River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-06-18
THE SESSION ENDS.
Both Branches of Congress Ad-
jcurn Sine Die.


Washington, June 12.-If the first ses-
sion of the Fifty-fourth congress has
been a "do nothing session." as had
been predicted, the closing day of the
senate furnished fitting elimination
to the session. 1t was day of inactive
drifting, laborious effort to kill time
by doing nothing until four o'clock,
when, according TO the concurrent res
olution agreed to Wednesday, the two
houses were to adjourn. The senate
was called to order at IL o'clock, when
the District of Columbia appropriation
bill was received and Immediately
signed by the vice president, thus dis
posing of the last of the general
appropriation bills. so far as the iegisla-
tive branch was concerned. A bill was
passed granting pension 10 the widow
of Gen. w. III. Gibson. of Ohio.
The Adjournment
At 1:20 recess was taken until three
o'clock, when the usual resolutions of
thanks to the vice president and presi-
dent pro-tempore were offered by Sen
ator Allison, of Iowa, and Harris, OF
Tennessee, respectively, and unani-
mously agreed to. Promptly at four
o'clock the vice president arose and
slowly and clearly delivered the follow
ing valedictory, at the close of which
the gavel fell and the senate stood adj
journed sine die:
Senators: I am deeply touched by the
resolutions personal to myself adopted by
the senate. IL has been my earnest en-
deavor impartialiy to execute the rules pre-
scribed for the guidance of this body. For
the aid you have so generously given me
In the discharge Of the duties that pertain
to this ONCE, well as for the courtesy
uniformly shown me, / am profoundly
grateful. And now wishing each of you a
safe return to homes and constituents, II
only remains for me to declare the first ses-
| sion of the Fifty-fourth congress adjourned
without day"
Last session of the House.
Washington, June l2.-The first ses.
sion of the Fifty-fourth congress gem
tly and quietly, almost without incident,
glided into history Thursday at four
o'clock, the shortest 'long' session OF
congress, with two exceptions, in the
history of the government. In the
course of the session a number of pri
vate pension and relief bills were passed.
and Representatives Pitney rep, \.
j., Blue (rep., Kan.) and Dockery
| (dem., MOI were appointed members
on the part of the house of the com
mission to sit during the summer and
investigate the charities of the District
of Columbia.
| Mr.. Turner, the second DEM
ocratic member of the committee on
ways and means, acting for the mi
nority in the absence of ex-Speaker
| Crisp, offered a resolution thanking
| Speaker Reed for the ability, faith
fulness and strict impartiality" with
which he had discharged the duties Of
his difficult position; and at the sug
gestion of Mr.. Dockery and other dem
ocrats there was rising vote that
the expression of heartiness back OF
the resolution might thereby be en-
phasized. As the hour for adjournment
arrived Speaker Reed closed the ses-
sion with the following remarks:
| Gentlemen OF the house OF representa-
4 tives: Before prcnouncing those words
| which close the session, desire TO offer to
/ the house my grateful recognition of its
/ kindness The thanks of the house of rep
/ resentatives is always high honor, but
| is 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 thank
| ing you for your kindness to me, must con-
/ graduate the house on its conduct Of the
/ public business. Ordinarily, majority OF
/ two and a half to one. majority Of $50
| means disorgaEization. faction and dis
| cord. In this house $50 new members o.
\ both parties have behaved with he steadi
/ ness of veterans, and IL our connection with
/ other branches of government with diff.
| ferent ideas has prevented us from serv-
| ing 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, again return
thanks. By virtue of the concurrent reso-
luton of both branches. / declare this
| house adjourned without day."