Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-04

| with an undue appreciation upon the part
| of the members of your staff, and with
the feeling that 1 can but freely represent
| their sentiments, / am here TO present
| 10 you a testimonial of their affection and
| esteem. This is one of my most pleasing
| duties of the session, though / feel how
| feeble are words to express their senti-
| ments and mine.
"A ring from time immemorial has
symbolized time without end. In the time
when the Doge of Venice used it in taking
the sea as his bride. it symbolized af-
lection, and to-day its symbol is the
same. I present this ring as a token Of
the affection Of those who have worked
under you, and in doing so L wish also
to express to you the same sentiments
felt by myself and my colleagues. who
have had the pleasure of your genial
friendship. and the benefit of your eff
cient services. Your clerks desire you to
accept this ring of virgin gold, as the
virgin representation Of their affection.
Wear it always"
THE POPULAR CLERKS RESPONSE.
Colonel Button, who had been standing
behind his desk in an attitude indicating
embarrassment as much as qualification.
said. as he took the beautiful seal ring:
Gentlemen,-An intercourse extending
over more than three months is now
about to terminate. From the opening
to the closing hour our association has
been, both official and personal as
poets, without one single unpleasant in
cident to mar it's perfect happiness. 1t
has been an intercourse that like an
unrufIied sheet of water on cloudless
night, reflects in it's tranquil depths only
the stars that stud the heaven above.
How shall / express my qualification
that this long personal and official fellow
ship is crowned at its close with this
expression of appreciation and kindly
feeling? / have not. gentlemen, words
adequate to disclose the emotions that
swell in my bosom. 1t is an occasion that
will lnger green and unfaded in my CRATE
full memory. 1t is an occasion that is
Like the keystone to an arch
That consummates all beauty;
IT'S like the music to a march,
That adds joy to duty.
Gentlemen, the beautiful ring which you
have presented to me i'm the pleasing
words of the accomplished gentleman
who is your spokesman will be cherished
by me as a memento of an occasion that
has lessened and lightened the arduOus
duties of the session about to end.
II is a circle, the expressive emblem of
a friendship that will be intending The
sincere sentiment of my heart for each
one OF you gentlemen is, that your path
way through life may be strewn only
with flowers, flowers that are ever fresh
and fragrant
Short Session OF the House.
Speaker Ryan called the House to or
der few minutes after II o'clock, about
thirty members being in their seats.
Mr.. Mann of Petersburg, offered
resolution thanking the Committee on
Enrolled Bills for the efficient manner in
which they performed their arduous du-
ties. The resolution was adopted.
Clerk Bigger stated that he had re-
ceived a letter from General Fitzhugh
Lee, thanking the body for the recent
expression of their appreciation for his
services as Consul-General at Cuba.
AMEND LABOR BUREAU BILL.
On motion of Mr.. Cooke. of Norfolk |
the chair was vacated for fifteen minutes |
and at the expiration of that time Speak |
or Ryan resumed the chair, and Mr.. Mum |
ford informed the House that the Senate |
had passed a bill amending certain sec
lions of the bill creating a bureau of la |
Dor statistics. which was then in the |
hands of the Governor.
The members present. on motion of Mr.. |
Kizer Of Norfolk, agreed to suspend the /
rules and place the bill on the calendar. |
The bill was subsequently passed.
Soon afterwards Mr.. Fairfax presented |
to the House joint resolution agreed to |
by the Senate, with relation to some |
other legislative business. which they
asked the House TO dispose of, but the |
House adjourned until to-day at noon
before any official notice was taken OF
the resolution.