The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-12
PEACEFUL ENDING
OF 54TH CONGRESS
Closing Day in Senate a Fitting Culmina.
tion Of "Do Nothing Session"
GOOD NATURE REIGNED IN HOUSE
Speaker Reed Receives the Thanks Of
the Minority for s.Abiiity, Faithful.
ness and Strict Impartia,ity" in the
Discharge of Duty..A Grateful
Recognition.

Washington, June ll.-If the first sas-
sion Of the Fifty-fourth Congress- has
been q do nothing session, as had
been predicted, the closing day of the
senate furnished fitting elimination
to the session. 1t was day OF inac-
tive drifting, laborious efort 10 S.ll
time by doing nothing Until Z O'clock,
when. according to the concurrent reso-
luton agreed TO yesterday, the two
houses were to adjourn. The sena'.
was called to order at II o'clock, when
the District OF Columbia appropriation
bill was received and immediately sign
cd by the president, thus dispos-
ing Of the last Of the general appropria-
ton bliss fer as the legislative branch
was concerned. A bill was passed
granting pension to the widow OF
General ". II. Gibson, of Ohio.
The senate then dawdled along until
l.2C o'clock the only business trans
acted being the appointment of COM
n1ittee 70 wait on the president and In
form him that congress was ready to
adjourn and the appointment OF an
other committee, provided for in the
district Of Columbia appropriation bill
70 investigate the charitable and re-
formatory institutions in Washington.
At 10 s. recess was taken until O'Clock,
when the usual resolutions of thanks
TO the vice president ana president pro
tenn were offered by Senators Allison
(Rep., Iowa) and Harris (Dem.. TexD
respectively and unanimously agreed
to. The galleries were almost deserted
during the early hours OF the session.
but knots of visitors continued to come
in slowly until the hour OF adjourn
ment, so that when that hour arrived
and the vice-president delivered his
valedictory he had a sood-sized audi
ence in the galleries, a large number OF
whom were ladies, even though there
were but twenty-five senators present
at that interesting moment.
AS the vice-president uttered the last
words and the gavel fell for the last
time there was faint outburst Of ap-
plause, after which senator's gathered
in knots in the Glsles and before the
vice e-president's desk, bidding each
other goodbye. Then the senators on
the floor and the visitors in the gal
leries melted away and the chamber
that has been the scene Of so many
stirring incidents was left to the pages
and attendants until the first Monday
in December next.
THANKS FOR SPEAKER REED.
The first session Of the fifty-fourth con-
gress gently and quietly, almost with
out incident, glided into history today
at O'Clock, the shortest ''long" session
Of congress, with two exceptions, in the
history Of the government. There was
marked difference between the close
today and that Of the fifty-first con.
gress, the last previous Republican
congress. Then bitter conflict ragged
between Speaker Reed and the minor.
| ity, and no one Of the latter was found
to introduce the usual resolution Of
thanks to the presiding officer. Today
| Mr. Turner, the second Democratic
member Of the committee on ways anC
means, acting for the minority In the
| absence Of ex-Speaker Crisp, offered Q
resolution thanking Speaker Reed fol
the liability. faithfulness and strict
impartiality" with which he had dis
charged the duties Of his difficult posi-
tion; and, at the suggestion of Mr.
Dockery. and other Democrats, there
was a rising vote that the expression
| Of heartiness back Of the resolution
might thereby be emphasized.
In his closing remarks Speaker Reet
offered his grateful recognition for tn,
honor, saying: "The thanks of tn,
house Of representatives is always {
high honor, but is especially so at tn,
end of session where the speaker ha!
been forced to say mo- more times per-
haps, than in the history Of any othe
congress" In the course of the session
a number Of private pension and relie
bills were passed, and Representative!
Pitney, (Rep.. N. J.). Blue, (Rep., Kas.
and Dockery (Dem., Mo- were appoint
ed members on the part Of the house o
the commission to sit during the sum
mer and investigate the charities Of tn,
District Of Columbia.