St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-08
ITS EXPIRING THROES.
Last Meeting of the Forty-eighth Ma
tional Congress a Rather UnSat-
isfactory Affair to all
Concerned.
Commissioners Appointed to Visit South
American Republican,. P. Road
Bridges Across the st.
Louis River.
Especial Telegram to the Globe. !


WASHINGTON, July 9.-The closing hours OF
congress were very tame and uninterestinS, evl-
dencing how thoroughly the center of attention
has been transferred from Washington to Chica-
go, and how restless our law makers had become
under presence of political necessities. Never
before in the history of congress has a session
terminated so unsatisfactory to all
concerned, and never before did
auditory as to-day 1t has been the custom to
fill the capitol to overlooking on bidding adeu to
departing congress, but the proceedings of to-
day amounted to little more in numbers and
eclat than at ordinary town meetings. Hereto
forein the senate, while awaiting enrolment of
bills for signatures, the venerable door keeper
Mr.. Bassett, has always turned back the clocks
hands when they crept too fast toward the
hour fixed for adjournment, but
Othello's occupation gone to-day for, the
conscientious president pro tenn, M. Edmunds,
forbade this theft of time and the senate was
thereby forced to pass resolution of extension
from two to three o'clock. Pending this the
president notified the senate he had no further
communication to make and that body was on the
eve of adjournment and Edmunds
had risen to make parting
address when a message was received from the
house concurring in the resolution extending the
time to 8 o'clock. The time passed YEARLY in
both bodies, when the senate unable to stand
further pressure, agreed to adjourn at 2 80 and
call it o'clock. Secretary McCook rushed over
to inform the house that the senatsshad adj
journed prematurely, whereupon the clocks
hands were Immediately pushed forward and
after short shrift, Acting Speaker Blackburn
declared the house adjourned without
day. Thus went out the light of the
first session of the Forty eighth congress, which
will be known to history as having talked more
and accomplished less than any of its predeces-
sors. 1t came in like lion and went out like
lamb. Gazing down from the reporters gallery
upon the deserted house, it was a picture to no.
tice the two great watch dogs,
Sam Randall and Director Holman
seated quietly at their desks, keen,
alert and active until the last syllable of recorded
time. Randall was apparently as unconscious Of
what was going on at Chicago as if no such gath
erng existed, and he had nothing at stake any
where outside of the house, and yet he remained
at his seat at great personal Inconvenience, and
to the great disappointment of his friends at Chi
cago He left for the national convention to-
night, expecting to arrive in time to assist in
formulating the Democratic platform. The last
act of the president was to nominate three COM
mssioners, provided by recent law, to visit South
American governments with the view of securing
more intimate commercial relations with our sis
ter republics This embassy is considered to be
of the highest Importance to our future relations
with South America. The commissioners are
paid 81, 500 per annum and expenses. General
George FL. Sharpe, of New York, President Ar
thurs chief manager at Chicago. receives first
place on the commission.
Col. Poe Major McKen, secretary, and Major
Allen, of Engineer corps, ordered to assemble at
Duluth to consider certain questions provided in
the recent act authorizing the Northern Pacific
road to construct bridge across the st. Louis
river