Iron County register., 1899-03-09
THE CLOSE Of CONGRESS.
Both Houses Held Continuous Ses-
sions of the Legislative Day
of Friday.
FINAL WORK ON CONFERENCE REPORTS.
Gradually, However, They Cleared the
Decks, Not Altogethe In a Satisfactory
Manner, and When tho Hour of Noon
Arrived, and the FiTty-kIfth Congress
Expired. Adjourned Sine Die.

:
Fifty-ffth congress adjourned without
lay eight minutes after IL o'clock Sat-
urday. 1t was after continuous ses-
sion, beginning at IL o'clock on Fri
day, with the exception of one hour
recess during the forenoon.
The day of final adjournment broke
with the senate in executive session,
disposing of a large number of nominal
tions. When the doors opened there
were seen but a handful of tired and
haggard-looking senators, who were
waiting for the final reports from the
conferees on the two bills yet in dis
pute. 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 reassembling the senate took
on new appearance. The chamber
had been cleaned up and the senators
came back to the closing meeting with
more spruce appearance. Some few
attempts at legislation were made, but
all were unsuccessful. Then the gal
leries filled with gaily-dressed visi-
tors, who were there to see the final
ceremonies. They were not long per-
mitted to enjoy themselves, as an ex-
ecutive session drove them into the
corridors, where they patiently waited
for the doors to be opened. When this
was done only five minutes remained
of tho hJ1t Of fIo
clock were turned back ten minutes to
give time for the usual complimentary
resolutions and the address of the vice
president
President Mckinley and his entire
cabinet came to the capitol, and We're
iE the presidents room, back of the
senate chamber. where the various
bills were hurried for signature. Fin
ally, the last big appropriation bill had
received the presidents approval, and
everything was ready for the close.
The resolution thanking Vice-Prcsi-
dent Hobart and President Pro Tenn.
Frye was adopted, and the vice-presi-
dent responded in an appropriate adj
dress, and the senate, which had been
il turmoil for several days, quietly
came to an end.
House.
Wearily house members sat through
the silent watches OF the night, re-
cessinG from time to time while await
ing conference reports upon the appro-
priation bills. The leaders upon whom
the strain and burden of the closing
hours fell most heavily, and the speak
er, who had the greatest responsible
ty of all, remained constantly in their
places, watching vigilantly the prog
ress of the contests between the two
houses.
The final agreement on the river and
harbor bill containing the compromise
on the Nicaraguan canal, was secured
about $3.50 a. m.; the sundry civil, in
which the house forced the senate to
surrender the provision for the Pacific
cable, about six; the District of Co
lumbia, with the provision for sectarian
institutions eliminated, about seven
o'clock, and the final conference report
upon the naval bill at about 9:3O.
With the advent of the day the house
again took on the appearance of life.
Members went below for baths and
breakfast, and 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
ladies, who took their places in the
public galleries. The important busi-
ness of the house had been virtually
completed when the house recessed for
an hour at 9:30, all that remained was
the enrolment of bills and the final
ceremonies.
At 10: 80 when the house reconvened
the galleries were again packed to the
doors, and the hall buzzed with a con-
fused murmur of myriads of voices.
An American flag had been lowered
from the press gallery above the
speakers chair.
After all the bills had been passed
there followed the usual resolutions.
That offered by Mr.. Bailey, thanking
Speaker Reed, and the remarks of the
minority leader, were of a character
to lend a dramatic turn to the pro-
ceedings. The action of the house and
the speakers reply aroused the house
and spectators to enthusiasm.
The final scene in the house was one
long to be remembered. Cheers were
given for Admiral Dewey and Gen. Jos.
Wheeler. Members and the occupants
of the galleries joined in singing MY
Country, 'Tis of Thee" and other
patriotic songs. winding up with
'Auld Lang Syne."
Tourist Cook Dead.