The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-05

In conclusion he said:
For the Senators who remain and
for the Senators who retire from this
body, | desire to convey my thanks for
the kindly sentiments expressed III the
resolution just adopted, and it only re-
mains for me now, in the exercise of the
duty devolving upon me to declare that
the Senate stands adjourned without
day"
There was no demonstration whatever
in the Senate. There was general hand
shaking among the Senators, and many
expressions of regret were heard that
many Senators whose terms expired to-
day were not to be here when the SEN
ate met again.
PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE.
Washington March 4.-Wearily the
House sat through the silent watches of
the night, receSsing from time 20 time
while awaiting conference reports upon
the appropriation bills. The floor of the
House was Uttered with waste PAPER.
which drifted ankle deep about the desks
and made the hall look as if it had been
swept by a snow storm. Still the weary
and heavy-eyed legislators kept at their
posts, through the night. The leaders,
upon whom the strain and burden of the
closing hours fell most heavily, and the
Speaker, who had the greatest RESPONSE
bility of ALL remained constantly in their
places. watching vigilantly the progress
of the contests between the two Houses.
The final agreement on the River and
Harbor Bill containing TIE compromise
on the Nicaragua Canal was secured
about $3.50 q. M. the Sundry Civil Bill,
in which the House forced the Senate to
surrender the provision for the Pacific
Gable, about six; the District of Colum-
bia. with the provision for sectarian in
stitutions eliminated. about O'clock; the
Deficiency Bill at $50 o'clock, and the
final conference report upon the Naval
Bill at about $50 a. M
The hall presented sodden, bedrag-
ged looking scene when the daylight.
sitting through the ground glass ceilings,
dimmed the yellow lights this morning.
Outside Il fine drizzling mist was falling,
completely shrouding the top of the dome
and gluing the wet, half-masted flags
over the two wings to their staffs. The
red-eyed members sat listlessly in their
seats. the few persons in the galleries
slumLcred peacefully.
About Z o'clock Mr.. Henderson
aroused the House by an electric speech.
1t was one of the most eloquent of this
Congress- The surroundings added im-
pressiveness to his utterances. The dis
hevelled members and the wreckage of
the night were about him. 1t was on
the question of scctarian institutions i'll
the District of Columbia, provisions for
which had been stricken out of the Dis
trict Appropriation Bill by the conferees.
With force and pathos he denounced the
bigotry of the conferees, who, he said,
were willing at the beheSt of a secret
organization. which did its work in the
dark, to turn the homeless and friendless
into the streets. The scene was drama
tic in the extreme when Mr.. Henderson
recalled the dark days of the war when
the white-capped sisters of mercy were
ministering on the battlefield to the
stricken and dying soldiers.
With the advent of the day the
House began to take on the appearance
of life Members went below for baths
aud breakfast, aud returned refreshed to
their stations. As early as 7:30 the
people began to pour into the galleries,
the first party to arrive being a dozen
lie galleries. The important business of
the House had been virtually completef
when the House recessed for an hour
at $50 All that remained was the en-
rollment of bills and the final ceremonies.
The engrossing clerks were now the
busiest people about the capitol, and al
most every minute one of them rushed
in with belated measures i'll his arms.
The last legislative act of the House
was the passage of a joint resolution
authorizing the acceptance by the Unit
ed States of tract of lana
from the State of Massachusetts. 1t
was now II :45 by the clock, but at this
moment the assistant door-keeper of the
House, armed with long pole, set back
the hands of the clocl; 10 minutes. This
raised loud laugh. But immediately
afterward came IA most dramatic epiS-
ode. General Wheeler. of Alabama,
who has carefully refrained from exer-
csing his privileges as a member of the
House, pending the determination of
the question as to his right to a seat in
the House, arose from his old seat down
near the front of the Democratic side
and loudly asked for re; gnition.
MIR. Speaker" MIR. Speaker" he
called.
The Speakers face was flushed slight
ly. but he looked straight ahead as if he
did not hear.
II ask unani:uous consert to speak
for five minIfes," shouted the General.
But the Speaker disIc2ar' ed him. Ev
cry eye was now riyeted upon the dimin-
utive figure of the grlZzlad old veteran
of two wars.
the situation was intensely dramat-
ic. but Mr.. Payne, the floor leader of the
majority, hurried to the rescue. He
moved q recess for ten minutes.
Pending that | ask unanimous con
sent TO speak for three minutes" de-
manded General Wheeler. The Speaker
then turned toward him for the first
time, and, looking straight into the gray
eyes of the General, ignored his request
completely. putting the motion of Mr..
Payne and declaring it carried.
AS the hands of the clock pointed to
seven minutes to twelve. although it was
really then 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 Mr.. Payne, the Speaker pro TEN,
was in the Chair. Mr.. Dalzell in the
centre, announced that the committee