Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-06
u, the HOUSE.
Continued from page -

/
sent to speak for three minutes" de-
manded Gen. Wheeler.
The Speaker then turned toward him
| for the first time, and, looking straight
into the gray eyes or the genera isnoreo l
ton Of Payne, and declaring II carried.
| As the hands Of the clock pointed 70
1l.53 the committee appointed 70 wall
upon the President announced that the
committee had fulfilled Its duty ana thai
| the President had made reply that ne mad
no further communication TO make.
1.-THE President requested me 70 state,
said Daixeli. for the committee. that the
55th Congress had periormed us ex,aao :,
binary duties manfully. and ne requested
me to extend to each and every mempef
his best wishes for safe return to his
home"
Great applause greeted tIis d""ou"ce-
ment. /.
enacted one of the most dramatic scenes
ever witnessed in the Han OF Repre-
PAYNE summoned Dockery. DEM. Mo-,
| to the chair, and he In turn recognised
HALEY. the minority leader In this Con-
gress, to present the resolutions tnankine
the Speaker for the impartial manner IN
| which he had presided over the oeiipera-
tons of the House.
A great hush fell upon the vast con-
course in the galleries as Bailey began 10
speak. .,,osa ma ,,
sided. appointed Bailey. Bell OF Colorado
and Payne a committee to escort the
Speaker to the chair fro mo h lehhv ia'er the
Slowly the commanding figure of the
Speaker ascended the rostrum Gracefully
Dockery informed him OF the action OF
The House and then relinquished the
gayel to him. AS the Speaker faced the
House the stiffness of death settled down
| upon IT, =. A.. ,,. , =.
have ceased to breathe, so oppressive and
| imnressye was the silence. The Speake,
fairly lowered over his surroundings
Slowly and with great elaboration he re.
House had conferred upon him. He said
| "In laying down for the third time the
insignia Of an office which mas but one
superior and no peer. | might. perhaps
| fairly congratulate myself upon having
had a great opportunity to administer q
great Office in the fashion indicated by
| the noble words known to our law
without fear. favor or hope of reward
Where have succeeded ! am sure to
have your final approval: where ! have
failed ! am sure you have given me
notwithstanding any differences OF
opinion or of party. You have given me
your confidence in all which perfained tt
my duties here. in a manner so fun and
ample that my memory OF Ii VIII never
pass away.
when 1 compare the opportunity 20,
| have given me with what 1t has been pos
sible to do ! see how much ! need your
kind Endorsement of today for which
| return you thanks and gratitude. With
pleasant memories of your past, which
shall always cherish and best wishes for
your future, which shall always enter.
| tain, now declare this House adjourned
| without day."
Half a dozen times during the progress
| of his remarks the Speaker was obliged
| to pause, owing to the spontaneous ap.
plause which arose from all sides, and
when he concluded with the announce
ment that the House stood adjourned sine
| die. the applause and cheers were deafen-
| ing The galleries Joined In. the outburst
Suddenly some members down near the
rostrum began singing, and above the din
| rose the strains of America" The air
was taken up. the galleries caught the in
spiration and as one man everybody rose
| and joined in the singing. until in one
grand chorus thousands were voicing the
beautiful words of the national anthem
| Then came "Auld Lang Syne" and the
"Red, White and Blue"
While the singing was in progress HUI
| Jumped upon desk with large red.
white and blue streanler streaming II To
| the rythm of the air and rebuilding the
| tumultuous nature of the demonstration.
A voice in the gallery shouted Three
| cheers for Dewey" and they were given
/ with volcanic and explosive vigor. Then
came cheers for the army and navy, and
| finally for Joe Wheeler. This wonderful
| demonstration concluded with the singing
| of the "DoXolOgy.