Evening star., 1895-03-04
THE END AT LAST
The Fifty Third Congress Has Passed
Into History.
SCENES IN BOTH HOUSES TODAY
Confusion Both on the Floor and
in the Galleries.
THE FAREWELL SPEECHES

!. When the Senate ceased It's work last
night-it were more proper to say this
morning, for it was nearly am. when the
recess was taken-it agreed to meet again
at 8 o'clock. Up to a few minutes before
that hour, however, there was nothing to
indicate that there was evermore to be
such thing as a session of the Senate.
The semi-circle of desks was bare and
vacant, the floor was empty, save for
few sleepy-eyed page boys, manfully trying
to make light Of their late hours, and to
assume an Indifferent air of being used to
1t.
The galleries held about a score of specta-
tors who were determined to obtain good
seats. There was an air of desolation over
all. Indicative of the change soon to come
over the Capitol. On every hand were
yawns and heavy eyes.
MIR. Mills the First to Appear.
Mr.. Mills was the first Senator to break
the monotony Of the rows Of empty seats
in the Senate chamber. At ten minutes
before 0 o'clock, the hour for convening
he emerged from the doors of the demo-
cratic cloak room and, with a wonderfully
fresh and well-rested appearance moved
Extracting e dun-colored volume from be-
meath the lid Mr.. Mills wandered back to
the cloak room to read the words of wis.,
dom it doubtless contained in the security
of the inner sanctum. Mr.. Mills could
well afford to be the first arrival, for he
had had a good nights rest, having denied
himself the pleasure of the company of the
Senate since-6 o'clock last evening.
A Senate of Three.
Promptly at o'clock the Vice President
entered the chamber, and in q voice that
sounded like a discouraged fog horn, the
result Of his great vocal efforts for the
past few days, called the Senate to order.
There were then present to hear that
solemn announcement just two of all the
eighty-eight Senators who composed the
upper house, Senators Henderson and Pet
tigrew, the one about to retire from public
life, the other reelected for six more years.
They had just arrived.
When the gavel fell there was a pause.
1t was an embarrassing moment for the
Vice President to face that tremendous.
tumultuous throng of two statesmen. He
glanced appealingly toward the democratic
side, but 1t was vacant. Not a break oc-
CURED in all that wilderness OF mahogany.
The Senate arose and moved as two
men toward the Vice Presidents desk.
Mr.. Pettigrew, constituting one-half of the
body, said he was tempted TO ask unani-
nous consent to take up and pass the free
coinage bill. Mr.. Manderson said he had
q few pet measures he would like to get
through. Just then Mr.. Perkins entered
and swelled the Senate to three. He made
a few remarks about the great noise on the
floor and the difficulty of the Senators to
hear what was going on. Then the Vice
President signed couple Of unimportant
bills that squeezed through the mill yes
terday. and a moment later received a
message from the House. Mr.. Mitchell of
Wisconsin, fresh as daisy and as dapper
as ever. took his seat. Mr.. Harris strolled
across the chamber on his way from his
committee room to his seat, rubbing his
eyes.
A Recess of Fifteen Minutes.
Mr.. Henderson arose and made speech
to the Vice President anil the other four
Senators. He said there hardly seemed
enough craftsmanship on hand for the
transaction of business. ''The majority
side." he added, seemed to be most dis
mally in the minority
I'm here" interrupted Mr.. Mitchell
from the vastly depths Of the democratic
side.
Nevertheless" resumed Mr.. Manderson,
making his most courtly bow, II most
respectfully move shat the Senate take
recess for fifteen minutes"
This motion was carried unanimously,
amid scenes of great enthusiasm. Mr.
Harris immediately went hack TO his COM
mittee room, and when he reappeared he
seemed very much refreshed.
Meanwhile, the Senators were reaching
the scene of action IN microscopic swarms
Mr.. Mills strollsd back to the floor and
continued his rapt perusal of the dun
colored volume Mr.. Proctor dropped in to
swell tho republican ranks, followed by
Mr. Dubois. Mr.. Gordon and Mr.. Morrill,
entered about the same time. Then Sen
ators Camden and Hale appeared, and
when the Senate resumed its session at the
end of the quarter hour the Vice Presi-
dent faced just an even dozen men. He
announced his signature to the Sundry civil
bill, which was wlisked away in the twin
king OF an eye. Seconds were precious
with the end of the session less than
other end of the avenue determined TO
approach no nearer. The agility shown by
Capt. BaSsett during these periods of nerv-
GUS activity was remarkable.
Chief Clerk TOxvles' Activity.
But the champion lightning change artist
Of all the Congress was Chief Clerk Towles
of the House, the medium of communi-
cation between the two ends of the legis-
lative branch of the government. 1t is his
function to convey to the President of the
bills by the House, or Of the signing of
measures by the Speaker. Ordinarily after
making these announcements, he loiters
about for a few minutes to recover his
equanimity, and then strolls leisurely to
the House for new grist of tidings. But
this morning he was as sparing of his sec
onds as miser Of his pennies. After MAX
ing the announcements, under the cha
peronage of Capt. Bassett, he did not wait
to complete his usually profound bow, but
ducked his head in token of his great
reverence for the august assemblage of
half dozen or dozen Senators, and then,
completing his obeisance on q half trot
down the aisle, raced around the reporters