The Portland daily press., 1891-03-05
ITS WORK DONE.
The Plfty.First Congress Has Vanished
In Thin Air.
The French SpOliation Bill Passed at
the Eleventh Hour.
All Of the Appropriation Bills Got
Through In Time.
Members Of The House Sing HYMNS
and War Songs.
Especial to the Press.l

WASHINGTON, March 4-Ihe Fifty-ir5t
Congress adjourned today. amid scenes both
stirring and impressive. The chief interest
centred In the House Of Representatives, the
immense galleries of which were crowded to
overlooking with an audience of three thou
sand or more people. Tho chief events of
the day were the vote Of thanks to the
Speaker and his farewell address. As had
been expected. the Democrats decided not to
sustain the resolution, but they made no
demonstrations against 1t, as has been done
in some Congresses in the past, notably in
the cases of Speakers Polk aud Banks. Had
Mills or the Breckinridges uttered word
against tho resolution Mckinley and other
Republicans were prepared to reply to them
vigorously. But Mills simply called for the
yeas and nays. The Speaker. having
called Mr. Burrows to the chair, Mr.. McKin.
ley moved a resolution of thanks to the
Speaker for the 'able, impartial and digni-
fed" manner In which he had presided over
the body. The resolution was passed, yeas
152, nays 116, strict party vote. Every Re
publican present voted yea. and large pro-
portion Of the Democrats voted nay. A few
Democrats like Culberson of Texas, the ablest
lawyer on the Democratic side and chairman
of the judiciary committee under Carlisle's
speakership, and Hatch of Missouri, himself
an excellent presiding officer, who was often
chairman of the committee of the whole un-
der Carlisle, were conspicuous for not voting
with their party against the resolution. Mr..
Reed had retired from the hall when the reso-
luton was offered. After the vote he re-
turned and took the chair. His appearance
was the signal for the widest enthusiasm on
the Republican side, the members rising in
their seats. cheering. waving their hats,
canes and handkerchiefs, and even tossing
public documents into the air. This Demon
stration continued some time, to the evident
displeasure of the Democrats. The next
scene Of enthusiasm came when the Speaker
pronounced his farewell address. As the
hour of noon approached, and the last busi-
ness had been transacted, he arose In his
place to bid farewell to the House and ad
journ it. The great hall, crowded with un-
w0nted numbers of members and by an i'm
mense audience In the galleries had been in
the last hours of the forenoon filled with the
confusion and uproar that belongs only to
the American House of Representatives.
Suddenly, as the Speaker arose, the vast hall
became as silent as deserted church. Every
eye was bent on the Speaker, who, in clear
firm voice, which had suffered nothing, ap-
parently, from the twenty-six hours of con-
tinu0us labor without rest which Mr.. Reed
had undergone in the long all night session
from Tuesday at 10 a. m. to Wednesday at
u M, addressed the House as follows:
'After two long and stormy sessions, in
some respects unparalleled in a hundred
years, the House of Representatives of the
Fifty. first Congress will soon pass, with its
completed record into the history of the
country. and Its works will follow it. What
we have done Is in large measure political.
Whatever Is political rouses the sternest,
most turbulent, most unforgving passions
never be justly viewed from a near stand
point. Tins and distance are needed for a
ripe judgment, and the verdict Of history Is
the onlp verdict worth regarding.
10 state In language which would seem
to me to be adequate, the achievements of
the House, would not be suitable to this
time or this place, nor Is 1t in the least need
full that should now rekindle the old dis
putes or fan the dying embers OF the strug-
giles past and gone.
"Whether we have disposed of the ques-
tions of fnance with the wisdom Of broad
craftsmanship time will surely show. Wheth-
er the things we have done, and the things
we have attempted, for the furtherance OF
human liberty were actuated by high and
honorable motives will be visible to all the
world at no distant day. Our actions need
no catalogue, and all enumeration and praise
by ourselves would be in vain. Ii our deeds
do not praise us our words cannot.
Confident as am Of the verdict Of time
on what we have done am still more conf
dent that the highest commendation will be
given us In the future not for what measures
we have passed, valuable as they are, but be-
cause we have taken SO long stride in the
ing demonstrated to the people that those
who have been elected to do their will can
do 1t, henceforth excuses will not be taken
for the nonperformance and government by
the people will be stronger in the land.
Toward those who have opposed what
the majority of the House have desired, we
can have no unkindly or personal feeling.
Whoever offers battle to old convictions ard
faiths must expect battle aud the vigorous
resistance must always bear some proportion
to the vigor Of the onset.
"TO the members on my left with whom /
am p0iitlcally associated, beg to tender my
most sincere and heartfelt acknowledgment.
No man ever received more ungrudgiDg and
more patriotic.
II am proud to acknowledge in all that has
been done. have been but one in the multi
tude and that the honors of the Flfty-first
Congress belong to you alone"
The hnai words were scarcely spoke when
the hepuDIicans began applause which was
| gradually Joined in by many Democrats and
| the galleries. The scene on the floor became
Of the liveliest description. The Republi,,
cans struck up John Browns Body" and
lOitUWcu IL Will nome SWeeI 11oine'
| Then choruses arose from the galleries and
| all parts Of the flotr IN
Among the results of the last hours
| of the session of this Congress
| Is the appropriation Of money to pay the
French Spoliation claims. This money, pald
| to the United States by France, for the ID.
Identification Of vessel owners for the loss OF
| property through French prlYateers, mas
been held in the treasury for more than a
hundred years. 1t will now go 20 the heirs
L nf tho nrioi In, ,l .,,Ha MANY Oh whom were
Maine people.
The Portland Company's bill Is probably
lost, the President having left 1t unsigned.
| Among Maine. visitors here are clarence >.
Lunt Of the Bangor Commercial, and Mrs.
Lunt.
PUBLIC BUILDING BILLS.
n , That Started In Eail