Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-05
EXIT OF CONGRESS.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PACED

,-st marty 10 arrive being a dozen ladies'
who took their places in the public gal
leciez. The important business OF the
House had been virtually completed when
the House recessed FOR an hour at s'"V'
All that remained was the enrolment OF
bills and the final ceremonies.
EXERCISING CLERKS BUSY.
The engrossing clerks were now the
busiest people about the Capitol. and al
most every minute one Of them rushed
I'm With belatcd measures I'm his arms.
The last legislative act Of the House
was the passage OF joint resolution au-
thorizing the acceptance by the United
states OF the cession Of tract OF lahu
from the State Of Massachusetts,
1t was now 1l:i5 by the clock. but at
this moment the Assistant Doorkeeper
Of the House. armed with a long pole,
set back the hands of the clock ten min
utes This raised a loud laugh.
But Immediately afterward came a most
dramatic episode.
WHEELER ATTEMPTS TO SPEAK.
General Wheeler. OF Alabama, who had
carefully refrained from exercising ms
privileges as a member Of the House
pending the determination Of the question
as 10 his right 10 a seat In the HOUSE,
rose from his old seat in the House. near
tho front Of the Democratic SIDE anu
loudly asked for recognition.
"Mr. Speaker; Mr. Speaker ne calleu'
The Speakers face was flushed sHghlly'
but he looked straight ahead as II ne
did not hear Il ask unanimous consent
70 sneak for five minutes" shouted the
General. but the Speaker disregarded
him. Every eve was now riveted upon the
diminutive figure Of the grizz.ed old Vete-
ran OF two wars. The situation was IN
tenselv dramatic, but Mr. Payne, the
floor leader Of the majority, hurried 10
the rescue He moved a recess for ten
minutes. Pending that, ask unanimous
consent TO speak for three minutes de-
manded General Wheeler
REED DELIBERATELY IGNORES
WHEELER.
The Speaker then turned toward him for
the first time, and looking straight into
the gray eyes Of the General, ignored his
request completely. putting the motion
Of Mr. Payne. and declaring IT carried.
As the hands Of the clock pointed TO
minutes 10 T. although it was really
then 9 minutes past the hour, the com
mittee appointed to wait upon the Presi-
dent marched down the aisle. The
Speaker had retired 10 his room. and Mr..
Payne, the Speaker pro tenn, was in the
chair
Mr. Dalzell IN the centre. announced
that the committee had fulfilled its duty
and that the President had made reply
that he had no further communication
10 make "The President requested US 10
state" he continued. that the Fifty-hfth
Congress had performed its extraordi-
nary duties manfully, and he requested
me TO extend 10 each and every member
his best wishes for a safe return home.
Great applause greeted this announce
ment. but minutes remained.
ANOTHER DRAMATIC INCIDENT.
In IL was enacted one Of the most dra-
matte scenes ever witnessed IN the House
of Representatives Mr.. Payne sum-
moned Mr. Dockery Democrat, Of MIS-
souri,. to the chair. and he In turn recog-
nized Mr.. Bailey, the minority leader Of
the Congress. 10 present the resolutions
thanking the Speaker for the impartial
manner i'm which he had presided over
the deliberations OF the House. \ great
hush fell upon the vast cOncourse in the
galleries as Mr.. Bailey began 10 speak.
He said:
1T is an admirable trait Of the Ameri-
can character. and it Is one which Will
| telQ 10 lNt ltlludUfllIt VI Jul 4it"tth'
| lions. that no matter how we may con-
| tend against each other over cur
! differences Of opinion, each is al
ways ready TO accord 10 the
ether whatever praise may be &C.
served. This commendable spirit has led
some shallow men 10 Criticise us, because
/ they could not comprehend how We could
1 so strenuously combat the principles or
| our adversaries and still respect those
adversaries themselves. These men 90
not know that a large majority OF the
men in every party Of this country SIN
cerely believe that a large majority of
the men in every other party are earnest
| ~ anxious to promote our country's well
! fare. (Applause) And II IS out Of this
| broader spirit that a custom has grown
/ which is as old as the House itselt-that
| in the closing hours Of every session
there shall be offered a resolution IKE
that which l now send TO. the clerk
desk"
The resolution was read as follows;
THANKS TO REED.
Resolved That the thanks Of the
House are rendered to the Hon. Thomas
h. Reed for the able, impartial and dlg-
niaed manner in which he has presided
| oyer its deliberations and performed the
arduous and important duties Of the
| Chair"
The reading Of the resolution was greet
ed with tumutuous applause.
BAILEY OK REEDS FAIRNESS.
.rA1r. Speaker" continued Mr.. Bailey
I'VE have not always agreed with the
DISTINGUISHED occupant of the chair, anc
we have taken more than one occasion
TO emphasize our dissent, but re-
membering the momentOus questions
which have confronted US in his
Congress. and remembering, too, the
intense excitement which they aroused
throughout the country, as We'll
as I'm this hall, the wonder IS that
those occasions were so few, and in tins
hour of impartial retrospect do not hest
tate 20 say that he has been as ialr u
us and TO our side as any one OF us
were our positions reversed would have
been TO him and TO his side loud ap
1lause)
The chair asked for a rising vote
, Every member was on his feet and tn
! resolution was unanimously agreed 10
amid prolonged applause.
Mr.. Dockery, when the applause hat
subsidized. appointed Messrs. Bailey Bel
Of Colorado and Payne a committee L
escort the Speaker TO the chair.
/ CHEERS FOR REED.
A moment later. as the Speaker emerged
from the lobby, escorted by the commit
tee. the cheers that greeted his appear
ance made the rafters ring. Slowly the
Speaker assembled the rostrum. Graceful
~ Mr.. Dockery informed him of the ac-
ton Of the House, and then relinquishec
the gavel to him. As the Speaker faceC
the House the stiffness Of death settled
down upon II.
The Speaker fairly lowered over hi
surrourdings SLOWLY and with great de