Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-06-18
CONGRESS QUITS.
The Session Of the Fifty-Fourth
Brought to a Final Close.
CLOSING SCENES IN BOTH HOUSES.
The Immigration Bill Given Parliament
ary Status In the Next congress-
Speaker Reed Makes =
Graceful speech.

WASHINGTON, June 12.-Vice Presi-
dent Stevenson brought the session OF
the senate to final close at four
o'clock yesterday, after brief vale
dictory, expressing his thanks to the
senators for their courtesies to him
throughout the session. The closing
scene was not Of the dramatic order,
but was marked by the placid serenity
characteristic Of the upper branch OF
congress. The galleries were we'll
filled, but there was an absence OF the
packed corridors incident to an event.
full close OF the congress. The senate
convened at II o'clock, but no business
was transacted beyond the formalites
preceding an adjournment The last
bill to be passed was one urged by Mr.
Sherman pensioning the widow OF
Gen. William II. Gibson, a prominent
Ohio officer. Resolutions Of thanks
were unanimously adopted to Vice
President Stevenson and President Pro
TEN. Frye for their impartial rulings
In the chair. One OF the last acts was
TO give the important immigration bill
parliamentary status by which IT Sc
cures the right Of way as soon as the
senate reassembles. As soon as the
vice president had announced the ses-
sion closed the galleries emptied and
senators exchanged good-bys
The final session Of the house yes
terday was devoid Of public interest
The appropriation bill had been passed
and the members simr ly waited for
the end to come Scores Of representa-
tives left the city the previous night
and not more than so were present
when the session was called to order.
A number OF the members were made
happy by the passage Of small local
bills Of interest TO their districts. To
Gen. Wheeler, OF Alabama, belonged
the distinction Of securing the passage
Of the last bill. Beyond little misun.
derstanding between Mr. Bailey, OF
Texas,an Mr.. Marsh, of Illinois, the ut
most good feeling prevailed. There was
an attempt by Mr.. Bailey and Mr.. Ma
guire, Of California, to precipitate
political discussion in the last half
hour OF the session, but the republic
ans declined the gauge Of combat
thrown down to them. Mr.. Turner, OF
Georgia, who was the floor leader OF
the minority during the absence OF
Mr.. Crisp, offered resolution Of
thanks to the speaker, which was adopt
ed by standing vote, most unusual
honor The speaker closed the session
with graceful speech, in which
he thanked the members most cordially
and felicitated them on the work OF
the session. Gentlemen of the house
Of representatives" said he, before
pronouncing these words which close
this session, / desire to offer to the
house my grateful recognition OF Its
kindness. The thanks Of the house Of
representatives Is always high honor
but especially SO at the end Of a session
where the speaker has been forced to
say mo- more times, perhaps, than
In the history Of any other congress
While thanking you for your kindness, |
must congratulate the house on It's
conduct Of the public business. 0rdi.
narily, majority Of two and half to
one, majority OF 1850, means disorgan-
ization, factions and discordance. In
this house 1850 new men OF both parties
have behaved with the steadiness of
veterans, and II our connection with
the other branches Of the government
with different ideas, has prevented us
from serving the country as we might
have done, we, at least, have behaved
with dignity, fairness and credit With
the kindest personal wishes to you ALL
Iagain return thanks and, by virtue
of the concurrent resolution Of both
branches, | declare this house I'D.
adjourned without day."