New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-21
WITHOUT DAY.
TIE LONGEST SESSION OF CONGRESS on
RECORD EXPIRES
FINAL PROCEEDINGS BEFORE ALMOST EMPTY
HoUsES-APPLAUsE BREAKS OUT AS
THE CURTAIN FALLS.
rsY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

TsY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUyK1
Washington, Oct. 2O.-The first session Of the
centennial Congress formally expired to-day. 1t
suffered severe stroke Of paralysis about two
months ago, from which it never had rallied, al
though at times some symptoms OF life have been
| exhibited by the Senate. The deathbed scenes
not interesting, and they attracted but few
spectators, mainly strangers who felt little or no
interest Even the usual throng of private claim
ants absent They are the most hopeful and
persistent of all men who come to Washington
and they haunt the halls of legislation year after
year. But they realized sly weeks ago that
nothing more could be expected or hoped for at
the hands Of this Congress before next winter
An exception Mary Ann Dougherty, the PEN
sion claimant who was the subject Of veto
message of a coarse, and according 10 Senator
Blair. liDelous nature. She was at the Capitol
early, and remained until after the Senate adj
journed.
When the memorable first session of the XXXIst
Congress expired on September 30 1850, more
than 40 of the "a Senators and l55 of the 23O
Representatives which then composed the Con-
gress were in their seats. When the Senate was
called to order to-day, 10 of the &c Senators were
present while of the 325 Representatives only
0 besides the Speaker listened to the prayer of
the chaplain. OF course no business even the
reading of the Journal, could be done, except by
unanimous consent, and there was no pretence of
doing any.
! The results of the session have been by
means commensurate with its length a fact which
candid members of the majority in the House
| sadly acknowledge. The President the Speaker
of the House and the Democratic members of the
Ways ard Means Committee have absolutely con-
trolled legislation during the past 1921 days. Upon
them rests the responsibility for the failure OF all
general measures for the relief of disabled and
needy veterans of the Union; for the failure OF
measures in which labor is specially interested;
/ for the refusal to consider the bill TO give Ma
/ tional aid to common schools in the Southern
States; for like refusal to consider and adopt
measures to revive American commerce; for the
passage after midsummer, of a tariff bill designed
to break down the protective system and sur
render the American market TO foreigners, and
calculated to degrade American labor and iniure
or destroy American manufacturing industries;
! for the failure of a Pacific Railroad refunding
bill for the defeat of the bill to refund TO the
| States the amounts paid by them on account OF
! the direct tax of s6l; for the failure TO con-
slider the bill TO provide for the creation and
maintenance of Naval Reserve, and many Other
measures of general importance.
When Senator Ingalls, called the Senate together
this morning on the last day Of the longest
session in the history OF that body. there were
lust ten Senators in their seats, namely: Messrs.
Allison. Paddock. Sawyer Teller. Mitchell, Back
burn Cockrell, Reagan, salisbury and the pre-
siding officer six Republicans and four Dem
ocrats. Senator Blackburn presented the minority
report of the committee to investigate the civil
Service and it was ordered to be printed. This
is an attempt TO neutralize in some degree the
damaging effect of Senator Ilalcs report, but 1t
is regarded as a weak effort 1t had been held
back until the last moment in order to prevent
any discussion criticism.
Senator Allison moved the appointment OF a
committee to act with similar committee from
the House in notifying TO the President That
| Congress was ready TO adjourn, unless he had
some further communication TO make, and MeSsrs.
Allison and Salisbury were designated. Then
Mr. Allison moved a recess until noon, but ac-
cepted n suggestion from Senator COckrcll that
the Senate be nomnally IN recess without formal
action TO that effect, that the members might
Le called together at any time IL
necessary This caused some gossip
and wSader if the President intended to send any
Startling message, as had been intimated, which
! ,,nuld have an important bearing upon the pend
inc campaign Nothing OF that kind happened,
ho,tycr and when the committee returned from
fine White House Mr.. Allison reported that the
President had nothing further TO Communicate
Once before noon the Senate called together
10 mass upon Joint resolution from the House T.
allow the Government exhibit NJ the Cincinnati
Exposition to remain there until November D.
| Al noon letter WAS received from the Secretary
OF War. transmitting report from the Che!
Signal Officer in reference TO the climate OF Oregon
and Washington Territory, which was referred u