The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-11-22
THE EXTRA session ENDS
THE CLOSING SCENES IN THE
SENATE AND HOUSE.


Adjournment Came Very Quietly In
the Senate-The House Ended Its
Session Amid Lively Filibustering
"A Resume Of the Work Done by
Both Bodies.
The extraordinary session Of the Fifty
third Congress, after continuing few days
less than three months, adjourned without
day in the afternoon at O'clock.
The end was calmly and quietly reachedin
the Senate, with no spectators present.
The doors had been closed upon the
Senators; who were in executive ses-
sion for an hour or two before
Vice-President Stevensons gaveI fell, and
they passed from this state OF secrecy
into final adjournment with only mo-
ments intermission, a moment too brief to
be availed Of by the public. who had been
driven from the galleries. The usual resolu-
hon OF thanks to the Vice-President and to
the President OF the Senate pro tenn (Mr.
Harris), for the able, dignif1ed, courteous
and impartial manner in which they had
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. Then the Vice
President rose and said: Senators: My ap-
probation OF the resolution, personal to my
self. kindly adopted by the Senate. cannot
be measured by words. To your courtesy and
forbearance l am indebted for whatever
measure of success has attended my
administration Of this great Office.
The record Of the first session OF the Fifty
third Congress Is made up. Hencesorth it
ho1N r,craf fO q dnpnoin nf acfl
wishing to each Of you safe and pleasant
journey to your home and constituents, I
now, In pursuance of the concurrent resolu-
tion OF the two Houses; declare the Senate
adjourned without day."
There was slim attendance on the floor
of the House, but the members who were
present showed great interest In the proceed
ings and were seeking every opportunity to
get recognition and forward the passage OF
sundry bills of local Importance. Mr.. Rich.
ardson introduced joint resolution pro.
viding for the employment of Senate and
House clerks and employees during the
interval betYeen the sessions. The entire
day was spent In fllibustering against the
measure. 11nen the adjournment took
place the House was in the process of voting
by tellers in order to discover whether
quorum was present or not. But before the
vote was announced the hour of three came
u,
nounced that the House stood adjourned
sine die. s.t.F 5s
Now that the extraordinary session has
ended, it Is interesting to recall what 1t has
accomplished. The session began on Mon
day, August Z. The Presidents proclama-
tion calling attention to the distrust and ap-
prehension concerning the financial condition
Of the country, and stating that he had called
Congress together to the end that the peo-
pie might be relieved from the impending
danger and distress through legislation was
read on August z and on August sthe Presi-
dents message, urging the prompt repeal Of
the purchasing clause OF the Sherman Silver
act. was received and read.
The House spent the first three days OF the
session in organizing and discussing the
contested election case Of Belknap against
Richardson. On Friday, August II, Mr:
Wilson, Of West Virginia, presented his bill
repeating the purchasing clause OF the Sher-
man law. Debate on the subject was limited
to, fourteen days. On Monday, August %,
the bill was passed by vote OF ESQ to lOS.
The same day the bill was sent to the Senate
and referred to the Finance Committee.
The next day. August 29, Senator Voor-
hees from the Finance Committee. reported
to the Senate substitute for the House bill.
The next day the substitute was taken up.
and Senator Sherman, OF Ohio, opened the
discussion with speech in favor OF 1t.
Wednesday, November 1, All Saints day,
the Senate substitute for the House bill
passed both Houses OF Congress and became
law by the Presidents signature.
OF the 1885 other bills and thirty-si4 joint
resolutions introduced In the Senate only
about q dozen passed. They include bills
making appropriations for hall OF RECORDS
and the Senate folding room to aid the mid
winter exposition in California and relative
to homestead entries in Oklahoma, and
joint resolution granting TO the State OF llil-
nois the brick battleship built in connection
with the Worlds Fair for the use OF lt5 naval
militia. This last became law BY the action
Of the House.
In the House 1921 bills and eighty joint
resolutions were introduced. Committees
reported on about $50 Of them and about
fifty were passed. Among the more I'M
portant measures which we're acted upon by
the House were the following
For the relief OF purchasers OF timber and
stone lands for the protection OF persons
furnishing labor and material for public
works amending the timber culture laws
fixing the time for holding United States
courts In Idaho and Wyoming (became alaw j
for the better control and to promote the
safety OF National banks relative TO the
disqualification of registers and receivers
OF public land offices disqualifying JUS
tices, Judges and United States Commis-
sioners from sitting as such In cases IN
which they are interested providing rev.
enue cutters for the great lakes. San Fran
cisco ha1bor and the New England coast In
rreasing the number OF army officers to be
detailed to colleges requiring railroads OPP
Grating on territory over which right otway
has been granted to establish stations at
town sites established. by the Interior De-
.partment; extending the time for completing
the eleventh census (became law amend.
ing the law relative to the fees OF United
States district attorneys, marshals, COM
missioners and clerks OF courts the pub
lie printing bill; repeating the sec.
ton of the starutes requiring proof
of loyalty in pension cases adding the Sec
retary OF Agriculture to the list OF eligibies
for the Presidency In case OF the death OF the
President regarding the disposition OF art
icles imported for exhibition at the Worlds
Fair: allowing the settlement Of the prop
erty OF the Mormon Church held bya re-
ceiver; for reporting, marking and removing
derelicts and other menaces to navigation In
the North Atlantic Ocean (became law and
fixing the qualifications to vote and hold OF
fee in the Cherokee Outlet.