The National tribune., 1899-03-09
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
The Closing Scanes and the Work
Done in B1th Houses.

The tiIirl and !lS. session of the 5Jth Con-
creSs closed on saturday last at noon. All
of the regular appropriation bills became
laws. The Nicaragua Canal proposition was
compromised by the extension OF the sur
vcys. The Hawaiian cable provision was
stricken from the sundTy civil bill The
Senate receded from its reduction of the
number of II new ships for the Navy. Both
Houses passed the bill appropriating $50, 00O-
600 to pay Spain under the peace treaty.
During the week Il bill WAS passed reviving
the grade rank of Admiral of the Navy, and
Rear Admiral Dewey was 1T once nominated
to that position and confirmed. The Army
reorganization bill, as compromised, and the
Naval personnel bill bccame laws, and in ac
cordance with the latter measure the Presi-
dent nominated large number of Naval
officers to their rank proYiIcd for by the new
legislation and they were confirmed in a
body. Schlcy's name ranked SIMPSONS in
the list of Rear-Admirais.
OF much importance of the bills passed
were the two great revenue bills-tile Ding
ley and the war tariffs. the bankruptcy law,
the various Army bills, the Spanis:i-Cnban
resolutions the declaration OF war. the Navy
personnel bill and the various bills authoriz-
ing extra pay to soldiers.
While the Senate was in 4 turmoil during
The small hours of this morning stories OF a
possible extra session were sprea ling every
where But the storm in the Senate went
down and peace rcigned. 1t is remarkable
how differences can b0 adjusted when the
alternative of an agreement Is IN extra scs-
sion, which no man or party wants 20 bring
about without Ieas5mS that wl.j lnstiir hin
before the country.
rr~, Il. Z -
dav morning signing bills. In the senate
the open session was resumed at ID minutes
before the time f I adjournment, the body
having been up to that time considering eX
ecutivc business
A committee consisting OF Senator'S Hoar
and German was appointed by the Vice
President, on motion OF the former Senator,
to inform the President that the body had
concluded It's work and stood ready to ad-
iourn. The President received the COM
mittee in his room, expressing his gratifca-
tion at the work OF the Senate, and sent
wish for the safe icturn Of alI members TO
their homes
The usual complimentary resolutions to
the presiding officers We're adopted, and
speeches made Is them in both Houses The
House convened at i.j0 C clcc}> for The last
time. and waited fer bills from the President.
Twice the hands Of the clock were turned
back. once for 10 minutes and again for FIVE
minutes. before all The Business WAS disTo5 o5ed
Of As Speaker Reeds gael fell after his
speech the Ii0asc broke into cheer which
quickly gave place 10 tie opening bars OF
America - The Red White and Blue, ;"
= Dixie. " aad other Songs followed, closing
with the dozo!oer Then there We're cheers
for Dewey, lie Arms and Navy, and Gen. Joe
Wheeler ard lie last dramatic scene Of a
Congress which had b>eG rcpletc with thrilling
incidents WIS ut an end.
This CongrCsS WAS remarkable one in
many ways Ii viii go down III history as
the War Congress. II is not often that the eX
penditufes authorized by any ore Congress
during the two years Of its existence exceed
one billion dollars. 1t is unprecedented that
they s.ould exceed a billion and a half.
But those of the late 55th Congress do this
and more.
1t VIII be several days before the clerks of
tie Appropriation Committees Of the House
and Senate can find time 10 prepare an accu-
rate and detailed statement OF theeXuenditures
authorized By ti:e session that has just closed.
It's expenditures are believed to have been
$517, -2l, 587 and that the expenditures
added 20 those of the former sessions will
bring the total up TO 81 SIC, ,34951S.
The House Of Representatives, pas Sed $50
bills and resolutions against ]. 200 by the
saith, 95l by The ODD, and 692 by the SD
Congresses, respectively. The Senate did
much less, and many passed by one were not
considered by the other.
There are now retired to private life 13 Set.a-
tors. Unless the Legislatures of Pennsy yly2nia
and Utah should re-elcct Mr.. Quay and MIR
Cannon. these viii he brought among tho-e
who retire TO pirate lie, making ID. Tie
Others are Allen OF Nebraska Faulkner, OF
West virginia: Gorman, of Maryland; Gray.
o! Delaware: hianiel, Of Montana; Mills, OF
Texas: Murphy, of New York; Roach, OF
North Dakota: Smith. Of New jersey; Tur-
pie. OF Indiana; White, OF California and
Wilson. o. Washington
in the House nanerous conspicuous figures
in tie management Of political affairs Will
be absent III the next Congress Among them
are Dockery, Of Missouri; Walker OF Mas-a-
chusetts; Lewis, CT Washington Quigg, o
New YGrk; Aiahany. Of New York; MaSuirc
and IIillborn, of California.