The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1899-03-09
CONGRESS HAS ADJOURNED.
The Session That Has Made History
is No More.
MANY BILLS WERE RUSHED THR0UGA.
All of the Appropriation Bills Finally
Disposed Of-Closing Fight Occurred
on the Naval Bill-Armor Plate
Price Fixed at $500 Per Ton.

WAsH1NaroN.-Vice President Ho-
bart declared the senate of the fifty
fifth congress adjourned without day
eight minutes after 12 O'Clock Satur-
day night. 1t was after continuous
session beginning at II o'clock on
Friday, with the exception of one
hours recess during the forenoon.
The day of final adjournment broke
with the exception of one hours re-
cess during the forenoon. The day
of final adjournment broke with the
senate in executive session, disposing
of large number Of nominations.
When the doors were opened there
were seen but handful of tired and
haggard- Hooking 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 the armor
plate factory. This was finally over,
and the weary senators took a short
recess.
Finally the last big appropriation
bill had received the presidents ap-
proval and everything was ready for
the close. The resolution thanking
Vice President Hobart and President
Pro Tenn Frye were adopted, the vice.
president responding in appropriate
address and the senate, which had been
in turmoil for several days, quietly
came to an end.
The fight over the naval appropria-
ton bill began at o'clock, when the
conference report came in. The re-
port restored all the ships provided for
by the house, but it actually pre-
vented the building of them by leav-
ing in the Chandler amendment that
no ship shall be begun until contracts
were made for the armor plate. The
provision to pay only $500 per ton
was left in, and as no armor plate can
be secured at this price the Chandler
amendment prevents the new ships
from being started.
The conference knocked out the pro-
vision for a government armor plate
plant and allows the secretary to buy
armor plate at $4O0 per ton for vessels
now building, limiting the $500 pro-
visions to vessels authorized in this
bill
The struggle over this bill continued
until 1880 o'clock, when the opposition
gave way and the bill was adopted.
The senate then took recess until
1920 O'Clock. The naval bill was
rushed across to the house and agreed
to at 9:35 o'clock, and it was then an
nounced that all the necessary legisla
ton had been completed, for al
agreement had been reached on the
general deficiency bill and thereupol
the house took another recess.
The HoUsE.-Wearily the house sal
through the silent watches OF tn
night, recessing from time to time
while awaiting conference reports on
the appropriation bills. The hna
agreement on the river and harbor bill
containing the compromise on the
Nicaragua canal, was secured about
$3.50 h. m., the sundry civil bill, IL
which the house forced the senate te
surrender the provisions for the Pacific
cable, about 6 o'clock; the District OF
Columbia, with the provision for sec
tartan institutions eliminated, about
o'clock; the deficient at $50 and the
final conference report upon the nava
bill at about $50 a. m.
The important business OF the house
had been virtually completed when
the house recessed for an hour al
$50. All that remained was the en-
rollment of bills and the final cere-
monies. At 1890, when the house
reconvened, the galleries were again
hacked to the doors and the hall
buzzed with the confused murmur ol
myriads of voices. An American flag
had been lowered from the press gal
lery above the speakers chair.
The closing scenes IN the mouse
were of more than usual interest
After the bills had been passed there
followed the usual resolutions. Thai
offered by Mr.. Bailey, thanking
Speaker Reed, and the remarks OF the
minority leader were of character to
land a dramatic tone to the proceed:
inqs. The action of the house ano
the speaker reply aroused great en-
thusiasm.