The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-05
Senator Davis Resigns President of the
Senate, and Is Succeeded by Senator
Edmunds, of Vermont.
Speech from Mr.. Keifer Reviewing
the Work of the Session.
Guessing as to the Probable Organization
of the Next Senate-List of Important
Bills Passed by Congress.
CLOSING THE SESSION.
Scenes and Incidents Attendant on the Close
of the Forty-Seventh Congress.
SDecial to the IndianapolIs JournaI.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON March 4.-The closing hours
of Congress were not marked by convulsons
of nature, but they were of great and obsorb-
ing interest nevertheless. The passage of
the tariff bill through the House, the cruel
and heartless murder of the river and harbor
bill in the Senate, the successful checking of
several jobs which were being pushed by
powerful interests in the House, and the
passage of all the remaining appropriation
bills, are among the features of the last days
work. The death throes were witnessed by
a very large number of people who were
present in the flesh and by vast multitude
who were there in the spirit. All night
long the great lantern on top the dome of the
Capitol burned brightly, and all
morning the flags over the Senate
chamber and the hall of the House of Rep
resentatives waved-a standing invitation to
the whole world to come to see US die," as
a "snowed-under" member remarked.
d, The night sessions were not greatly dis
similar to those of the previous evening.
The crowds were, if anything, little more
dense and important, and the statesmen
somewhat more kittenish and frisky. Moth
ing OF the heavy tragedy order occurred in
either house. though the proceedings were
enlivened by a series of incidents that i'm
parted snap aud sparkle to the business of
the last hours
An unexpected deadlock in the House,
continuing from o'clock Saturday night to
the wind-up, fifteen hours later, disarranged
the plans of many good men. Attempts
were made to call up numerous bills,
not the least important of which were the
whisky extension bill, the Texas Pacific con-
solidation bill, the North Peninsuar Michi-
gan railway bill, but not one OF them could
be reached. The tariff bill was passed be-
fore the evening recess, and it was supposed
the remainder of the time would be at the
disposal of the majority. This idea proved
fallacious. The minority took charge from
the moment the Richardson-Lee contested
election case came up, and effectualy
blocked the wheels of legislation.
The Senate was in continuous session from
10 O'Clock Saturday morning until II NJ Sun
day, with the exception of short recess for
dinner and a recess of three hours in the
early morning. The reputation of the
Senate for dignity and decorum was
maintained throughout AS the supreme
moment approached the dignity became
almost oppressive. The body was evidently
conscious that the eyes OF the Nation were on
the north end of the Capitol The malaria
which laid several of the representatives out
was powerless to affect the hardy and tough
ened constitutions of the senators, and few
succumbed to the unhealthy, miasmatic in
fuencs of the night air.
The closing scenes were especially impress
sive in themselves, but the surroundings
made them exceeding interesting. Nothing
of particular importance remained to be
done after the morning recess, except to
pick up the loose ends and the bare pro-
ceedings would have been monotonous
but for breezy little tilt between SEN
ators Lapham and ingalls, toward
the end The bulky New Yorker
undertook to get a lcaim through
and the Kansan opposed the enterprise. The
fight was like a duel between blind man
armed with a broad-ax and an experienced
fencer with razor-edged sword. "They call
me Old Tiger. because am such fighter"
said Senator Lapham, the other day, and he
made a great effort to lower his record;
but his opponent, in few graceful strokes,
ran him through the body, sliced him hor-
zontally and vertically, and trimmed him
into beautifully symmetry doing the
bloody work so artistically, that it was almost
a pleasure to be so carved.
At 1855, the Senate wrapped itself in a
mantle of silent meditation. The great inde-
pendent party, Mr.. Davis, moved about rest
lessly in the last stages of dissolution. and
shifting in Its seat, gazed anxiously at
the clock as though wishing it
were all over. 1t then looked
wistfully into the face of its successor in the
Presidents chair, folded its hands over its
ample waistcoat, spread out its feet turned
up its toes, closed its eyes and gave up the
ghost
The Readjuster party took less interest in
the proceedings, and seemed listless. Sew
eral dying statesmen glanced about, taking
shy farewell glimpses of the scenes of their
past triumphs and political glories. Mr..
Bassett was denied the pleasure of marching
gravely up the central aisle and solemnly
turning back the clock quarter of an hour,
ceremony he has performed regularly
for about forty years. The minute hand
slowly assumed perpendicularity and
breathless hush fell upon the people
in the galleries and upon the people who had
gained admission to the floor of the chamber.