The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-03-09
CONGRESS ADJOURNED.

The Frfty-fifth Congress has gone
into history. 1t adjourned las, Satur-
day. Following Is an account Of the
closing scenes:
As the hands OF the clock pointed to
seven minutes to 12, 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, Speaker pro tenn,
was in the chair. Mr.. Daizell, in the
centre, announced that the committee
had fulfilled its duty and that the Pres
ident had made reply that be had no
further communication to make. "The
President requested US to state," he
continued, "that the Fifty.fifth Con-
gress had performed its extraordinary
duties 1nanfully, and he requested me
to extend to each and every IN ember his
best wishes tor his safe return to his
home" Great applause greeted
this announcement. But five min
rtes remained. In it was enacted
enc of the most dramatic scenes ever
witnessed in the hall Of Representatives.
Mr.. Payne summoned MIR. Dockery,
Democrat, of Missouri, to the chair,
and he in turn recognized Mr.. Bailey,
tho minority leader of the Congress, to
present the resolutions thanking the
Speaker for the impartial manner in
which he had presided over the DELHI
erations of the House. A great hush
tell upon the vast concourse in the gal
lerles as Mr.. Bailey began to speak.
He said: t'It is an admirable trait
OF the American character, and it is
one which will tend to the permanence
OF our institutions, that no matter how
we may contend against each other
oyer our differences of opinion, each is
always ready to accord to the other
whatever praise may be deserved. This
commendable spirit has led some shall
low men to critici.e US, because they
could not comprehend how we could
so strenuOusly combat the principles of
our adversarles and still respect tn ose
adversaries themselves. These men do
not know that large majority OF the !
men III every party Of this country sin.
cerely believe that large majority of
the men in every other party are earn.
es'ly anxious to promote our country's
welfare. applause And 1t is out of
this broader spirit that a custom has
grown which is as old as the House
itscli-tIat III the closing hours of
every session there shall re offered |
resolution like that which 1 now send |
to the clerks desk"
The resolution was read as follows:
"Resoiyed, That the thanks OF the
House are rendered to the Hon. Thss
B. Reed for the able, impartial and dig
nlfiei manner in which he has presided |
over its deliberations and performed
the arduous and important duties OF
the Chair"
The reading of the resolution was
greeted with tumultuous applause.
"Mr. Speaker, continued Mr.. Bailey,
1--WE have not always agreed with the
distinguished occupant OF the chair,
and we have taken more than one &C.
casion to emphasize our dissent; but,
remembering the momentous questions
which have ccnfronts d us in this Con-
gress, and mbering, too, the in
tense excitement which they aroused
throughout the country as we'll as in
this ball, the wonder is that those &C.
casions were so few; and in this hour
of impartial retrospect I do not hesitate
to say that he has been as fair to rs
and to cur side as any one of us, were
our positions reversed, would have
been to him and to his side." cloud
applause.)
The chair called for rising vote.
Every member was on his feet and the
resolution was unanim ously agreed to,
amid prolonged applause.
Mr.. Dockery, when the applause had
subsidized, appointed Mess.s. Bailey.
Bell, of Colorado, and Payne, a COM
mittee to escort the Speaker to the
chair.
A moment later, as the Sneaker
emerged from the lobby, escorted nv
the committee, the cheers that greeted
his appearance made the rafte1s rino
Slowly the commanding figure of the
Speaker assembled the rostrum. Grace.
fully Mr.. Dockery informed him of the
action of the House and then relin.
qnlshed the gavel to him. AS the
Speaker faced the House the stiffness of
death settled down upon it.
The Speaker fairly lowered over his
Surroundings. Slowly and with great
1ellberatlon he returned his thanks for