The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-07

District of Columbia, with the pro-
visions for sectarian institutions elm
mated, about o'clock; the deficiency
at $50 O'Clock and the final conference
report upon the naval Dill at about
$3.50 o'clock.
The hall presented sodden, bedrag-
gled-looking scene when daylight,
sitting through the ground glass cell
ings, dimmed the yellow lights this
morning. Outside fine drizzling mist
was falling, completely shrouding the
top of the dome and glueing the wet,
half masted flags over the two wings
to their STATS.
The red-eyed members sat listlessly
in their seats and a few persons in the
galleries slumbered peacefully.
About o'clock Mr.. Henderson arous-
ed the house by an electric speech. 1t
was one of the eloquent ones of this
congress. The surroundings added i'm
pressiveness to his utterances. The dis
hevelled members and the wreckage of
t0e night were about him. 1t was on
the question Of sectarian institutions
in the District of Columbia, provision
for which had been stricken out of the
district appropriation bill by the con-
ferees. With force and pathos he de-
nounced the bigotry of the conferees
who, he said, were willing at the be-
hest of a. secret organization, which
did it's work in the dark, to turn the
homeless and friendless into the street.
The scene was dramatic 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 dy-
ing soldiers.
With the advent of the day the house
began again to take on the appearance
of life. Members went below for baths
and breakfast and returned refreshed
to their stations. AS early as 7:30
o'clock 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 i'm
pOrtant business of the house had been
virtually completed when the house re-
| cessed for an hour at $50 o'clock. All
that remained was the enrolment of
bills and the final ceremonies.
The engrossing clerks were now the
busiest people about the capitol and
| almost every minute one of them rush
ed in with belated measures in his
| arms
| 1t was now 11:45 o'clock by the clock,
| but at this moment the assistant door
| keeper of the house armed, with a long
| pole, set back the hands of the clock
| ten minutes. This raised a loud laugh.
| But Immediately afterward came
| most dramatic episode. General Wheel
er, Of Alabama, who has carefully re-
| Trained from exercising his privileges
| as a member Of the house, pending the
determination Of the question as to his
| right to seat in the house, arose from
| his old seat down near the front of the
democratic side and loudly asked for
| recognition.
"Mr Speaker "Mr. Speaker" he
called
The speakers face was flushed
cJiobflv--ls.t -17o 1oc.lr fsk,<z n
| as if he did not hear.
ST ask unanimous consent to speak
| for five minutes" shouted the general.
| But the speaker disregarded him. Ev-
| cry eye was now riveled upon the di-
minutive figure of the grizzled old vet
| eran of two wars.
| The situation was intensely dramat-
ic, but Mr.. Payne, the floor leader of
| the majority, hurried to the rescue. He
| moved a recess for ten minutes.
pending that I ask unanimous con-
| sent to speak for three minutes de-
manded General Wheeler. The speaker
then turned toward his for the first
time and looking straight into the gray
eyes OF the general, ignored his re-
| quest completely, putting the motion
| of Mr.. Payne, and declaring it car
| ried.
AS the hands Of the clock pointed to
| minutes to II, although it was really
then 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 tenn,
was in the chair. Mr.. Dalzell in the
had fulfilled it's duty and that the pres
ident had made reply that he had nc
further communication to make.
Mr.. Payne summoned Mr.. Dockery
democrat, Of Missouri, to the chair
and he in turn recognized Mr.. Bailey
the minority leader Of the congress, tc
present the resolutions thanking the
speaker for the impartial manner in
which he had presided over the de-
liberations of the house. Then the us.
ual pro forma complimentary resolu.
ton was made.
The chair called for a rising vote
Every member was on his feet and the
resolution was unanimously agreed to
amid prolonged applause.
Mr.. Dockery, when the applause haG
subsided appointed Messrs. Bailey
! Bell and Payne a committee to escor
the speaker to the chair.
A moment later. as the speaker
emerged from the lobby escorted by
the committee, the cheers that greeted
his appearance made the rafters ring
Slowly the commanding figure o.
the speaker aScended the rOStrum
Gracefully Mr.. Dockery informed hin
Of the action of the house, and then re
linquished the gavel to him. As tn,
speaker faced the house the stiffness
Of death settled down upon it.
The speaker fairly lowered over hi
surroundings. Slowly and with grea
deliberation he returned his thanks fo
the compliment the house had confer
red upon him. He said: I'm laying
down for the third time the insight;
of an office which has but one superio
and no peer, I might, perhaps, fair
ly congratulate myself upon havin,
had a great opportunity to administe
. a great office in the fashion indicate,
by the nettle words known to our Law
without fear, favor or hope of re
| ward
Where I have succeeded am sur
to have your final approval; where
, have failed, am sure you have give1
me credit for honorable intention.
| Notwithstanding any differences o
opinion or of party you have given m
your confidence in all which pertaine,
I to my duties here in a manner so full