Evening star., 1896-06-11
CLOSING SCENES
Both Branches of Congress Simply
Killing Time.
WAITING fer THE ADJOURNMENT HOUR
Light Attendance at Both Ends
of the Capitol.
Ting Fer THE ADJOURNMENT HOUR
INCIDENTS OF THE SESSION

and fingered in unconscious condition
so TO speak, all through the afternoon with
out any interruption of vitality. The hour
or adjournment at 4 o'clock was awaited
at both ends of the Capitol with an i'm
patience that was hardly eager because
nobody took any interest in the proceed
fngs- II simply a case where there
were no possibilities in the situation All
the work had been done, all the struggles
ended, everything had been accomplished
but the merely clerical routine Incidental
TO the closing hours of a session The TWO
houses were in practically state of recess
from the time they convened until The
star went 10 press, and it is presumed that
they Will continue in that condition until :
O'Clock. when a each end of the great cor
rfdor that traverses the Capitol from north
70 south the gavels will fall simultaneously
with the declaration that the session is
ended -
Tame Adjournment
1T Is one of the tsmest adjournments ever
KNOWN The absence of most of the prom
II ent members of both houses who have
gene to st. Louis contributes largely TO this
effect.
Another reason is that yesterday was vir-
tually the last day Of the session, SO far as
excitement and work We're concerned As
lourned last night had the President fol-
lowed the old-time custom of going to the
CGp:tol Oh the last day to sign bills pre-
sented to him for approval.
Ioday'S session, therefore. was merely
&C Curtesy 10 the President the two houses
treadipg water. as it were, to keep ahoat
There was far less than quorum present
in each house. A roll call at either end of
the CAPITOL would have caused trouble
when the Senate met there were not
9ozen senators on the floor, and at no sine
curing the day were there more than
tNehty-nVe within reach of the sergeant
alarms. Those who attended die so out of
pertunctory sense of duty rather than
rem any anticipation that anything could
he accomplished. They were occupied main
ly In cleaning out their desks bundlnS
their documents ard books together ard
sending tfem awcy to be packed in COM
mittee rooms preparatory to the summer
hCusecleaning of the Senate.
Discussing the Political Situation.
Occasionally two or three Senators would
gather together and tell stories, while in the
cloak rooms and the lobbies there was
general discussion of the political situation
Senators of rival political parties shook
hands and renewed personal friendships.
weakened perhaps by the emergencies of
the past session The spirit of forgiveness
ana peace was In the air like white
winged dove and everybody seemed happy
The only incident of the day that marred
the serenity of the occasion was the an
nouncemeit by the Vice President of the
District charities commission. which Of
Tended several members of the Senate and
caused an unpleasant feeling to spring up.
Flowers were In evidence to note the al
most gala occasion. They were on the desk
or Senator Walthall having been sent by
the citizens of Congress Heights in order
10 express their gratitude for his services
IN aiding in the passage of the bill incor-
porating the Capital railway, which is to
connect tnat suburb with the city.
Dull in the House.
The indications in the House this morn
ing were for a dry and unin.erestine clos
ing, devoid of many of the enthusiastic
and eventful incidents characterizing the
closings of former Congresses
The galleries were sparsely occupied
when Speaker Reed raped the gaysI. and
the vacant seats on the floor Of the House
Betckened that numerous members had
taken leave of absence this morning
Later the galleries began to fill. and the
lonesome House seats took on a slightly
more animated appearance
In the galleries We're faces as familiar
as that of the old brass clock which limits
The time of speeches. These faces haunt
the galleries month in and month out and
their owners would rather lose mother
in-law than miss the windng-up scenes of
the House The fat man found 1t quite
peasant day, so far as the weather was
concerned, and shared the interest of the
occasion with his lean brother without
having TO be perpetually mopping his
brow. There We're all kinds of men look
ing down on the lawmakers below. and
each OF them wore an interested look
CGlOred Bride and Groom
Leaning back on one of the gallery seats
was coiored couple. bride and groom. She
wore an intensely red hat, profuseiy dec
GRATED with flowers and plumes of the same
VlVid hue. Her dress was of a gaudy yell
low, and her waist was encircled by a belt
OF bright color Her head rested on the
back of the seat in the most Indifferent
style. but she would occasionally rouse her
self and diligently ply cream-colored fan.
A few seats below this couple was a beyy
OF ladies, attired in dresses of a.variety of
cOlorS and materials. A cooling baDy was
the center OF interest in of the gal
leries. The fond mother smiled every time
any one looked at the infant. and she told
all who inquired how bright the little thing
was.
Fifteen or twenty newspaper men lolleJ
around in the press gallery. apparently
as istless as the members of the House
below The newspaper ranks had been
thinned by the departure of a large num-
Der of correspondents for ST. Louis
Speaker Reed sat in his chair and talked
with few members who walked up to see
him. For an hour the monotonous voice
of the reading clerk ploughed through the
journal of yesterday.
On the Floor.
On the HOOr tne nervous but brainy lit
tie leader of the House majority, Mr.
Dingley, talked with various members who
sat down by him: Judge Culberson of Tex
as sat with his feet elevated on the seat
in front Of him. listening to Ike Hill COM
uun.cate some important political secret;
Hartman, the Montana silver leader. went
through his desk and cleared it of an ac-
cumulation of old papers; Hunter of Ken
lucky, wno came near being United States
Sci ator from his state, vigorously chewed
gum and talked with POpulist Bell of Col
orado; Delegate Dennis Flynn Of Okla
homa looked as talkative ever as he
copversed with msny of his friends; Fin
ney. the North Carolina orator, perambu-
lated through the aisles and patted his
friends on the back In true southern style;
Shafroth, Colorado's silver republican,
carr estly talked to a colleague and gesticu-
lated as freely as II he were making a
speech. Richardson, the tall democratic
leader of Tennessee, nonchalantly picked
his teeth, as If he had just left the break
fast table; active little Wheeler OF Ala
hama actually sat fifteen minutes In his
seat without moving; Catchngs. the popu-
lar Mississippian. sat behind a beautiful
basket Of flowers. presented by an ad-