Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-03-04
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, March

adjourned at noon today, having
squandered the peoples money in
most unconscionable and unprecedent-
ed manner.
SENATE.
At 1850 o'clock the Senate took up
the bill extending the anti-contract
labor laws OF the United States TO the
Hawaiian islands.
Mr.. Pettigrew made speech on the
bill. He gave figures showing the
number OF contract or slave laborers
imported from Asia. Over 5000
had been taken there since our
flag went up over the islands.
He showed also that very few people
from the cold climates conld live in
those tropical islands. He read Cir
cular issued by the Odd Fellows OF
Hawaii warning their brethren in the
United States not to migrate to those
islands. There was no chance for any
Americans except large capitalists. The
Masons of the island had issued a sim
liar circular. The latter insisted that
neither the climate nor the pay was
adapted to the white man. Mr.. Pet
tigrew charged that the commissioners
sent to Hawaii had prevented the pas
sage Of the bill TO prevent slave la
Dor from being imported. He charged
also that they had done this for the
benefit of the sugar planters.
Mr.. Perkins also testif that Chinese
and japanese labor was .eing imported
into Hawaii to the detriment of the beet
sugar and the cane sugar producers OF
the United States. He hoped the bill
would pass.
4 letter from Commissioner Powderly
to Mr.. Perkins was read in which the
former urged the extension OF the
United States immigration laws to the
Hawaiian Islands.
At 1880 the Senate went into e1ecu-
tive session on motion of Mr.. Morgan.
The anti.cortract labor law bill was left
hanging in the cir.
The executive session Of the Senate
ended at five minutes OF twelve, but the
Senate clock, wnen the doors were
opened, showed that it had been turned
L II
rush back to the galleries, the visitors
being anxious to witness the death OF
the 55th Congress.
The usual committee was appointed
to wait upon the President 1t con-
sisted of Messrs. Hoar and German.
Messrs. Hoar and German reported
that the President had no further mes
sages to send to Congress, as he had
disposed OF all the business referred to
MIN by the two branches.
; Mr.. Cockrell offered a resolution OF
thanks to Vice President Hobart. 1t
was unanimously adopted.
Mr.. Vest offered similar resolution
! in which thanks were returned to Mr.
Frye, President pro tempore.
Vice President Hobart then reviewed
briefly the work Of the expiring Con-
gress and expressed his high appre-
citation Of the sentiments contained in
the resolution referring to himself The
Congress had made a glorious record
He then declared the Senate adjourned
without day.
HOUSE.
AtIl:45 one of the messengers of the
House turned back the hands of the
clock in the north side of the hall ter
minutes.
General Wheeler, of Alabama, rose
10 his seat ut ll:40, by the new time
and asked permission to speak for five
minutes. Speaker Reed did not ap
pear to hear him at all. Mr.. Payne, o.
New York, in the awe struck silence
that followed this unprecedented slight
moved that the House take q recess o.
five minutes.
before that is DONE" cried General
Wheeler rising again. II ask permits
sion 10 address the House for three
minutes"
Again Speaker Reed ignored him,
and put the motion. The House will
take recess for five minutes" he an.
nouneed
General Wheeler intended to attack
Mr. Bailey, Of Texas, in the speech he
was not allowed to make.
Il did not care to listen TO it, said
Mr.. Payne, explaining his move to re-
cess.
General Wheeler was surrounded by
number of democrats Immediately
after his turn down." and an ami.
| mated discussion not at all compii-
mentary TO Reed and Payne was in
| duJged in.
At 1l:50, new time, the House clock
was turned back five minutes more,
making a quarter OF an hour in all
robbed from the official calendar of the
nation.
At 11:50 according to the second
amended time of the House that body
reconvened with Mr.. Payne, of New
York, in the chair.
Message from the Senate announced
the passage of the Boston harbor bill.
The committee that had waited upon
the President returned at 11:53 and,
through Mr.. Dalzell, announced that
they had visited the chief executive and
that he had announced that ne had no
further communication to send to the
Congress. The President had then said
he wished to thank every member of
the Congress for the way they had
manfully faced all the duties they had
been called upon to perform and he
wished them all q safe journey home.
Mr.. Payne then resigned the chair to
Mr.. Dockery, of Missouri, and Mr..
Bailey rose to offer resolution of
thanks for Speaker Reed.
Mr.Bailey made very pretty speech,
praising the Speaker and his impartial
ity, his courtesy and his frmness. The
resolution was passed unanimously by
a standing vote, even General Wheeler
getting up in his chair.
Mr.. Dockery then appointed Mr..