Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-08

the crowded galleries to the highest en-
thusiasm.
During q brief recess, taken within 80
minutes of the time fixed for the 1inai
adjournment, to give the President an
opportunity to afiix his signature TO
the bills that were being rushed to nm
for approval. n group OF members led
by Mercer of Nebraska. Ball OF Texas
Fitzgerald of Massachusetts, ana
lTawney of Minnesota, congregated IN
the area to the left of the Speakers
rostrur, and began singing patriotic
airs "Columia. Gem of the Ocean,
"Au,d Lang Syne," the Red, White
and Blue" successfully rang out.
As the singing proceeded, members
Joined the group until the entire mem
lbership of the House Joined in the cho-
ruses The spectators applauded each
song until the strains of pixie filled
the hall. Then their unbounded enthu-
siasm broke out in wild cheers.
But the enthusiasm that Dixie
evoked was not to be compared with the
demonstration which followed when, in a
clear. ringing tenor, Fitzgerald, Mass.
| started the national anthem with the
words "Oh. say, can you see by the
dawns early light
| In an instant all the men, women and
| children in the galleries were on their
feet Joining in the singing. The chorus
| from thousands of threats reverberatcd
through the halls. The ladies kept time
to the rythm of the music with their
handkerchicfs and the men beat the
measure with their hands. The Speaker
pausing as he entered the hall, also raised
| his voice
| The excitement overcome an old man
| in one of the galleries and when the
song ceased he jumped upon his seat
and shouted: This is the song of the
angels in heaven" He was plainly "a
crank and as he showed a disposition
to harangue the House, he was 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's a Jolly Good Eel
| low" and the newspaper correspon-
dents in the press gallery sang 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
survey. over night the sentiment of
the House underwent complete
change and. today, the members voted
by a large majority to accept outright
the Senate amendment. which goes fur
Their than the compromise which the
conferees offered, last night. The new
cOnferces, led by Cannon, who had
brought in a compromise which they
considered more satisfactory. We're ig-
ANONYMOUSLY pushed aside. 1t was Il
distinct victory for the old cOnfereeS
Foss of Illinois, Dayton of West Vir-
ginia, and Cummings of New York.
The other feature of the closing day
was the course of LentZ of Ohio, in
blocking unanimous consent legisla-
ton. For three days he had objected
to bills because the majority would not
allow the testimony in the Occur
d Alene investigation to be printed and
he maintained his position to the end
His action caused many heartachcs.
He only releEted when bills behind
which lurked possible votes in the com
ing campaign We're brought up.
When the House reconvened, at 10
o'clock this morning, it was still Tues
| day under the Legislative fiction. As
| the conferees n the naval bill were
not ready to report the House ad-
journed until l. o'clock.
At noon. the Legislative day of
Thursday began. Many of the mem
| bers who had counted upon final nd-
| journment, yesterday. had already left
| for their homes and there was danger
| Of a quorum failing. The leaders on
| both sides could with difficulty per
suade members to remain at their post.
| The reading of the journal occupied
over 20 minutes
Richardson. the Democratic leader.
| asked unanimous consent for the re-
consideration of a resolution to appro-
pirate $4,000 for the repair of Rock
| Creek park.
Until We can have the Occur d AIene
| testimony printed" exclaimed Lentz,
| Ohio I'VE can forego pleasure drives
in Rock Creek park
An amusing incident followed.
Grosvcnor, Ohio, claimed the floor as
mattcr;of personal privilege to deny
newspaper report Of scene which &C
| Cured during the exciting uproar in
the House. last night. when Cannon.
Ill. and Sulzcr. n. ". embraced each
| other in the centre aisle. The report
stated that it was Grosvcnor who had
embraced Sulzcr. GrOsvenor caused
much mcrrimcnt by regulating the al
legged incident.
| Terry. Ark. added to the fun by re
marking that it was a question as to
whose privilege it was to deny the in
Cidont.
A bill was passed to amend the car
coupler law so as to require railroads
to report monthly under oath to the in
terstate commerce commission all ac-
cdcnts to their employees and to make
reports as to all collisions between
trains: also a bill to authorize the pay
ment of travel pay to enlisted men in
the army.
| Overstreet, Ind, attempted to bait
Lentz with a resolution to give a con-
dcmncd cannon to the Sons of Vet
Grams, but LentZ. with the remark that
the Sons Of Veterans would like to read
the story of how their fathers were
confined in the bull PEN at Wardner,
Idaho. said he would not object and
the resolution was adopted.
Lentz then again brought matters to