Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-03-09
WASHINGTON.

.
On Thursday the House refused by
vote of - to f46 to consider the re
port unseating certain Congressman for
accepting commissions in the army,
half-million dollars was appropriated
for the Buffalo Expo; the armor-plate
bill was in conference committee.
When the Senate convened at II
o'clock Friday morning it faced the
task of considering two Of the great APP
nronriation bills, those for the army
and for supplying the general detici-
/ encies The former carries approprla-
tions exceeding $50, 600 900, and the
latter about 100000, 900. With de
termination to complete the appropria-
ton bills, the Senate began immediate
" at II o'clock in the morning to con
slider these measures, and at o'clock
that night the army bill was passed, the
deficiency bill having been passed near
| " three hours before. a partial report
on the sundry civil appropriation bill
was agreed to. but the inability of the
Senate conferees to secure an agree
| ment on the Hawaiian cable proposition
created a heated discussion, in the
course of which Speaker Reed was al
Iuded to in uncomplimentary terms.
The Toledo exposition bill carrying an
appropriation of $500, 900 was passed
without debate AT 3 a. m. the Senate
re-comm:tted the river and harbor bill
! to the conference committee.
| The refusal of the House conferees TO
Weld on the Hawaiian cable was dis
cussed at length. Mr. Butler North
Carolina) spoke in support of the Senate
| conferees and was followed by Mr.
Chandler, who expressed the hope that
the Senate conferees would adhere to
the Senates proposition, even if an
| extra session were thereby forced
| There are some things, he said,
'worse than an extra session of Con
gress.
At times the House was like Bedlam,
on Friday. pound as the Speaker would
with his gravel it was almost impossible
to preserve order, and to the casual
visitor in the gallery the proceedings on
the floor must have been about as in
telligible as an exciting day in the
wheat pit would be to a parish priest.
The noise and confusion on the floor,
punctuated with the constant banging
Of the Speakers gavel or back grounded
with the droning voice of the clerk;
irate members facing each other and
talking at the rame time, pages scurry-
ing up and down the aisles-all this was
utterly distracting. But the people in
the galleries stayed on and there were Il
dozen persons in line in the corridors
waiting for every vacant seat, so great
is the attraction Of a dying Congress
The big questions in dispute between
the two Houses being naturally the last
to be adjusted were postponed far into
the night From time to time short
recesses were taken. These were simply
breathing spells, however, and soon the
leaders were at it again harder than
ever.
During the dey the President nomi
mated and the Senate confirmed George
Dewey, for Admiral Of the Navy.
End Of the J5th Congress.
Saturday morning dawned with the
Senate in executive session disposing of
a large number of nominations. When
the doors were opened to the public
there were seen but handful Of tired
and haggered looking senators who
were waiting for tine final reports from
the conferrees on the two bills yet in
dispute. Finally Mr.. Hale appeared
with both. The deficiency bill was
quickly passed and then came the final
and closing fight on the naval bill and
the price Of armor plate and for an
armor plate factory. This was finally
over and the weary senators took a
short recess
Upon reas5embling the senate took
on new appearance The chamber
had been cleaned mp and the senators
came back to the closing meeting with
n more spruce appearance Some few
attempts at Legislation were made, but
all were unsuccessful.
Then the galleries filled with gaily
dressed visitors who were there to see
the final ceremonies. They were not
long permitted to enjoy themselves as
an executive session drove them into
the corridors where they patiently
waited for the doors to be opened
When this was done only five minutes
renained Of the congress, bat the hands
of the clock were turned back ten
minutes to give time for the usual com
plimentary resolution and the address
Of the Vice President.
President Mckinley and his entire
cabinet had come to the capitol and
were in the Presidents room back Of
the senate chamber where the various
bills were hurried for signatures. Fin
ally the last big appropriation bill haI
received the Presidents approval and
everythin. gas ready for the close
The resolution thanking Vice President
Hobart and President Pro Tenn Frye
were adopted, the Vice President re-
spending in an appropriate address and
the session of the senate. which had
been in u turmoil for several days,
quietly came 10 au end