The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1896-06-12

WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE first
session of the Fifty fourth Congress
gently and quietly, almost without in
cident, passed into history to-day at
4 o'clock, the shortest long session
OF Congress, with two exceptions, in
the history of the Government
There was a marked difference be-
tween the close in the House to-day
and the close of the Fifty-first Con-
gress. Then there was bitter conflict
raging between Speaker Reed and the
minority, and no one Of the latter was
found to introduce the usual resolu
ton of thanks to the presiding officer.
To-day Mr.. Turner, the second Dem
ocratic member of the Committee on
Ways and Means, acting for the mi
Eority, in the absence of ex-Speaker
Crisp, offered a resolution thanking
Speaker Reed for the ability, faithful
ness and strict impartiality" with
which he had discharged the duties of
his difficult position, and at the sug
gestion of Dockery and other Demo-
Gratis there was a rising vote, that the
expression of heartiness back of the
resolution might thereby be empha-
sized
In the course of the session a number
OF private pension and relief bills were
passed, and Representatives Pitney
Rep) of New Jersey, Blue (Rep) OF
Kansas and Dockery Dem.) of Mis-
souri, were appointed members on the
part OF the House of a commission to sit
during the summer and investigate
the charities Of the District of Column
bia.
When Speaker Reeds gavel fell at
Il o'clock this morning less than two
score of members were in their seats,
and not a hundred spectators all told
in the galleries.
Speaker Reed announced the signing
by him Of the District Of Columbia
appropriation bill.
Dingley Rep) of Maine introduced
the usual resolution authorizing the
appointment of a committee of three to
join a similar committee on the part
of the Senate to notify the President
that Congress was ready to adjourn.
1T was agreed to, and Dingley, Cannon
(Rep) of Illinois and Sayers Oem.) of
Texas were named by the Speaker.
Turner Oem.) of Georgia faxed the
following resolution:
That the thanks of this House are
due to the Hon. Thomas B. Reed,
Speaker, for the ability, faithfulness
and strict impartiality with which he
has performed the duties of his office"
The resolution was adopted by a
unanimous vote.
At 1910 o'clock the House took re-
cess until 2 o'clock.
At the reassembling a message was
received from the President announc-
ing his approval of sundry bills, in
Guiding the appropriation bills sent
him this morning.
A message was received from the
Senate informing the House that the
resolution providing for the appoint
lncnt of a committee to visit the Pres
trent had been passed.
Owens Dem) of Kentucky asked the
passage of a bill granting a pension
of so a month to q Kentucky veteran
of the Mexican war; The House Com
mittee on Pensions recommended that
the amount be reduced to $15, and the
House voting to make that change,
Owens withdrew the bill.
The next bill was one championed by
IIainer (Rep) of Nebraska, granting a
pension of S72 a month to a Union vet
eran, which was passed
Owens-That shows the difference be-
tween Nebraska and Kentucky. The
House thought $50 a month too much
to give a veteran of my State, while it
votes SD to one no more deserving in
Nebraska.
The House refused the request of
Richardson Dem) of Tennessee to con-
s!der a Senate resolution providing for
a reprint of 10000 copies of the pro-
ceedings of the Berlin Silver Commits
sion. 1t transpred that there was a
commission appointed by the German
Emperor, the United States navy be-
ing represented.
An incident then occurred which
blocked the transaction of business.
Marsh (Rep) of Illinois asked consider
alton of bill ito grant an honorable
discharge to Christopher c. Cummins,"
and Bailey Oem0 of Texas, who had
made two or three previously unsuc-
cessful attempts to get the floor, again
essayed it. His purpose was to yield to
Mcguire Oem) of California, who
wanted 1t was understood, to say a
few words about Dingley's remarks
on the political and financial situa-
ton last year, and did not desire to
ask recognition in his own right
Marsh refused to yield to Bailey, and
re moved the previous question on this
bill The vote on division was 60 to 6.
No quorum voted, and this necessitated
a combination vote. While it was in
progress an arrangement was effected
by which the bill was open for debate.
Mcguire took ten minutes in which
to argue against the assertion made
by Dingley yesterday that the Nation
had been prosperous under the pro-
tective tariff system, and Bailey ten
more in which to charge the Republi-
cans with holding in allegiance a ques-
tion-that of restricting the power of
the President to sell bonds-which
three months ago they expressed them
selves as ready and willing to discuss