The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-05
Ten Minutes OF Time Gained by the
Usual Practice OF Turning Back
the Hands OF the Clock.
DRAMATIC SCENE in HOUSE
GENERAL WHEELER NOT GIVEN
RECOGNITION By THE SPEAKER.
The "Czar'' Complimented by Mr. Bai.
Iey-ResOlutions of Thanks-WfId
Outburst OF Patriotism

-&--
WASHINGTON. March 4. wesrfly the
House sat through the silent watches OF
the night. rccessing from time to time while
awaiting conference reports upon the appro-
priation bills. The floor OF the House
Uttered with waste papers, which drifted
ankle deep about the desks and made the
hall look as if it had been swept by snow
storm. Still the weary, heavy-eyed legis-
lators kept to their posts through the night
The leaders, upon whom the strain and bur-
den of the closing hours fell most heavily.
and the speaker, who had the greatest re-
sponsibility of all, remained constantly in
their places. watching vigilantly the progress
of the contests between the two houses.
The final agreement on the river and har-
Dor bill containing the compromise on the
Nicaragua canal was secured about $3.50 p.
m; the sundry civil bill. I'm which the House
forced the Senate TO surrender the provi-
sion for the Pacific cable, about o'clock:
the District of Columbia bill, with the pro-
vision for sectarian institutions eliminated.
about o'clock; the deficiency bin at s:3os
and the final conference report on the naval
bill at about $3.50 a. m. The hall presented
sodden, bedrasg ged-looking scene when the
daylight, sitting through the ground-glass
ceilings, dimmes the yellow lights this moru-
ing Outside light drizzlng mist was fall
ing, completely shrouding the top of the
dome and gluing the wet half-masted flags
over the two wings 10 their staffs. The
red-eyed members sat listlessly in their
seats. the few persons in the galleries slum-
bered peacefully.
About o'clock Mr.. Henderson aroused
the House by an electric speech. 1t was
a1g .aff
The surroundings lent impressiveness to
his utterances The disheveled members and
the wreckage of the night were about him.
1t was on the question of sectarian institu-
tions in the District of Columbia. provision
for which had been stricken out Of the Dis
trict appropriation bill by the conferees.
With force and pathos he denounced the
bigotry Of the conferees. who, he said. were
willing at the behest of a secret organiza-
ton which did its work in the dark, 10
turn the homeless and friendless into the
streets. The scene was dramatic in the ex-
treme 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.
WHEN DAYLIGHT CAME.
With the advent of the day the House
began again to take on the appearance or
life Members went below for baths and
breakfast and returned refreshed to their
stations. AS early as 7:3o the people began
to pour into the galleries, the first party TO
arrive being a dozen ladies, who took their
places i'm the public galleries. The impor-
tant business of the House had been vir-
tually completed when tlre House recessed
for an hour at $3.50. All that remained was
n.
monies. AT 1890, when the House recon-
vened, the galleries were again packed TO
the doors and the hall buzzed with the con-
fused murmur of myriads OF voices. An
American flag had been lowered from the
press gallery above the speakers chair.
The closing scenes Of the House were OF
more than usual interest. After all the bills
had been passed there followed the usual
resolutions That offered by Mr.. Bailey.
thanking Speaker Reed, and the remarks OF
the minority leader were Of character 10
lend a dramatic turn to the proceedings
The action of the House and the speakers
| reply aroused the House and spectators to
enthusiasm. After adjournment members
| and spectators Joined in singing patriotic
| airs.
The House proceedings dragged slowly
| after midnight as the conferees on various
appropriation bills was not ready TO report.
| The time was killed by frequent recesses.
| and the men were kept in good nature by
song and stories.
| At 4:sO a. m the river and harbor confer
| ence agreement was reported by Chairman
Burton who moved its adoption. This led
| 10 considerable discussion. Mr.. Hepburn
| raised a point OF order against the canal 4
| amendment on the ground that 1t was no1
eermane. and also was new legislation. nq
| tn a,snute between the Senate and Hous -
Roth houses he contended, had legislated
With the Nicaraguan route in view. but the
| conferees had set aside this route and opened
up the whole question Of routes. Mr.. Hep
| buru was finally ruled out OF order, on the
ground that his motion had come too late
| The conference report was then agreed TO
without division. This was the last legis-
! latiye stage of the bill and IL vas ready for
the President.
PARTIAL REPORT ACCEPTED.
At 4:45 a. m. the House took a recess until
| : AT that hour Mr.. Boutelle presented a
partial conference report on the naval bill
| IL covered everything save the three big
items-new ships, price OF armOr and gov
| ernment armor factory. Mr. B0utelle stated
the Senate conferees were weakening, par
ticularly in the reduction or SHIPS, ana ne
| thought the House would win on the next
| conference The partial report was adopted.
| The House insisted on its provision as to
| ships and price OF armor.
Mr.. Handy moved 10 recede and concur In
the Senate amendment for governments
armor factory. Lost-H 10 u. The three
main items were then sent back TO confer
| ence.
The speaker announced as visitors 10 the