The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-06-12
PASSED INTO HISTORY
The First Session Of the Fifiy-fourth Con-
greSS Has Worn Itself Out at Last.
GIVES PENSIONS AT The LAST MOMENT
Several Private Relief Bills Passed
Usual Vote of Thanks Tendercd
Speaker Reed ON Motion OF the
Minority-The End Unmarked by
Any Interesting Incidents.

Washington. June 1.-THE first ses-
sion of the 54th Congress gently and
quietly. almost without incident, glided
INTO history to-day at 4 o'clock, the
shortest long" session of Congress with
two exceptions in the history Of the Gov
ernment. There was marked differ
ence between the close OF to-day and
:hat of the 5lst Congress, the last pre-
vious Republican Congress. Then a Bit
ter conflict ragged between Speaker Reed
and the minority, and no one of the
latter was found to Introduce the usual
resolution OF thanks to the presiding
officer. To-day Mr.. Turner, the second
Democratic member of the Committee
on Ways and Means, acting for the
minority in the absence of ex-Speaker
Crisp. offered resolution thanking
Sneaker Reed ''for the ability, faithful
ness and strict impartiality" with which
he had discharged the duties of his diff
cult position; and at the suggestion of
Mr.. Dockery and other Democrats there
was rising vote that the expression of
heart tinesNs back of the resolution might
thereby be emphasized. In his closing
remarks Speaker Reed expressed his
grateful recognition for the honor, say
ing "the thanks of the House of Rep
resentatives is always q high honor.
but is especially so at the end OF ses-
SION where the Speaker has been forced
to say mo- more times. perhaps, than
in the history of any other Congress-"
In the course of the session number
OF private pension and relief bills were
passed. and Representatives Pltney
lRep.. n. J0. Blue (Rep. Kan) and
Dockery pem., MOI were appo!nte d
members on the part of the House of the
commission TO sit during the summer
and investigate the charities of the Dis
trict of Columbia
(Sena 10 l--Jf tho first ,ao.to, ~ -
Fifty-fouIth Congress has been q do
nothing session." as had been predicted,
the closing day of the Senate furnished
fitting elimination to the session. Ut
was a day of inactive drifting, a labori-
Gus effort 20 kill time by doing nothing
until O'Clock, when, according to the
concurrent resolution agreed to yester-
DAY the two houses We're to ADJOURN.
The Senate was called to order at II
o CLOCK. when thel District approximation
bill was received and immediately sign
ed by the Vice e-Presldent. thus disposing
or Hhe last OF the general appropriation
pllis, so far as the legislative branch
was concerned. a bill was passed grant
ing pension to the widow of General
VIM. II. Gibson, of Ohio
The Senate then dawdled until LOO
O'clock. the only bus!n IS Transacted
being the appointment of n committee
20 walt upon the President and inform
him that Congress was ready to adjourn
and the appointment of another commit
tc:' to investigate the charitable and
ieformatory institutions in Washing
ton. Then recess was taken until 3
O'Clock, when the usual resolutions OF
thanka TO the presiding officers were Of
fei' by Mr.. Allison and Mr.. Harris re-
spectively and unanimously agreed to.
rms galleries We're almost deserted d
during the early hours OF th= session
ou'' Knots OF spectators continued to
come In slowly until the hour OF adjourn
ment. so that when that hour arrived
ana the Vice-Pr5 s!dent delivered his
Valed!ctory he had a good sized audience
IN the galleries. large numbcr Of whom
were ladies'. even though there were but
twenty-five Senators present at that in
teressing moment AS the Vice-Presi-
dent uttered thu last words and the grav-
el iell for the las; time, there was n
iairt outburs'. of applause. after which
senators gathered i'm knots in the aislzs
ana before the Vice Presidents desk,
bidding each other goodbye.
Then thu Senators and the visitors
melted away and the chamber thar. ha 8
oeen me scene OF so many stirring in
c!dents was left to pages and the at
.endants unta the first Monday in De