The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-03-05
NOW STANDS
ADJOURNED
Closing Hours Of Fifty-Fifth
Congress Brought Out
Dramatic Scenes.
Joe" WHEELER SNUB6ED
UTiZZleo Ulo veteran OF TWO
Wars Refused Recognition
by Speaker Reed.
LAST HOURS IN THE SENATE
Strict Formally Marked the Close
and No Sensational Features De-
velOped During the Day.
LAST HOURS IN THE SENATE

WASHINGTON. March L-yyearlly the
house sax through tn, silent watches o.
the night reccsslng from time 10 time
while awaiting the conference reports up
on tho appropriation bills The nnal
amendment on the river and harbor biIl
containing the compromise on the Nlci-
raguan canal was secured about 800 o..
m. the suudry oivlI bill IN which tho
house forced the senate 10 SURRENDER the
provision FOR the Pacific cable. about
6: the District OF Columbia bill with
tho provision Tor sec,arian institutions
eliminated. about O'Clock: the deficiency
bill at S:so. ana the final conference report
upon the naval bill at about $50 a. m.
About o'clock Henderson aroused the
house by an electric speech. It was one
or the most eloQuen, OF this congress.
Dsheveicd members and the wreckage
OF tne hlght were about him. II was on
tho question Of sectarian institutions In
the District OF Columbia. provision for
which had been stricken out or the dis
trlct Appropriation bill With force and
paihos he denounced the blgotry OF the
conferees, who. he said. we're willing at
the behest Of secret organization 10
turn the homeless and friendless into
the streets. The scene was dramatic in
the extreme when Henderson recalled the
dark days OF the war. when the white
capped sisters Of mercy were administer
Ing on the battlefield 10 sick and dying
soldiers
The closing scenes In the house were OF
more than usual interest.
The last legislative act OF the house was
the passage OF Joint resolution author
iEing the acceptance by the United States
or the cession OF a tract OF land from the
state OF Massachusetts,, needed TO extend
the lines OF Boston maynard. 1t was
now llIS by the clock. but the assistant
doorkeeper with long pole set back the
hands 10 minutes. This raised a loud
laugh,
Immediately afterward there was a
most dramatic episode. General Wheeler.
who has carefully refrained from exer-
'islng his privilege as a member OF the
,ouse pending determination OF the ques-
lion as 10 his right to his seat In the
house, arose from his old seat down near
he front on the democratic side, and
oudly asked FOR recognition.
Mr.. Speaker" he called. The speakers
ace was flushed slightly but he looked |
straight ahead as II he did not hear, Il
lsk unanimous consent TO speak for five |
shouted the general but the |
speaker disregardcd him. Every eye was |
low rvlted upon the dlminutive figure !
VI the grizzly old veteran Of two wars. |
The situation was intensely dramatic, but
Payne, the floor leader OF the majority. |
hurried to the rescue, He moved g recess
or 10 minutes,
pending that ask unanimous consent
o speak for three minutes" demanded
The speaker then turned to-
ward him for the first time and. looking
traight into the gray eyes of the general.
gnored the request completely. putting
Il
arried
As the hands Of the clock pointed to
even minutes to l2, although II was
eally three minutes past the hour the
ommittee appointed to walt upon the
resident marched down the aisle. The
peaker had retired to his room and
'ayne, speaker pro tenn, was in the
hair. Dalzell. In the center, announced
hat the committee had fulfilled its duty,
nd the president had made reply that he
ad no further communication TO make,
THE president requested us to state"
Q continued. that the 55th congress had
erformed It's extraordinary duties man.
ully. and he requested me to extend to
ach and every member his best wishes
or a safe return home"
But five minutes remained. In It was
nacted one of the most dramatic scenes
yer witnessed In the hall Of represen-
ltives. Payne summoned Dockery (dem-
crat. OF Missouri. to the chair, and he
/ turn recognized Bailey the minority |
,ader In this congress to present a
nsolution thanking the speaker for the 4:
IMPARTIAL manner In which he had presid-
over the deliberations OF the house,
Dockery, when the applause had sub
ded, appointed Bailey, Bell populist OF
olorado) and Payne to escort the speak |
r to the chair,
A moment later as the speaker emerged
rom the lobby, escorted by the commit ,
,e, the cheers that greeted his appear ,
nee made the rafters ring Slowly the
peaker ascended the rostrum, gracefully (
informed him of the action of |
he house and then relinquished the
avel TO him. As the speaker faced the
ouse the stiffness of death settled down
pom It, People in the galleries seemed
D have ceased to breathe, so oppressive
'as the silence. The speaker fairly
Dwered over his surroundings. Slowly
nd with great deaiberatlOn he returned