of
relief, pension laws have been en-
acted which are deemed wise and
liberal. Appropriations have been
made to pay the deserving and I'M
fortunate pensioner, internal rev.
enHe taxes have been taken off, and
the tariff law revised. Sectionalism
has been unknown in the enactment
of laws, In the main fraternal
spirit prevailed among members
from all portions of the union what
has been said in the heat of debate
and under excitement aud some
times with provocation is not to be
regarded in determining the genu
ing feeling of concord existing be-
tween members. The high Office l
have filed through the sessions of
this congress enabled me to judge
better of the true spirit of members
that compose it than 1 could other
wise have done. Its common to
say the House of Repres entatives is
a very turbulent and disor derby
body of men this is true more in
appearance than reality. Those who
leok on and do not participate see
more apparent confusion than exists
in reality. The disorder that often
appears upon the floor of the House
grows out of the earnest, 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 the prompt
discharge of duty. No more con-
scientions body of men than COM
pose this House of Representatives,
in my opinion, ever met. Partisan
zeal has in some instances led to
fierce word conflicts on the floor, but
when the reason which gave rise to
it passed by, party spirit vent with
it. am very thankful for the con-
siderate manner in which l have
been treated by the House in its
collective capacity. 1 am also very
thankful to each individual mem
Der of this body for his personal
treatment of nee. / shall lay down
the gayel and high Office you
clothed me with, filed with good
feeling toward each member of this
house. I have been at times i'm.
patient and sometimes severe with
members, but 1 never purposely
harshly treated any member. ]
have become warmly attached to,
and possessed Of high admiration,
not only for the high character Of
this House as parliamentary body,
but for all its individual members,
heartily thank the House for its
vote Of thanks. The duties of
Speaker are Of most delicate kind.
His decisions in the main are made
without time for elaboration, and
are often very far reaching and con.
trolling the legislation Of the coun'
try on important matters, and they
call out the severest criticism. The
rules of this House, which leave tC
the Speaker the onerous duty and
: delicate task of reconeiling indiTid
uals to present their matters for leg
: islation, render the Office in thai
respect exceedingly unpleasant. NJ
member should have the legisla
ton he desires depend upOI
] the individual recognition o.
the Speaker, ana no Speaks
Ishould be compelled to decide be
8 tween members having matters o.
: equal Importance. 1 suggest her,
: that the time will soon coMe whel