Birmingham age-herald., 1894-08-29
The Second Session of the Fifty
 Third Congress
HAS PASSED INTO HISTORY
Governor-EIect Oates Tenders His Resignation as Mem
 Der of Congress.

WASHJNGTON, Augs [o.-Au ihihiShSc crowd was gathered in the senate galleries before the hour of noon today to witness the closing scenes of the eventful session on which the curtain is to fall at 2 p. m. The spectators consisted for the most part of strangers who had been focking into the city for the last two days, attracted oy the biennial encampment of the Knights of Pythias. The members of that order were present in large numbers, and thelr uniforms contributed much to the anlma- ton and picturesqueness of the spectacle. Senators on the floor were few and Tar be- tween, so that any idea of transacting leg islative busin ess, except by unanimous consent, would have been preposterous. There were but three republican senators present when the chaplain made his open ing prayer and only ten democrats.
 After the reading of yesterdays journal a resolution was offered by MT. Ransom and agreed to for the appointment of two senators to join like committee on the part of the house to wait upon the presl- dent and inform him that, unless he had some further communication, the two houses are now ready to adjourn. Messrs, Ransom and Manderson were appointed on the part of the senate.
 resolution instructing the select com mittee on the Ford's theater disaster to continue it's investigation during the re- cess was offered by MT Harris ana agreed to, and then, at lz:Il, the seuale looh d recess until 12:45.
 The session was resumed at lZ:4o, when a message was received from tDe mousse an nouhcing among other matters me oeath of Representative Shaw of Wisconsln. The usual resolutions expressing the deep sen sibility of the senate and providing TOT a committee to attend the funeral were of- fered and agreed to, and the vice president announced the appointment of senators Mitchell of Wisconsin, Cullom, Davis, Roach of North Dakota and Kyle o1 South Dakota as such committee.
 AL 1:55 another recess was taken tlii l:o0
 During the recess the senate chamber was practically deserted by senators-all but group of three democrats, Messrs. Jones oi Arkansas, Harris and Cockrell-between whom an animated discussion was kept up on tie question of the sugar schedule.
 After the recess report was made py the senators who had been appointed to wait upon the president, who informed the senate that inc presidents reply was that he had no further communication to make to congress.
 Then resolution was offered by MT. Quay, republican, of Pennsylvania, and unanimously adopted, rendering the thanks of the senate 10 Vice. President Stevenson for lhe ability, dignity, courtesy and im- partiality with which he had presided over it's deliberations, and a resolution similar couched in laudation of MT. Harris, presl- dent pro tenn of the senate, was offered by MT, Manderson of Nebraska and adopted with the same unan1m1ty.
 third aud final recess was taken till 1:50, when a message was received from the house announcing the appointment by the speaker of the house members of the joint commission on the Ford theater disaster. Then, after a wait of several minutes, the vice president rose and formally closed the session of the senate with these words.
 .Senators: The hour fixed by the con- current resolution for the adjournment of the second session of the Fifty-third con- gress has arrived. Before making the formal announcement, l cannot forbear giving expression of my grateful apprecia- ton of the resolution personal to myself jest passed the senate. For this manlfes' tation of your confidence, as well as for the uniform courtesy, official and personal, extended to me, am profoundly grateful. And now, wishing each of you safe re- turn to home and constituents, l d'c Glare the senate adjourned without day.
 Instead of the usual moving back of the hands on the clock dialso as to get in lit tie more time-an.exploit which has added to the renown of the venerable doorkeeper at the close of almost every session of the senate--there was actually minute to spare when the vice. president stepped down to the floor and engaged in leave taking with the senators and officials. It was the quietest and least exciting hnal aOJOuT1Iueut tudb udu cFci uoch WAthSS'ou by any of them.
 IN THE HOUSE.
 When the house was called to order by the speaker at F o'clock today there were less than fifty members on the floor, the greater part of them having departed for their various homes, generally to look after the question of their reelection.
 After the reading of the journal Speaker Crisp announced the following members, on the part of the house, of the joint com mittee fo consider the old Ford's theater disaster and report 10 congress the liability of the government, If any:
 Messrs. Maddox of Georgia, Brookshire, democrat, of Indiana; Pigott, democrat, of Connecticut; Daniels, republican, of New York, aud Updegraff, republican, of Iowa.
 He also had read letter from Represent ative Oates of Alabama, announcing the fact that he had this day sent his resigna- ton to the governor of Alabama, to take effect November next.
 Mir. Wilson of West Virginia offered a resolution directing the speaker to ap- point committee of three to act in con- nection with similar committee from the senate to call upon the president to inform him that congress Ia ready to adjourn and to ask him to send in any further commu- nications. This was agreed to, and Messrs. Wilson, Holman and Hepburn were named.
 Major Pruden, executive clerK, an nounced that the president had signed the
 MT. Richardson then called mp the reso. lution reported by him yesterday providing for the printing of 60, 900 copies of the tariff hill xoifh rom ra iaona of rateg in similar