The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-06

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. fg-
nored his request completely, putting
the motion OF Mr.. Payne and declaring
It carried. *
AS the hands OF the clock pointed to
seven minutes 10 u, although II was
then really 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
tenn, was In the chair. Mr.. Dalzell, In
the center, announced that the commit
tee had fulfilled It's duty and that the
President had made reply that he had
no further communication 10 make. Z.
1.-THE President requested us to
state" he continued, that the Fifty
fifth Congress- had performed Its extra
ordinary duties nanfully, and he re-
Questad me to extend to each and ev-
cry member his best wishes for his cafe
return to his home.",
Great applause greeted this I. an
nouncement. But five minutes remain
ed. In It was enacted one Of the most
dramatic scenes ever witnessed in the
hall OF representatives.
Mr.. Payne summoned Mr.. Dockery
(Dem.; MOI. to the chair. and he In
turn recognized Mr. Bailey, the minor
lty leader in this Congress. to present
the resolutions thanking the speaker for
the impartial manner In which he had
presided over the deliberations OF the
house. A great hush fell upon the vast
concourse In the galleries as Mr.. Bailey
began to speak. He. said:
1T is an admirable trait Of the,
American character. and It. Is one which
will tend to the permanence Of our In
situations, that no matter how we may
contend against each other over our dif-
ferences OF opinion, each Is always
ready to accord to the other whatever
praise may be deserved. This COM
mendable spirit has led some shallow
men to crlticlse us because they could
not comprehend how we could 80 stren-
uousiy combat the principles OF our
adversaries and still respect those adj
versaries themselves. Ehese men do
not know that large majority Of the
men In every part OF this country sim
cerely believe that a large majority OF
men In every other party are earnestly
anxious to promote our country's well
fare. (Applause.) And 1t is out Of this
broader spirit that a custom has grown
which Is as old rs the house Itself, that
in the closing hours OF every session
like that which now send to the
clerks desk.",
The resolution was read as follows:
Resolved, That the thanks OF the
house are rendered TO the Hon. Thomas
B. Reed. for The able. impartial and dig
nihed 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,
I'VE have not always agreed with the
distinguished occupant OF the chair, and
we have taken more than one occasion
to emphasize our dissent: but remem-
berlng the momentous questions which
have confronted US In this Congress.
and remembering, too, the intense ex-
element which they aroused through
out the country as well as In this hall.
the wonder Is that those occasions were
SO few; and In this hour OF Impartial
retrospect. j do not hesitate. to say that
he has been as fair TO US and to our side
as any one OF us, were our positions re-
versed. would have been 10 him and to
his Side" loud applause).
The chair called for rising vote.
Every member was on his feet, and the
resolution was unanimously agreed to,
amid prolonged applause.
f. =, \,
subsidized, appointed Messrs. Bailey. Bell
(Col). and Payne committee to escort
the speaker TO the chair.
A moment later as the speaker emery
ed from the lobby escorted by the COM
mittee the cheers that greeted his ap-
parance made the rafters ring. Slowly
the commanding figure of the speaker
assembled the rostrum. Gracefully Mr..
Dockery informed him OF the action. OF
the house and then relinqulshed the
gayel to him. AS the speaker faced the
house the stiffness OF death settled up
on 1t.
The people In the galleries seemed to
have ceased to breath, 90 oppressive and
impressive was the silence The speak
er fairly lowered over his surroundings.
He was dressed In black cutaway and
wore dark red tie. Slowly and with
great deliberatlon he returned his
thanks for the compliment the house
had conferred upon him. He said:
I'm laying down for the third time the
insignia OF an office which has but one
superior and no peer. l might. perhaps.
fairly congratulate myself upon having
had great opportunity to administer q
great Office In the fashion indicated by
the noble words known to our law
without fear, favor or hope of reward.
Where I have succeeded am sure to
have your final approval; where have
failed ] am sure you have given me
credit for honorable intention.
notwithstanding any differences OF
opinion or o. party you have given me
your confidence In all which pertained
to my duties here In manner so full
and ample that my memory OF It will
never pass away. When compare the
opportunity you have given me with
what 1t has been possible to do see
how much need your kind Endorsement
OF to-day. for which return you thanks
and gratitude. With pleasant memories
for our past. which shall always cher
lsh. and best wishes for your future.
which shall always entertain. I now
declare this house adjourned without
day"
Hall dozen times during the pro-
gress OF his remarks the speaker, was
obliged to pause. owing to the spontan-
eous applause which arose from oil
sides, and when he concluded with the
announcement that the house stood adj
journed sine die the applause and cheers
were deafenlng. The galleries Joined In
the outburst.
Suddenly some members down near
the rostrum began singing, and above
the din rose the strains OF my coun-
try. It's Of thee. sweet land OF liberty"
Ill