The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-06-18

J
The FIRST session OF the 54th Congress, which
has just closed has passed into history as the
hardest working, most business-like session in
the history. of Congress. No time was wasted
over anything. The committees put in good
solid work over the matters entrusted to them.
| and brought forth fruits according. There was
unusually little talking for Bnncombe,
nothing spectacular, nothing sensational. The
| manager OF great factory could not have been
more relentlessly business-like than Speaker
| Reed was from the day that he was escorted to
the chair till the hour when his gavel fell an
nouncing the close of the session. The Repre-
sentatives had assembled to do the work OF the
people, and he was as determined as they were
willing that they should do it.
+
The estimates sent in by the various Depart
ments at the beginning of the session involved
appropriations amounting to 1929, 134,193.92
The appropriations actually made foot M
S5l5 1853, S20.49 a reduction of Sl3,374, 37o.4 S
This reduction was only made by the most
careful scrutiny Of every item, and saving a
dollar anywhere and everywhere that 1T could
be done. This involved an immense amount
of hard work in the committees, but it was IN
dustriously and conseientiOusly done. 1t was
the strongest contrast to the wildcat, haphaz-
ard way in which legislation was managed in
| the preceding Congress.
One of The big items in the appropriations
which could not be pared down was $l1, 1872
6I6 for interest on the increased public debt
created by this Administration.
Having nothing better to do one day last
week, a correspondent in the Senate press
gallery addressed a note to Senator Stewart re-
mnding him Of an omission. He had pretty
successfully connected everything in ancient
and modern history with the crime OF 1873 "
except the execution of Charles j. in 1913 lie
ought TO try TO work that in before the session
closed. The note was sent down to Senator
Allison, who laughed over it with some other
Senators before handing it to Senator Stewart,
whose rubicund face grew a little redder. lie
stroked his long whiskers, but said nothing.
X
have before spoken of Senator Redield
Proctors dry, caustic Yankee wit, which is be-
coming famous He was told little while ago
that Wbitelaw Reid would not take the Vice
Presidency because his health rendered q dry
climate necessary to him.
a. Then | should think the Senate the very
place for him" remarked the Senator from the
Maple Sugar State.
Speaker Reed did not leave the city during
the Convention, but remained here, finishing
up the work on his desk. Senator Allison went
10 his home at Dubuque, and Senator Cullom
went to his home in Illinois.
4
Ex-Secretary Richard w. Thompson, of Indi-
ana, last week celebrated his S7th birthday.
and this week he was at ST Louis. at the head
Of the Indiana delegation. He is six months
older than Gladstone and six years older than
bismarck. He has been in public life over 60
years and has taken part in is Presidential
campaigns. He was an elector for Gen. VIM.
Henry Harrison in 1910. and was Secretary of
the Navy under Hayes. He gives as the secret
of his longevity that he never disspated. par
ticulariy in the way Of eating. He has always
been very temperate as to the kind and guam
THY of food that he ate.