The San Francisco call., 1897-03-05


long as the President was in sight.
at IL 80 o'clock Mr.. anu Mrs. Mckinley
left the building for the White House.
VICE-PRESIDENT HOBART.
In Fitting Manner He Succeeds
Stevenson as Presiding OFF,
Ger of the Senate.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March AT
9 A. NJ, the time to which the Senate
recess was taken. the sun was shining in
cloudless sky, giving assurance of splen-
did weather for the inauguration.
Admittance 10 the north wing of the
Capitol was only obtained through the
presentation at one of the outer doors of a
card emitting the bearer TO entrance; and
those cards were restricted 10 newspaper
men and to others whose business re-
quired their presen ce in the Senate wing,
and very few could avail themselves OF
that privilege.
The Senate chamber had been COM
pletely metamorphosed during the three
hours recess. Placed closely together and
filling all the angles of the room on one
side of the front desks were scores of arm
chairs designed for the oignitaries who
were to participate in the ceremonies of
the day. Spectators were excluded from
the galleries while the finishing touches
were being given to the arrangements of
the floor.
The recess of the Senate was extended,
if not by consent at least by the non-ap-
pearance of Senators, from O'Clock to
$3.50. At that time Senator Carter (Sil Of
Montana took the chair as presiding
officer and called the Senate TO order, and
then the Senate took another recess 10
o'clock. When this action was taken the
only persons in the chamber besides Stew
art and Carter were the journal clerk, the
chief clerk, the official stenographer and
assistant doorkeepers and q dozen young
pages.
When the Senate really did reconvene
the only necessary business before it
remaining undone was the confer renee
report on the deficiency bill, which had
not yet been presented.
At 9:40 O. clock Hale presented the con-
ference report on the general deficiency
bill. 1t gave the reports by number on
which agreement had been reached and of
those on which The committee was unable
to agree. The report was agreed TO, but.
the usual request for a further conference
was not made.
The gallery doors were not opened until
10 O'Clock, when the crowds that had been
waiting with tickets of admission flowed
in, and soon every seat was occupied, ex-
cept in the sections reserved for the diplo-
matte corps and the families OF Senators.
About this time Mr.. Carter vacated the
chair andVice- President Stevenson occu-
pied it. After little while, however, Mr.
Stevenson yielded 10 Mr.. Hoar (R.) of
Massachusetts.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Morrill,
(R.) of Vermont ard was unanimously &C
cepted, rendering the thauks of the Sem
ate for the "dignified, impartial and cour-
teous manner in which :he Vice President
had presided over the Senate" Senator
Faulkner offered a similar resolution
thanking Mr.. Frye for acting Speaker pro
tenn.
At 10:30 o'clock message was received
from the House stating that that body
would not agree to the Senate amend
ments to the labor commission bill. Hoar
offered an amendment which was agreed
to for the app ointment of committee of
two mem bers to join a like committee
from the House to wait upon the Presi-
dent and inform him that both houses
having concluded the business of the
present session were ready to adjourn un-
less he should have some further COM
munica ton to make. Senators Hoar and
Brice were appointed to act for the Sem
ate.
The Nice-President then called upon the
Vice e-President-elect to take the oath of
Office. Mr.. Garret A. Hobart stood up
and with uplifted b cad took the oath as
administered by Vice President Steven
son and subscribed to it. Thereupon Mr..
Hobart took the chair and Mr.. Stevenson
delivered his farewell speech as follows:
Senators: The hour has arrived which
marks the close of the Fifty-fourth Congress
and terminates my official relation 10 this
body. Before laying down the gavel for the
last time l may be pardoned for detaini ing
you for moment in the attempt to give ex-
preston to my gratitude for the uniform
courtesy extended me- for the many kind
nesses shown me during the time it has been
my good fortune to preside over your delib-
erations. My appreciation of the resolution
OF the Senate, personal to myself, can find no
adequate expression in words. intentionally
al no time have given offense, and l carry
from this presence no shadow of feeling OF un-
kindness toward any Senator-no memory of a
grievance.
Chief among the favors political fortune
has bestowed upon me, count that of having
been the associate, and of having known
something OF the friendship of the men with
whom have SO long held official relations in
this chamber. To have been the presiding
officer of the august body is an honor of which
even the most illustrious citizen might be
proud. am persuaded that no occupant of
this chair, during the 10S years of our consti-
tutional history, ever entered upon the dis
charge of the duties pertaining to this office
more deeply impressed with sense of the re-
sponsibiities imposed or with higher appre-
cation OF the character and dignity of the
great legislative assembly.
During the term just closing questions of
deep import to political parties and to the