The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-06-12
SENATE.

JUL SAuC Vic at " SIOCh III alter
noon. For the senate it was a day of
waiting. The naval appropriation bill
the stumbling block to final adjourn
ment- could not be agreed TO by the
conferees of the two houses and the
disagreement was reported to the SEN
ate early in the day. The report was
accepted, but the sena refused to re-
quest another conference, although
Senator Hale expressed the belief that
an agreement might be reached.
There was an evident disposition on
the part of the senate to make trouble
if the conferees should recede from the
senate amendment as to the ocean
surveys, and it was deemed the wiser
policy to afford the house an opportu-
nifty again to pass upon the question.
AT 3 o'clock after several recesses
had been taken, the senate was advis-
ed that the house had c%oncurred in the
senate amendments remaining In con-
troversy and oon afterward the house
resolution providing for final adjourn
ment was passed with an amendment
fixing the our at 5 O'Clock June Ith.
1t was not until 4:40 o'clock, twenty
minutes before the hour fixed for ad-
1OuTnmGul, Cudl Tic pISSloChI piO I'm
pore of the senate CMr. Frye ANNOUNCE
ed his signature to the naval bill. With
some other measures it was hurried
to the president, who was waiting in
his room in the capitol, and was sign
ed by him in a few minutes later.
The conclusion of the work of the
senate was attended by no exciting
scenes such as are often incident 10
the close of a session.
~Fffty-eight house pension bills were
passed.
An Intellectual attempt was made by
Senator Chandler, of New Hampshire,
to obtain consideration of his resolu-
ton in%structing the committee on priv
ileges and elections to inquire into the
constitutionality of the electoral laws
of certain states.
Senator Cockerell, offered a resolu-
ton tending the senate's thanks to
Mr.. Frye for the "~dignified, impartial
and courteous manner with which ne
has presided" 1t was adopted unani-
mously, and Senator Frye asknowl-
edged the uniform kindness of the
members toward him, making his duty
a pleasure, mo- a task, and hoped
our Dear Lord will permit you all, us
all, to meet here in the next
December"
Precisely at 5 o'clock the gavel fell
and the session was at an end.
AS the people were streaming from
the galleries a fine-looking, gray haired
man rose in the gentleman's gallery
and raising his hat high above his
head, and looking upward shouted:
throne: Jesus is coming soon"
He is the same man who, at the con-
clusion of the Grant ceremonies in the
house of representatives a short time
ago made a similar demonstration.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
In marked contrast with the exciting
incidents attending the bitter struggles
of the closing hours of the session,
Speaker Henderson laid down his gaVel
at 5 O'Clock this afternoon at the con-
clusion of one of the most picturesque
scenes which has ever occurred in the
hall of representatives. Party passion
and personal rancOr, which nave
brought the house to the brink of &C
tual riot several times in the last
forty-eight hours, gave way in the
closing half hour to good Fellowship
which found vent in a patriotic out
burst that stirred the crowded CALLER
les to the highest pitch of enthusiasm.
During a brief recess, taken within
thirty minute of the time fixed for
the final adjournment, to give the pres
ident an opportunity to affix his sig
nature to the bills that were being
rushed to him for approval, a group of
members, led by Messrs. Mercer, of
Nebraska; Ball, of Texas; Fitzgerald,
of Massachusetts, and Tawney, of
Minneapolis, congregated in the arena
to the left of the speakers rostrum
and began singing patriotic airs. The
galleries were banked to the doors.
columbia, the 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 to G
or party, the entire membership of the
house Joined in the choruSes.
The spectators in the galleries ap-
plauded each song until the strains of
Dixie filled the hall. Then their I'M
bounded enthusiasm broke out in wild
cheers; but the enthusiasm Dixie
evoked was lot to be compared to the
remarkable demonstration hat fol-
lowed, when, in a clear, ringing tenor
Mr.. Fitzgerald, of Massachusetts,
started the national anthem with the
inspiring words Through the avn
Early Light"
In an instant, every man, woman and
child in the galleries were on their feet
joining in the singing. The mighty cho-
rus from thousands of threats rever-
berated through the hall, making the
pulses leap and the blood tingle. Ii was
a magnificent and Sou~l-inSpiring spec
tacle. The ladies' kept time to the rythm
of the music with their handkerchiefs
and the men beat the measure with
their hands The speaker paused as he
entered the hall, and raised his voice
also.
The excitement produced by the
scene overcame a white-haired Did man
in one of the public galleries. and when
the song ceased he jumped upon his
seat and houted: That is the song of
the angels in Heaven" He was plainly
a crank, but as he showed a DISPOSE
ton to harangue the house he was
quickly elected.
After Speaker Henderson had mace
a graceful farewell speech, thanking
the members for their courtescy, and
had declared the house adjourned. the
members testified to his popularity by
singing For He is a Jolly Good Eel
low" and the newspaper correspond
ents 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 conferees on the naval bill for
yielding on the item relating to ocean
surveys. Over night the sentiment of