The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-04
HOUSE WAS LIKE BEDL AM
Closing Scenes of an EIxtraordi-
nary Session.
LEADERS WORKED HARD
Walker Criticised His Republican Col.
leagues of Spectators
Watched the Last Hours of
the Dying Congress

Washington, March 3.-Crowded GAL
leries looked down upon the struggling
members of the house to-day as the
closing scenes of the last legislative
day of this congress were being en-
acted. Step by step the leaders in
charge of the appropriation bills pushed
them through the final stages. and dur
ing every lull in the consideration Of the
conference reports. members clamored
for recognition for belated local bills
in the vain hope of rescuing them from
death on the calendar. At times the
house was like bedlam. Pound as the
speaker would with his gavel. 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 ineligible 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 gaNel or
backgrounded with the droning voice
of the clerk; irate members facing each
other and talking a t the same time,
pages Scurrying up and down the
But the people in the galleries stayed
on and there was a dozen persons in
line in the corridors waiting for every
vacant seat, SO great is the attraction
of a dying congress. Mr.. Walker of
Massachusetts. after many unSuccesS-
full attempts. got an opportunity dur
ing the afternoon to voice his views on
currency reform and severely criticised
some Of his republican colleagues.
When the great beacon light on the
dome of the capitol blaZed forth as
darkness fell. thousands upon thou
sands were attracted to the brilliantly
illuminated wings of the capitol where
the two houses were to sit out the
night. In the reserved galleries of the
house We're cOngregated the elite Of the
society of the national capital. while
the public galleries We're banked to the
doors. Stylishly gowned women and
men in evening dress added eclat to the
occasion.
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 re-
cesses were taken. There were simply
breathing spells. however. and soon the
leaders We're at it harder than ever.
After the reading of the journal
Burke of Texas announced the death
of his colleague, Crawford. The usual
resolutions We're adopted and COM
mittee appointed to attend the funeral.
Mr.. Walker, chairman of the commit
tee on banking and currency, took the
floor under the privilege granted him
earlier in the day. The statement was
largely personal. showing the efforts
made by Mr. Walker during long
series of years to secure monetary leg
isation. In this connection, he an
swered published criticisms of his
course, and went into an elaborate ex-
vic ipr, T,F t.,1 fiul in, hi .lrr
mittee. which resulted in the report of
a bill and its subsequent withdrawal.
His colleague. Mr.. Barrett, rep, Mass,
demanded an opportunity to reply,
claiming that Mr.. Walker had agreed
to yield him his time. This Walker
denied, saving he always kept his
promises to God and man, but mot
according to the standards of his col
leagues
Mr. Barrett denounced the denial as
an ''unmitigated falsehood"
Mr.. Walker proceeded to criticise the
currency committee selected by Mr..
Grosvenor, chairman of the republican.
caucus.
Mr. Walker spoke in high terms of
II. H. Hanna of the Indianapolis none
tary COMMITTEES, but denounced the
manner in which he and his colleagues
had lobbied about the capitol for al
legged currency reform.
The difficulty with these reformers,"
said he, lis that they obtain their facts
from canvasback and terrapin and
their arguments from champagne. The
result is robbery"
DO you expect the next congress-
interposed Mr.. Johnson, rep. Ind, ito
enact any banking and currency leg
islation worthy of the name? do
not"
IF it does" replied Mr.. Walker ut
will mean certain defeat for the repub-
lican party. There is more dynamite
connected with the banking and cur
rency than any subject ever introduce
ed in the house. Any party that at
tempts the settlement of the currency
question before the silver question is
settled will be swamped."
Mr. Johnson declared that the re-
publican party was committed to cur
rency reform and that it was the duty
of the president to call an extra SEES
sion, not to create permanent stand
ing army of 100000 men, but to put
upon the statute books currency legs-
lation so that it could Vindicate itself
before the next general election. Should
this be done, the party would have done
its duty to all sections, and its calling
and election would be sure.
Mr.. Cannon presented the conference
report upon the sundry civil appropria-
ton bill and moved its adoption. He
explained briefly the points upon which
the conference had agreed and the re-
port was adopted. Upon the items still
dn dispute he moved that tho house in
sst upon its disagreement.
Mr. Corliss moved to concur in the
Pacific cable amendment. He earnestly
advocated the adoption of the senate