Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-06-08

Speaker Henderson laid down his gavel
this afternoon at the conclusion of one
of the most picturesque scenes which
has ever occurred in the hall of Repre-
sentatives.
Party passion and personal rancor.
which have brought the house to the
brink of actual riot several times dur
ing the last forty-eight hours, gave
way in the closing half hour to good
fellowship which found vent in pa
trfotic outburst that stirred the crowd
ed galleries TO the highest pitch of en-
thusiasm.
During the brief recess taken with
IN thirty minutes of the time fixed for
the final adjournment to give the Pres
ldent opportunity to affix his signature
to the bills that were being rushed to
him for approval, group of members,
led by Mr.. Mercer, of Nebraska, Mr..
Ball. of Texas, Mr.. Fitzgerald, of Mass.
and Mr. Tawney of Mimi, congregated
IN the arena to the left of the Speak
er's rostrum and began singing patri-
attic airs. The galleries were banked to
to the doors.
Columbia, Gem of the Ocean, "Auld
Lang Syne," THE Red, White and
Blue, successfully rang out.
AS the singing proceeded members
joined the group until without regard
10 age or party the entire member
ship of the House Joined in the cho.-
uses. The spectators in the galleries
applauded each song until the strains
OF Dixie" filled the hall. Then their
unbounded enthusiasm
Broke Out in wild Cheers.
But the enthusiasm Dixie" evoked
was not to be compared with the re-
markable demonstration which follow
ed when, in clear, ringing tone, Mr..
Fitzgerald, of Massachusetts, started
the national anthem with the inspir-
ing words, Through the Dawn's
Early Light" In an instant all the
men, women and children in the gall
leries were on Reir feet joining in
the singing.
The mighty chorus from thousands
of threats reverberated through the
hall, making the pulses leap and the
blood tingle. 1t was a magnificent
and soul-inspiring spectacle. The Ia
dies kept time TO the rythm of the
music with their handkerchiefs and
the men beat the measure with their
hands. The speaker, pausing as he
entered the hall, raised his voice also
The excitement produced by the
scene overcame a white-haired old
man in one of the public galleries,
and when the song ceased he Jumped
upon his seat and shouted, THAT is
the song of the angels of heaven" He
was plainly crank, and he showed
disposition to harangue the House
He was quickly elected.
After Speaker Henderson had made
graceful farewell speech thanking
the members for their courtesy and
had declared the House adjourned, the
members testified to his popularity by
singing For He is jolly Good Eel
low, and the newspaper CORRESPONDENTS
in the press gallery celebrated their
emancipation from the burdens of
Congress by singing the "Doxology."
The principal feature of the closing
day in the House was the
Reversal of Its Action
last night in turning down the con-
ferees on the naval bill for yielding on
the item relating to ocean surveys.
Over night the sentiment of the House
underwent a complete change and to-
day the members voted by a large ma
jority to accept outright the Senate
amendment, which goes much further
than the compromise which the con-
ferees offered last night. The confer
ees, led by Mr. Cannon, who was
brought in a compromise which they
| considered more satisfactory were ig-
ANONYMOUSLY pushed aside. It was a
distinct victory for the old conferees,
Messrs. Foss, of Illinois; Dayton, of
West Virginia, and Cummings, of New
York: The other feature of the clos
ing day was the course of Mr.. Lentz,
of Ohio, in blocking unanimous con-
| sent legislation. For three days he
has objected to bills because the ma
| jority would not allow the testimony
| in the Couer d'Alene investigation to
be printed and he maintained his po-
sition 10 the end. His action caused
many heart-aehes. He only relented
wnen bills behind which lurked pos
sible votes In the coming campaign
| were brought up. On such OCCASIONS he
| gracefully side-stepped and allowed
/ Lhem 10 go through.
| For the Senate it was a day of wait
| ing. The naval appropriation bill, the
| stumbling block to final adjournment
| could not be agreed to by the confer
| ees of the two houses, and the dis
| agreement was reported to the Senate
early in the day. The report was &C
| cepted, but the Senate refused 10 re.
| quest
Another Conference,
| although Mr.. Hale expressed the be
lief that an agreement might b.
| reached. There was an evident dis
| position on the part OF the Senate K
| make trouble if the conferees Should
| recede from the Senate amendment al
| to the ocean surveys, and 1t was deem
| ed the wiser policy to afford the House
an opportunity again 10 pass upon tbs
| question.
At 3 o'clock, after several recesseG
| had been taken, Ii became known u
| the Senate that the House had con
| Cured in the Senate amendments re.
naming in controversy. and soon az.
terward the House resolution provid-
ing for final adjournment was passed
with an amendment fixing the hour al
o'clock, June Z.
It was not until 4:so twenty min