New-York tribune., 1891-03-05
IsY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUHRI

Washington, March 4.-The second session OF
the List Congress came quietly and unevcntfully
20 an end at noon to-day. the House adjourning
sharply at IL o'clock, and the Senate following
its example about ten minutes later. All the
necessary appropriation bills had been pushed
through both branches. and been signed by the
President, and though many comparatively inn
portant measures were left unacted upon the
calendars when the hour of adjournment arrived,
the state of the public business was such that
the long recess could be entered upon without
hindrance hesitation.
Apart from the Election BILL which met its de.
feat in the Senate, every measure of importance
on the long legislative programme af the Re.
publican majority had been put upon the statute
book and the Congress now in its last hours
could look back on record of actual achieve
ment unequalled in scope and significance by
that of any other Compress since Rebellion and Re-
construction times.
1t was this pleasing sense Of accomplishment
Of legislative duties laborously performed and
legislative burdens long borne about to be laid
aside which marked especially the tone and temper
of both houses as the end drew near, and ey.
pressed itself in feeling of intense relief at the
final release Of both bodies from the stress and
strain of the heated, long continued contests Of
the last two years. The minority in the House
fight by refusing to join in tho customary resolu.
tiOn Of thanks to the Speaker but in the Senate,
where the personal amenities Of politics are never
forgotten. the usual exchange of coUrtesies and
fluctuations was INDUCED in.
HORSE PLAY AND Fun IN THE HOUSE
Tie House expressed its satisfaction at the ter
mination Of the long and trying labors in a de-
cidcdly tumultuous and boisterous manner the
scenes just before adjournment more than border.
ing on disorder and indecOrum Singing and sky
larking on the floor responded to by noisy
demonstra ratons in the galleries and for time
general spirit of horse-play ruled in the House
wing Of the Capitol. In the Senate the end came
with more propriety and dignity, though the sense
of relief from the tedium of legislation was. no
doubt quite as genuine and profound.
The Senate, unlike the House, took an early
morning recess and did not reassembe until
o'clock. There was no quorum present for more
than half an hour and strenuous efforts were made
10 secure the attendance Of absent Senator's
- that business could 20 ahead without peril
Little was left to do however, except to rusn
through some stray minor measures and arrange
a compromise with the House on the paragraphs
of the General Deficiency bill still in controversy
As the confcrrees reported that complete agree
ment had not yet been reached, the Senate de-
cdcd TO economic time by going into secret
sells treaty was rejected and various other exc.
cutive affairs were disposed Of.
THE PRESIDENT BUSY SIGNING BILLS.
Meanwhile. the President had arrived at the
Capitol and had gone into the Red Room, set
apart for his use, 10 begin the work of signing
the enrolled bills which the clerical forces Of both
houses were turning in upon him with great
rapidity With the President on his arrival were
Attorncy-Ciencral Miller, Secretaries Rusk, Noble
and Proctor, Postma stcr-General Wanamakcr, ana
Assistant Secretary Ncttcton. Secretaries Blaine,
Tracy and Foster came later. joining the Presi.
Dental party after the work of approving bills
was well under way. Commissioner Douglass was
also an hand 70 give advice on measures relatlhS
TO the District of Columbia.
The bills were divided among the several heads
Of Denartments and as rapidly rs they received
the approval Of the Cabinet the Presidential auto
rraph was affixed. Mr.. Pruden, the Presidents
assistant secretary. toed AT table In one OF the
corners. writing on each parchment act such IN
scriptions a. were appropriate, filling in the date
of approval and doing everything he could 10
>pecd the work Mr.. IIalford. the private Secre'
tary. and Mr. Tbbott. the executive clerk, were
also husy asserting the work. and messenger
was kept constantly on his feet securing from
the senate Document Room copies OF reports or
each measure which was to be placed before the
President These reports were pinned TO the
parchmcnts and from them the President had 10
secure information and draw inicrenccS.
TURNING TINE BACKWARD IN ITS FLIGHT.
The doors of the Senate were reOpened shortly
before II o'clock and the galleries were filled al
most Immediately with spectators who were
ANXIOUS TO see the Congress at lis death. lie
public galleries were denscly crowded. chiefly by
men, while in the reserved pews the prcponder-
ancc of fair sightseers was strllin ;ly marked.
few representatives of the Diplomatic Corps were
in tine narrow bluc-bacllcd benches in the narrow
section set apart for their use, and the families
Of a few Senators had also been accommodated
in this most exclusive portion Of the gallery. The
onlookers had little 10 reward them, however.
for their trouble for the on the iOOr below
were Of the most placid and lifeless character.
One touch of pleasurabie excitement was afforded
and that was the tinie-honOred exercise by Cap
tain Bassett of his privilege Of turning back tho
hands of the Senate clock Three times in
cession the venerable doOrkeeper marched cere.
moniously up the aisle from the Presidents desk
to the main entrance and sOlemnly pushed back.
with long pole. the brass minute-hand. which
kept stealing up the last quarter of the dial
The third setback proved too liberal. however and
the Senate. finding lis business practically COM
pietcd the Captain was Obliged to recall por.
ton of his theft and move the hand forward 10
the stroke Of IL. An adjournment sine die OF
the Senate would in Iact lose half It's spectacular
value without Captain B1ssctts picturesque manip-
ulation of the flight OF time.
The hour before adjournment was consumed
chiefly in agreeing 10 the final report on the
Deficiency bill, and that stumbling block out Of
the way, the Senate relapSed into a state OF
ouietude. awaiting the formal announcement OF
the end Senators Eduiunds and German were
appointed q committee TO wait the President
and inquire whether he had any further COM
munication to make TO the Senate, and while
they were ont on their mission the forty or fifty
senators on the floor engaged in dcsultory con-
versation with each other, OF walked about shak-