The record-union., 1891-03-05
Closing Scenes of the Fifty-frst
Congress.
rHE HOUSE GOES OUT AMID a
BURST OF SONG.
Eloquent valedictories by yice-Presi-
dent Morton and Speaker Reed-A
Vote of Thanks to the Retiring
Speaker Adopted by strict Party
Vote-Representativ Cannon Comes
In for Share of Applause.
Special to the REcoRD-UNIoN.

w WASHINGTON, March 4.--Ihe House OF
Representatives of the Fifty-first Con-
gress went out in a burst Of song. The
vocalists of the House on the Republican
side gathered in body near the front
row of the desks, headed by Coleman of
Louisiana, Yardley of Pennsylvania,
Strivers of New York, and Wade Of Mis-
souri,, and as soon as the House was de-
clared adjourned they started up March
ing Through Georgia. which was taken
up by the great mass of Republican Rep
resentatives, who made the hall ring, to
the great delight and edification of the
galleries.
Democratic chorus, headed by Rep
sentative-elect O'Neil of Missouri, re-
torted with the ''Doxology," but their
voices were soon drowned in a superior
volume of sound from the press reporters
having taken up the hymn. Republicans
and Democrats alike ceased singing to
listen to that of their sometime critics,
whose full, resonant chorus was very
effective.
Burrows and Allen of Michigan, Cole
man and Yardley struck up "Our Father
land" as the closing notes of tile ''Doxol-
joined in very generally. The effect was
fine, as was the singing of John Browns
Body" taken up Immediately after.
The occupants of the press gallery for
the last numbers on the programme rem
dered, "Good-by, Congress- "Good-by,
Good Fellow and it was with regret on
the part of the immense throng on the
floor and in the galleries that the i'm
promptu musicale came to an end.
All the greater part of the morning
there was an intermittent babel of shouts
for recognition from anxious members of
the House, who crowded around the open
space in front of the Speakers desk and
resorted to loud calls, vociferous remarks
and all manner of devices to attract at
tention. The House was in a critical
mood, and those members who were
fortunate enough to catch the Speakers S
eye, found that they still had a hard road
to travel to the Presidential haven, for it
was not an easy matter to secure the nee
essary two-thirds majority to have
the rules suspended and their bills
passed.
Meanwhile, the conferees on the de-
ficiency bill, the only appropriation bill
remaining 10 be acted on, were earnestly
ol1deaVorlng TO remove the stumbling
blocks in the way OF an agreement.
The House rapidly filled as the final
adjournment loomed up, less than three
hours off, while in the galleries standing
room had ceased to be available some time
previously, and throngs of people jammed
the pasSage-wayS.
The Republicans in the House nailed
their colors to the mast, determined to go
out of power as aggressive, defiant and
full OF fight as they gave been at any time
during the session.
No Democrat having prepared the usual
vote of thanks to the Speaker Mckinley
rose and offered a resolution thanking the
Speaker for the able and impartial man
ner in which he had performed his duties
Mills demanded the yeas and nays, and
when at last the vote was announced the
Republicans rose en- maSSe, clapping vig-
orously and moving papers and books,
and making the air reSound with cheers,
the volume of sound being swelled by
applause in the galleries. The applause
was renewed more vigorously than before
as Speaker Reed entered the hall to re-
Heve Burrows of Michigan, who was
temporarily in the chair.
The Democrats jeered at the demonstra-
ton. Bland and McClammy shouted out
retorts to the Republican applause that
were lost in confusion.
Cannon came in for mild ovation as
he presented the conference report on the
deficiency bill-the last report he would
have to make. His Republican col
leagues sprang to their feet, giving him
cheer after cheer and tossing whatever
was on their desks into the air in tumult-
uouS cyclonic commentator of Cannon
Breckenridge of kentucky, amid ap-
plause by the Democrats, made a grace
tul little speech eulogistic of the treat
ment the minority had received from
Cannon, but the Republicans were chary
OF joining in the acclamations, being evil
IDENTIFY of the opinion that Breckinridge's
remarks were refiexively in some meas
ure in derogation of the Speaker.
Mr.. Reed is not the first Speaker who
has been refused a vote of thanks by the
opposition party at the close of Congress.
he is thirteenth on the list against whom
resentment has thus been manifested.
This concluded the necessary work
of Congress, and the remaining time was
chiefly consumed in efforts to secure the
passage of local or private bills.
On the Senate side, the scenes, while of
q more dignified nature than those of the
House, were nevertheless animated and
spirited. The gallery opposite Vice
Presidents Morton IS chair was reserved
for the diplomatic corps, and was well
filled with members of foreign legations,
and the only vacant seats in any part of
the gallery were those reserved Tor the
Presidents family.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
WASHINGTON, March 4.-The Senate
resumed its session at 9 A. NJ. with the
Nice-President in the chair
On motion OF Sherman the Senate went
into executive session. twas l0:45 when
the doors were reopened.
The Clerk of the House appeared at the
bar with a message announcing that the
House had agreed to the conference re-
port on the general deficiency bill.
Immediately afterwards Hale pre-
sented the same conference report to the
Senate and moved its adoption. Agreed
to.
After the passage of the House bill to
supply artificial limbs to pensioners
every three years, instead of five years,
The conference report on the bill for the
reorganization OF artillery and infantry
forces. OF the army was reported and
agreed to.
The House bill for the issue of a COM
mission TO Philip C. johnson as Rear Adj
miral in the navy and deliver it to the
widow, was passed.
The House bill for the protection of
lives of miners in the Territories was
passed.
A resolution was offered by Mitchell
lnstructing the Judiciary COMMITTEES to
INQUIRE and report as to the date when
laws relating to Chinese restriction will
expire, whether in 1892 or 1894; also when
.he Chinese Exclusion Act of 1883 shall
expire. He explained that the object
was to have new legislation on the subject
before existing laws ceased to operate
The resolution was agreed TO.
At half-past eleven, Mcpherson, Clerk
Of the House, presented the Senate de-
iciency bill, enrolled and signed by the
Speaker. and it was Immediately signed
py the Vice-President and carried to the
President.