Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-05
To Witness the Death of the First Democratic
 Congress
In Many Years-What Was E Done in the Final Hours
 in Both the House and Senate.

WASHINGTON, March 4.--The Fifty-th congress came to an end today with the usual interesting incidents. In the senate the closing scene was marked with the dignity W hich characterizes that body on formal occasions of state, in the presence of as many spectators as could possibly crowd into the galleries. Hundreds and hun dreds of others were disappointed in their endeavors to witness the end, and were obliged to content themselves with stand ing in line outside the entrances to the galleries. That the house is actually the popular branch of the legislature was amply proved by the fiattering attendance of spectators. Those who failed to find seats there wandered over to the senate only to again be disappointed, and the philosophic ones contented themselves with attending the session of the supreme court.
 hearty cheer from 100 members marked the closing scene in the house as Speaker Crisp with sharp rap of his gavel declared the Fifty third congress at an end. The strain of the past few days was over, and the tired members celebrated their re- lease from tfficiat duty with hands and feet and tongues. It was an Interesting scene, and the hundreds of people in the crowded galleries euj yed it 10 the lulest extent
 A theatrlcaI management would have been fiattered with such an attendance. As early as o'clock spectators were there, and 1t is worthy of remark that the first corners were women. By o'clock the gall leries were comfortably filled; at 10 the last seat had beeu taken, and fifteen minutes later people were thronging the corridors outside the gallery in Ihe hope that they might have the opportunity of seeing the democratic house pass into history.
 The mem bers on he floor made merry as the cock hands moved on rapidly towards fhe hour of adjournment. The great ma jority who were not coming back to the session of the Fifty fourth congress passed among their fortunate and unfortunate col leagues, saying goodbye. Little groups gathered here and there, and expressed their relief that the agony was over in tell ing stories and explainlng what they in- tended to do as private citizens. It was noisy, good natured throng.
 IN THE HOUSE.
 The house adjourned promptly at noon today in the presence of crowded galleries. It had taken a recess at 3:15 o'clock this morning alter disposing of the raval ap- proprialion bill, which was passed exactly as it came from the senate. At o'clock the h, use reassembled and spent the time until noon, with an interim O, one hour and fifteen minutes in recess, disposing of measures of minor importance and ia pass ing resolutions complimentary to Speaker Crisp. These resolutions were presented Dy NIT. CannOu, IepuDlfcan, Ol tiluolb, TOT the republit ans upon the refusal of MT. Reed to be party 10 tue matter. MT. Reed, probably with the emphatic decli- nation of the democrats to ;ndorse his ad- ministration as speaker fresh in his mind, also refrained from voting on the resolu- tions. Mir. Wilson, democrat, of West Virginia, the democratic leader and the new post stmaster- general, made his valedic- tory in complimcnting Speaker Crisp.
 But fourteen members were present when G.,na airar nj nolt ltodf !, hon l o'clock this morning. Under unanimous consent MT. Baukhead of Alabama secured the passage of the following senate bills: To amend the act authorizing the Tex ark ana and Fort Smith Railway company to construct bridge over the South river, Arkansas; bill amending the river and harbor act of 1891 to widen the harbor at Brunswick, Ga., and appropriating S30, ,O00 for each 100 feet of width until 1t shall be 600 feet wide.
 Mir. Grosvenor precipitated debate on the silver question by his severe strictures upon the populist party. He characterized 1t as party somewhat small in number and small in the next congress. He con- tended that if the monetary conference shall prove success many of these gentle men will be out of a job. He did not be- lieve that if bimetallism at IS to could be accepted and taken out of politics they would agree to it.
 MT. Simpson, populist, of Kansas, re. plying to Mir. Grosvenor's charge of dem sgogy, as applied to the populist party, said that it came with poor grace from re- publicans, who had consistently played the demagogue on this subject, and that the people of the country never knew where they stood.
 The point of no quorum was made by Mir. Simpson against bill, called up by MT. Livingston, for the relief of Elsas, May & Co. of Atlanta. It was then 10 o'clock. and the galleries were crowded with spectators. MT. Dockery appealed to MT. Simpson to withdraw his point, but the latter refused to do so.
 While the house was waiting for a quorum to appear MT. Springer asked unanimous consent to allow members to