The record-union., 1899-03-05

u PAae~Aio VI tAC 0iotllSt dAto w as q W.
cession to a secret organization. The
report was adopted.
The conference report upon the def
ciency bill containing full agreement
on all disputed points was presented at
s O'Clock and agreed to without word
of debate
AL $50 O'clock the final conference re-
pert on the naval bill was presented by
Bcutelle. The report was adopted and
the House recessed until 1920 a. m.
AT IL o'clock on motion of Dalzell,
resolution was adopted directing the
Speaker to appoint a committee OF
three to join a similar committee from
the Senate to await upon the Presi-
dent and inform him that the two
houses had completed their business
and were ready to adjourn, unless the
President had some further communi-
cation to make to Congress.
The Speaker appointed Dalzell (R)
of Pennsylvania, Reeves (R9 of Illinois
and Lanham Cd of Texas, and another
recess for an hour followed.
During the recess members stood
about in groups exchanging Fluctuations
and farewells. Everybody seemed to
be in joyous humor.
Meantime the diplomacy and execu-
tive galleries had filled and the scene
was brilliant and animated.
When the House reconvened for the
last time the hour of final adjournment
was but half an hour away. The En-
crossing Clerks were now the busiest
people about the Capitol, and almost
every minute, one of them rushed in
;y,l III ar.v11C
executive act of the House was the
passage of joint resolution authorlz-
ing the acceptance by the United States
of a cession of a tract of land from the
State of Massachusetts needed to ex-
tend the lines of the Boston navy yard.
1t was now 11:45 by the clock, but the
assistant doorkeeper, with a long pole
set back the hands ten minutes. This
raised a loud laugh.
Immediately afterward came most
dramatic episode. General Wheeler OF
Alabama, who has carefully refrained
from exercising his privilege as a mem
Der of the House pending the determi-
nation of the question as to his right
to his seat in the House, arose from his
old seat down in the front of the DEM
ocratic side and loudly asked for recog-
milton.
Mr.. Speaker" he called.
The Speakers face was flushed
slightly, but he looked straight ahead
as if he did not hear.
IT ask unanimous consent to speak
for five minutes shouted the General.
But the Speaker disregarded him.
Every eye was now riveted upon the
diminutive figure of the grizZled old
veteran of two wars.
The situation was intensely dramatic,
hut Payne. the floor leader of the ma
jority, hurried to the rescue. He moved
a recess for ten minutes.
Pending that I ask unanimous con-
sent to speak for three minutes" de-
manded General Wheeler.
The Speaker then turned toward him
for the first time, and locking straight
into the gray eyes of the General ig-
nored his request completely. putting
TIE rr1otion or Payne and declaring it
carried.
AS the hands of the clock pointed to
seven minutes to u. although it was
really three minutes past the hour, the
committee appointed to wait upon the
President marched down the aisle.
The Speaker had retired to his room,
and Payne, the Speaker pro tom, was, in
the chair.
Dalzell, in the center, announced that
the committee had fulfilled it's duty,
and the President had made reply that
he had no further communication to
make. The President requested US
to state" he continued, that the fifty
fifth Congress had performed its ex-
traordinary duties manfully and he
requested me to extend to each and
every member his best wishes for his
safe return to his home"
Great applause greeted this announce
ment.
But five minutes remained. In 1t was
scenes ever witnessed in the hall of
Representatives Payne summoned
Dockery of Missouri to the chair, and
he in turn recognized Bailey, the minor
ity leader in the Congress, to present
the resolution thanking the Speaker
for the impartial manner in which he
had presided over the deliberations of
the House. A great hush fell upon
the vast concourse in the galleries as
Bailey began to speak.
Mr.. Bailey said. 1T is an admirable
trait of the character and it is one
which will tend to the permanence of
our institutions, and no matter how we
may contend with each other over our
differences of opinion. each is always
ready to accord to the other whatever
praise may be deserved This COM
mendable spirit has led some shallow
men to criticise us because they could
not comprehend how we could so siren
uously combat the principles of our adj
versaries and still respect those adver-
saries themselves. These men do not
know that large majority Of the men
in every party of this country sincerely
believe that large majority Of the men
in every other party are earnestly anx-
ious to promote our countrys welfare
AppFause) And it is out of this
broader spirit that a custom has grown
which is as old as the House itself,
that in the closing hours of every ses-
sion there shall be offered a resolution
like that which 1 now send to the
Clerks desk"
The resolution was read as follows:
Resolved, That the thanbs of the
House are rendered to the Hon Thomas
b. Reed. for the able, impartial and
dignified manner in which he has pre-
sided over it's deliberations and per-
formed the arduous and important
duties of the Chairman"
The reading of the resolution was
greeted with tumultuous applause.
Mr.. Speaker" continued Mr.. Bal
ley, we have not always agreed with
the distinguished occupant of the chair.
and we have taken more than one oc-
casion to emphasize our dissent: hut
remembering the momentous ouest;ons