Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-11-03
FIFTY-TIIIRD CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 8, 1898.
SENATE.

since and closes to-day, opened in the
Senate chamber at noon with prayer BY
the blind Chaplain, Rev. Dir. Milburn.
He besought divine favor on the mem
bers of the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives, now about to separate, and
on all those engaged in the service OF
the two houses. The prayer closed in
these words: May Thy grace be the
portion of our whole nation, and Thy
providence our unerring guide to pros
perity, peace and safety, and finally to
all our people an entrance to the land
of everlasting life"
Mr.. Cockrell reported back from the
committee on appropriations the House
resolution for final adjournment at 8
p. m. to-day.
Mr.. Coke protested against the adj
journment. The poorest way, he said,
for the democratic party to serve the
country was for Congress to adjourn,
60 home and leave the public business.
Congress, he argued, should not ad-
journ, but should continue in session
and proceed in the transaction OF
the public business. The federal
elections bill has been passed by
the House and was now before
the Senate The bankruptcy bill was
now before the House and might be be-
fore the Senate in few days. There
was quite a number of bills awaiting
action, some Of them important. Tariff
reduction had been promised to the
country by the democratic party and if
that promise was not to be broken as
another promise of equal Importance
had already been, it was time that the
decks were being cleared and made
ready for the contest to be made over
it. The democratic party had every
thing to lose and nothing to gain by an
adjournment, and the republican party
had everything to gain and nothing to
lose by it.
Mr.. Dolph also opposed adjournment.
So did Mr.. Harris, who thought that
the democratic majority should stay
and transact public business as rapidly
as possible and thus redeem its pro-
4 r,;Snc tn tho country
Mr.. Cockrell said that he heartily
concurred in what had been said, but it
was not worth while talking about il
when they all knew that quorums
could not be kept in either house.
Nr. Gray iutimated that an attempt
to continue the session would be an
idle parade of zeal. The purpose for
which Congress had been called in
extra session was now behind them.
and, after the strain of the last three
months, Senators wanted an opportu-
nitv to attend to their private business.
Mr.. Mills favored the resolution and
hoped the rules Of the Senate would be
amended so as to allow business to be
transacted after fair discussion at the
next session.
Mr.. Cullom said if this Congress
should, before adjournment to-day, an
nounce to the country that it did not
intend to take up either the federal
election bill or the tariff bill, it would be
doing very good piece of work for the
country.
The final adjournment resolution was
then agreed to.
The bill in aid of the Worlds Fair
prize winners exhibition in New York
city was passed.
The usual resolutions of thanks to
the Vice President and to the president
of the Senate pro TEN (AIr. Harris) for
the manner in which they bad each
discharged the duties of the chair were
offered by Mr.. Hoar and agreed to.
Mr.. Harris expressed his profound
gratitude" for the honor done him.
The Vice Presidents acknowledgment
was, as usual, reserved for the moment
of final adjournment.
A committee of two Senators was APP
pointed to join like committee on the
part of the House to wait upon the
President and inform him that the two
houses of Congress were ready to ad-
journ, and inquire if he had any fur
Their communication to make to them.
Mr.. Morrill,, who was named as one
Of the two Senators to wait on the
President, excused himself on the plea
of i'll health; and Mr.. Hoar, who was
then named in his place, also excused
himself on the plea that he had made
an engagement for the next half hour
which he could not neglect; and final
ly the two Senators appointed were
Mr.. Ransom and Mr.. Cullom. The
resolution for continuing the session of
employees during the recess was adopted.
The Senate then proceeded to execu-
tive business.
HOUSE.
The last day of the session began
with a slim attendance on the floor and