Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1899-03-11
CONGRESS HIS ADJ I|RNED .

WASHINGTON. March 6.-Vice Presi-
Aent Hobart declared the Senate of
the Fifty fifth Congress adjourned
without day eight minutes after p
o'clock Saturday. It was after con-
tinuous session beginning at IL o'clock
on Friday, 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 nomi-
nations When the doors were opened
there were seen but handful of tired
and haggard looking Senators, who
were waiting for the final reports
from the conferees on the two bills
yet in dispute Finally Mr.. Hale ap-
peared 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
President Mckinley and his entire
cabinet had come to the capitol and
were in the Presidents room, back of
the Senate chamber, where the vari-
Gus bills were hurried for signature.
Finally, the last big appropriation bill
received the Presidents approval, and
everything was ready for the close
The resolution thanking Vice Presi-
dent Hobart and President Pro Tenn
Frye was adopted, and the vice presi-
dent responded in an appropriate ad-
dress, and the Senate. which had been
in a turmoil for several days, quietly
came to an end.
The House proceedings dragged
slowly after midnight, as the confer
ences on various Apr Jpriation bills
were not ready to report. Time was
killed by frequent recesses, and the
members were kept in good nature by
soup and stories.
General Wheeler of Alabama made
a strong effort to gain recognition for
a three minute speech just before Con-
gress closed, but the speaker deliber-
ately ignored him General Wheeler's
status is matter of some question.
YEARLY the House sat through the
silent watches of the night, recessing
from time to time while awaiting con-
ference reports upon the appropriation
bills. The floor of the House was lit
tered with waste paper, which drifted
ankle deep about the desks and made
the hall look as if it had been swept
by snow storm. Still the weary and
heavy-eyed legislators kept to 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
responsibility of all, remained con-
stantly in their places, watching vigil
lantly the progress of the contests be-
tween the two houses.
The final agreement on the river
and harbor bill containing the COM
promise on the Nicaragua 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 G; the District
of Columbia, with the provision for
sectarian institutions eliminated
about o'clock; the deficiency at $3.50,
and the final conference report upon
the naval bill at about $50 a. N.
About 2 o'clock Mr.. Henderson
aroused the House by an electric
speech. It was one of the most elo-
quent of this Congress. The surround
ings added impressiveness to his utter.
ances. The disheveled members and
the wrecl1age of the night were about
him. It was on the question of sec
tartan institutions in the District OF
Columbia, provision for which had
been stricken out of the District ap-
preparation bill. With force and pathos
he denounced the bigotry of the con
ferees, who, he said, were willing
at the behest of a secret organization
which did it's work, to turn the home
less and friendless into the streets
| The scene was dramatic in the ex
IRENE 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.
After all the bills had been passed
| there followed the usual resolutions
That offered by Mr.. Bailey, thanking
Speaker Reed, and the remarks OF thu
minority leader, were of a character
to lend dramatic turn to the pro
eeedings. The action of the Hous'
and the speakers reply aroused tn
House and spectators to enthusiasm
After adjournment members and Wis
itors joined in singing patriotic airs
- r