Evening star., 1899-03-04
Much Uncertainty During the ALI
Night Session.
'ERPLEXING PROBLEMS At TIE FRONT
Speaker Reed Refused to Recog-
nize Gen. Wheeler.
THE CLOCK TURNED BACK


quietly and without exciting incident. The
all-night session was session of business.
| Perplexing and difficult problems kept per-
slstently to the front, and until the break
ing of day there was much uncertainty.
But by $40 all the conference reports had
been agreed to and the work of Congress
dCne. A series of receSses was then taken
until the hour of adjournment.
During the night there was little of the
disorder usual at all-night sessions, and
there was a general manifestation of the
utmost good feeling. This Congress having
declared war and participated in the con-
clusion Of a peace-crowning victory, an
active patriotic sentiment prevails among
its members and this found an expression
In the spreading of a large American flag,
falling at full length, over the clock above
the Speakers head, in addition to the stand
OF colors always above the Speakers desk
The Night Session.
The business of the night session in
volved immense labor. Nearly every cne
was weary, and the floors of the halls of
Congress was strewn with old bills and
scraps of papers and the litter of the ses-
sion, presenting a bedraggled scene. The
galleries. which had gradually become
emptted after l o'clock in the morning,
were again crowded by 0 o'clock The prin-
clpal interest in the Senate centered upon
the concluding action on the naval confer
eEce report, and until the report was
actually adopted, about $50 o'clock, every
one was kept in a state of anxiety by the
propensity to talk and to complain mani
tested by Butler, Tillman and Chandler
who had made the fight for the armor plate
proposition. When they permitted the vote
70 De taken and the report was adopted
the last doubt was removed and the work
OF Congress was practically ended.
Would Not Recognize Wheeler.
The only incident of especial interest
during the session from 11:3O to 12 was
refusal on the part of the Speaker to
recognize Gen. Wheeler, who twice asked
unanimous consent to briefly address the
House When Gen. Wheeler made this re-
quest he first asked for five minutes No
one else was claiming the floor, the House
was quiet and the little general had taken
a seat very near the Speakers desk, so
that there could be no mistake about his
request being heard. But the Speaker look
ed right through him and ignored him
There was hush in the House for a full
minute. The Speaker did not lay the re-
quest before the House. Then Gen. Wheel
er rose again and asked unanimous con-
sent to speak for three minutes The
Speaker still ignored him and then recog-
nized Mr.. Payne to move a fve-minute
recess.
unavoidable conclusion that the Speaker
had refused to recognize General Wheeler
as member of the House.
The Clock Turned Back.
Before the adjournment of the House it
became necessary twice to turn back the
clock, once for ten minutes and once for
three minutes, to give time for the report of
the committee appointed to wait on the
President.
The resolutions of thanks to the Speaker
and the speech of Mr. Bailey in Offering
them We're generous and earnest calling
forth universal applause, and the praise
accorded the Speaker had the ring of sin
cerity in it,
When the Speakers gavel fell adiournine
the House there was the most extraordi-
nary outburst of enthusiasm fraternity
and patriotic sentiment ever witnessed in
the nall. Every member Joined in song and
cneers, flags were waved and men hugged
each other.
A Conspicuous Congress
Every man who has participated in this
Congress to its close feels that it will stand
conspicuous in the history of the country
to the end Of time. 1t has been a Congress
of action and great events. 1t declared
war, provided revenue to carry on the war
ana made appropriations to the full extent
Oh the needs of the country in the emer-
Sehcy' almost without strain, and partici-
pated IN a proud treaty of peace all the
While holding itself in restraint from ex-
cesses.
The Dingley tariff bill was made a perma-
hent law. Hawaii was annexed The twelfth
census was authorized All regular annro-
prlation bills and bills for river and harbor
improvements were passed. A bankruptcy
Dill was passed. A compromise army re-
organization bill was made into law The
naval personnel bill was enacted into a
law, and an immense amount of other leeis
lation was disposed Of