The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-02
UNIQUE SCENES AT
 CLOSE OF CONGRESS-
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 mancers and the alchcmists. There is one thing in connection with the whole mat ter which approaches the stiffness and absurdity of the drivelling diatribe and fictitious tale of Christmas, and that is the unparalleled and ludicrous perform ances of deliberately and solemnly spread ing it upon the records of the American Congress, where 1t may remain through all history as a shameless challenge to the credulity of man."
 Mir. Richardson, the Democratic leader, replying briefly. said when the secret re- port of Captain Christmas to the Danish Government containing the statement of the alleged bribery of members of Con- gress was called to his attention in an affidavit as to its authenticity, he (Richardson) considered 1t worthy of in- vestigation. He asserted that the proof was conclusive that Christmas was the agent of Denmark. and, indeed, Of the American State Department.
 There is not one iota of proof in sup port of the latter statement" interposed Mir. Dalzell (Pa.)
 T have the proof here.' replied MT. Richardson, who read the testimony con- corning the letter of introduction to Sec retary White at London given Christmas by Secretary Hay.
 Mir. Richardson denied that any mem- Der of Congress had been bribed. He had simply believed that the charges were worthy of investigation and to that belief he still adhered.
 No One Was Bribed. The testimony, however, had disposed of the charges, he said. Every body was acquitted and the report which was unanimous so stated. No man rejoiced more than he did that no one had been bribed. Mir. Richardson was still speak ing as the time approached for the final adjournment. Meantime the galleries had filled to overflowing, and every member in the city was in his seat.
 Mir. Dinsmore (Ark) desired he said, to resent the insinuations cast by MT. Cousins upon MT. Richardson for bring ing the matter to the attention of Con gress.
 It being reported that the President had no further commune ation to make, the Speaker arose and with evidence of much feeling addressed the House as follows:
 Gentlemen of the House of Represen- tatives-Many of us met at the beginning of this session as friends. Many at the commencement of this session met as strangers. I believe that we shall all part when the moment for adjournment comes as friends. (Applause) The prayer which l made to this House at the commencement of this Congress that the House would help to sustain the chair in enforcing the rules has never been forgotten. You have been all of you sustaining forces in aiding in the dis charge of my duty. tApplause.) For that my friends. l return my grateful acknowledgement.
 "I am proud to say that no House of ATar0 tat ii was adopted has in the same length of time done the amount of work that this House of Representatives has done (ap- plause) and you have done your work like men, earnest and honest. as you have all been in carrying your convictions so far as possible into legislation. There has never been an hour when the acrimony of debate left scars in any breast in this House. You have all been faithful and untirlng; and in the twenty years of my service, I have never seen so many friends in the closing days of a session as I now witness.
 Adjourned Sine Die.
 Now as we are about to part, l wish you all safe return to your homes, and that you may all come back to the next session rested and refreshed; and l ask no more than that you may be as earnest then as you have been in the session closed (Applause) And now Gentle men, in pursuance of the concurrent resolution of the two Houses, I declare this session of Congress adjourned sine die" Loud applause.)
 The gavel fell amid the wild applause that followed. Before it had subsided group of Republicans on the west side of the hall, led by MT. Landis UndO and Representative Milton (Mich.) began to sing My Country Iris of Thee" Im- mediately the refrain was caught up all over the hall and in the galleries. Then followed the doxology, in which the cor respondents in the press gallery Joined.
 As the Speaker descended from the chair. the air changed to For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" and the members swarmed about him to say goodbye. Other songs followed Way Down upon the Suwanee River" and finally Dixie" as the Speaker and Mir. Hooker. the one armed Confederate, embraced warmly.
 The jubilation was kept up for almost half an hour.