The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-03-05
CARRIERS BRILLIANT CAREER
FITTINGLY CLOSED.
KILLS VICIOUS MEASURE
Holds Floor and Talks to Death
River and Harbor Appro-
priation Bill.

Washington, March 4-One Of the
most notable occurrences in the his
tory Of congressional legislation
marked the closing hours of the last
session of the Fifty sixth congress.
Senator Carter Of Montana signalized
his retirement from the senate after
six years of brilliant service by
talking the river and harbor bill to
death. He occupied the floor, con-
structively, for nearly 13 consecutive
hours, although in the aggregate about
three hours of that time were devoted
to other business.
At II 40 last night, after the senate
conferees on the river and ha1bor bill
had reported a disagreement, Senator
Carter began his speech. Apparently
in facetious vein, he began his3at-
tack against the measure, denouncing
it as vicious and pernicious legisla-
tion, unwarranted by conditions and
unsound in principle.
Shortly before O'Clock Allison sub
lnitted further disagreement on the
sundry civil bill, the item in conten-
tion being the appropriation for the
three expositions. From this the SEN
ate receded and then passed the St.
Louis exposition bill. Tillman, who
has championed the appropriation for
Char lesion throughout the session,
made final appeal to the senate to
hn lo
allied that the Missouri senators were
more powerful than he. By vote Of
38 to 100 the senate receded from the
Charleston appropriation and the bill
was passed.
Garter resumed his speech, finally
announcing at 6:35 that it was his in
tention not to permit the river and
harbor bill to become law, if his
strength should hold out and saying
that at that moment he was in excel
lent physical condition. With the ex-
ception of brief intermission while
quorum was being secured, and re-
cess of half an hour between 10:3O and
/ clock today, Carter spoke practi-
cally continuously. He yielded the
floor only after the ceremony of the
induction of Vice President Roosevelt
into office had begun.
In retiring as the president pro tenn
of the senate, Frye, in response to
resolution of thanks for courtesy and
impartiality, delivered a brief, but
feeling address to the senate.
At the conclusion of the session of
the Fifty sixth congress Vice President
Roosevelt was sworn in and immedi-
ately called the senate of the Fifty
seventh congress to order. 1t was
| simple, but beautiful and impressive
ceremony. The new senators were
sworn in in groups of four. At the
conclusion of this proceeding the SEN
ate attended the Inauguration of the
president on the east front of the cap
itol. At l AS the senate returned to
its chamber and adjourned immediate
ly until tomorrow.
Frye, president pro TEN. said he had
received telegram from the lieuten-
ant governor of Montana which he
thought should be read and directed
the clerk. to read it. The lieutenant
governor stated that as the presiding
officer of the joint legislative conven-
tion of Montana he wanted to en-
phatically say that the election of the
Hon. William A. CLARK, as senator
from Montana, was the elimination of
the expressed wish Of the people of
that state and that protests against
Clark should not be needed by the
United States senate. Clark had been
an issue in the campaign and his sue
cess before the people and in the leg
islature was a vindication of his
character. Jones of Arkansas read
telegram from J. S. M. Neill saying
that H. r. Knapp, who filed protest
against Senator Clark, was not resi-
dent of Montana.