Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-03-13
CLOSING SCENES.
The business of the Fifty-First
Congress Concluded by the
Singing OF the Doxology.
Scenes and Incidents Pertaining
to the Fiual Sessions OF
House and Senate.
by the Action on "A Vote Of
Thanks TO Speaker Reed.

A correspondent writes as follows of the
scenes attendant upon the final session OF
the ifty-tirst congress.
In the serate, appropriation bills were
passed in dull routine and there was very
little excitement. Messrs. Edmunds and
MOrgaA were appointed to act as IA commit
tee. jointly with two members of the house.
70 inform the president that congress- was
ready TO ad .ourn. One Of the last acts of
the house was 70 pass the conference report
on the bill for public build ng at Saginaw.
reducing the cost 10 $50, 900. Mr.. Burrows
OF Michigan, having taken the char, Mr.
Mckinley of Ohio offered the following
resolution: THAT the thanks of this house
are presented TO the Hon. Thomas Il. Reed
for the able, impartial and dignihed manner
in which he has presided over the delibera-
tons and performed the arduous and i'm
portHnt duties of the chair" Mr.. Mills de-
manded the yeas and nays. The resolution
was agreed TO by strict party vote-yeas,
l52; nays, ll6 On the announcement of
the vote there was an outburst OF applause
from the republican side, winch was re-
doubled when MIR. Mills inquired whether
this was part of the funeral service The
speaker made n reply in which he said:
Towards those who have opposed what
the ma or.ty of the house have desired we
can have no unkindly or personal feel NJ.
Whoever offers battle 10 OLD convict Gus
and faiths must eXpet battle, and the vigor
of the resistance must always bear some
proportion TO the vigor OF the onset TO
members on my left, with whom | am pO-
Ideally associated, ] beg TO tender my
most sincere and heartfelt acknowledge
ments. No man ever received more un-
Rrudsing and unh.nch ng support or from a
band of men more patriotic. l am proud
TO acknowledge in all that has been done l
have been one in the multi tude, and that
the honors of the hfty-frst congress belong
TO you alone. l now declare this house
adjourned without day."
Not an interruption marked Mr.. Reeds
address, which was distinctly heard in
every part of the house and galleries. AS
he ceased speaking, and the sound Of his
gavel upon the speakers table announced
the exp ration of the fifty-Erst congress,
scene unknown in legislative history
transp,red on the floor. AS one man, the
members arose TO their feet. Uttered
paper was thrown into mid-air by hundreds
of hands. Handkerchiefs were waved and
silk hats were tossed overhead. The floor,
which but moment before h ld been so
quiet, became scene of bewilderment and
confusion. The people in the galleries
looked on with astonishment and arose
en- m lsse. Their astonishment was turned
into amazement a moment later when the
notes of Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the BOYS
are Marching arose above the din on the
republican side of the chamber. Grave
and revered men joined in the refrain until
its notes swelled TO such volume as TO COM
pleteIy till the great hall. AS the notes
died away, there arose from the demo-
cratic side the strains of America" which
was quickly caught up and sung with
dramatic effect by the democratic men,
bers. The correspondents then arose in
Their gallery and to the inspiring strains
of the "Doxology," whish seemed TO
catch the house and galleries like wild6re,
sung our the tifty-hrst con yress. At II
noon Fas'her Bassct, amid the laughter of
the crowded galleries, turned the senate
clock back five minutes, and ut 1905 the
clock was turned back six minutes. At
1910 the senate clock was again turned
back 10 minutes. AT 1918 tho senate
ad burned, the clock in the chamber in
dicating 1902.