The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-05
THE DEATH OF CONGRESS.
Interesting Sessions Of Senate and House
-DiscOurtesy to Sneaker Reed.

Interesting Sessions Of Senate and House
-DiscOurtesy to Speaker Reed.
WAsHIHGToS CRY, March 4-when the 4th of
March broke upon the capitol the corridors were
almost deserted and the galleries of both houses
were we'll nigh tenantless. The Senate had
taken recess just before daylight until q. m,
and the House was scene of litter and confu-
sion. There WIS an unusually large attendance
OF members, but it was unusually disorderly
assembly. The speaker appeared to be the most
serene person In the vast hall, save certain rep
representatives, who tilted back in their easy
chairs or threw themselves on the ample
lounges and were more or less advanced toward
sound slumber.
The sharp voice of the speaker rang out as
clearly as ever, calling for order and in remon-
STRANGE with members who sought to indulge
in horse play. As the day grew, signs Of life
outside the hall of the houses multiplied. The
members who had stolen Off for the night to
their homes began to drop in. The Senate
doors were re-opened, and the large class of
people who take an interest in the congressional
death struggle began to flock to the capitol and
sit down, and the last day of the session was
fairly begun
All the greater part of the morning there was
an intermittent babel of shouts for recogni-
ton from anxious members of the House who
crowded around the open space in front of the
speakers desk, and resorted to loud calls,
vociierous remarks aud all manner of devices to
attract attention. The House was in critical
mood, and those members who were fortunate
enough to catch the speakers eye found that
they still had hard road to travel to the presi-
DENTAL haven, for it was no easy matter to Sc
cure the necessary two-thirds majority to have
the rules suspended and their bills passed.
Meanwhile the confcrees on the deficiency bill,
the only appropriation bill remaining to
be acted on, were earnestly cndeavoring
to remove the stumbling blocks in the way OF
agreement The House rapidly filled as final
adjournment loomcd up less than three hours
of, while In the galleries standing room had
ceased TO be available some time previous, and
throngs of people jammed the passageways The
Republicans in the House nailed their colors to
the mast, determined to go out of power ag
gressiye, defiant and full of fight as they have
been at my time during the session.
NO Democrat having prepared the usual vote
of thanks to the speaker, Mckinley arose and
offered resolution thanking the speaker for the
able and impartial manner in which he had
performed his duties. Mills demanded the yeas
and NAYS When at last the vote was
announced, the Republicans rose en- masse
clapping vigorously and waving papers
cheers. the volume OF sound being swelled BY
applause in the galleries. The applause was re-
ncwed more vigorously than before as Speaker
Reed came to relieve burrows, who was tenn
pora:ily in the chair. The Democrats jeered at
the demonstration Bland and McCiammy
shouted out retorts to the Republican applause
that were lost in the confusion. Mr. Reed is not
the first speaker who has been refused vote of
thanks by the opposition party at the close of
congress. He Is the thirteenth on the list
against whom resentment has thus been mani
tested
Cannon came in for wild ovation. As he
presented the conference report the de-
iciency bill, the last report he would have to
make, his colleagues sprang to their feet, giving
him cheer after cheer, and tossing whatever was
on their desks into the air in tumutuous
cyclonic commcndation of Cannon. Breckin-
ridge of Kentucky, amid applause from the
Democrats, made graceful little speech eulo-
CYSTIC of the treatment the minority had re-
ceived from Cannon, but the Republic
nations, being evidently OF the opinion
that Breckinridge's remarks were intended in
some measure in derogation of the speaker
This concluded the necessary work of congress,
and the remaining time was chiefly consumed
In efforts to secure the passage of local or pri-
vate bills.
On the Senate side the scenes, while OF a more
dignified nature than those in the House. were
nevertheless animated and spirited. The gallery
opposite Vice President Mortons chair, reserved
members of foreign legations, and the only va
cant seats in the gallery were those reserved for
the presidents family.
IL has been many years since so many men
were at one stroke retired to private life step
ped down from public duties today. The num-
Der is over $50 senators and representatives
Many OF them will come back to congress or ap-
pear In other public places to maintain the repu-
tation that they have made in the Fifty-frst
c cosr rs Others Will drop out Of sight and
clasped hands for the last time on the floor of
the two houses today.
Among the distinguished retiring statesmen
were four prominent Republican members of
the House committee on appropriations They
were Butterworth of Ohio, Cannon of Illinois,
Bayne of Pennsylvania and McComas of Mary
land All are men of long experience in con
gIess, speakers. experienced lawmakers and
sterling Republicans. They lunched in
the Senate restaurant shortly after
their congressional careers terminated, and
they were like brothers in their
afectionaie regard for one another. When they
came up from the restaurant and proceeded to
the House from the Senate end of the capitol at
O'Clock they were locked together arm-in- arm.
They walked through the broad corridors, and
joined Justify in the song "Dou't You Hear Dem
Bells? Butterworth and Cannon have good
voices, and they gave them full play, much to
the amusement and entertainment of the thou
sands who througed the great capitol building